Review: The Dark and Hollow Places

That sad part when you don't follow your instincts and DNF a book.

Annah is scarred inside out. She abandoned her twin sister several years ago to the Unconsecrated (zombies) and has since survived with various scars all over her body and face. But now, that her sister is found, Annah starts developing other feelings such as jealousy and lover boy envy. Can Annah ever be at peace? 

Despite being the third book in the series, Ryan chose to focus the story on a new character with a dull personality. Not only is Annah constantly conflicted, but her reasoning makes little sense. She immediately sees her sister after years of guilt, and feels nothing but jealousy. Admits to loving Elias, only to flirt with Catcher right away. It's impossible to root for a character that doesn't know what she wants. 

The action is also constantly stalled, as our four main characters are being held under their will. Together they must decide if they desire to live or exist (tough existentialist question during apocalyptic zombie times).

Wish Ryan would have stopped at book two.

Review: Not if I see you First

"One of the unexpected side effects of Parker going blind, was how she got less and less sensible about what she said to people, because she couldn't see them flinch."

After a drunk driving accident (her mother had too much wine), Parker not only loses her mom but her eyesight. A few years later, her dad passes away from a medication overdose. Thankfully her aunt and cousins move in with her (Parker had already memorized the house and neighborhood, not an easy task when you are blind) but there's a cold shoulder coming from her cousin Sheila. 

Then we have Parker's friends, who are tired of seeing her put up "bitchy" attitudes and excluding them from sharing her feelings. All in all Parker isn't mean, she's just extremely sad and bottles her emotions. But what will happen if she keeps up this front, will everyone leave her, including her soulmate?

To be honest, this book had a lot of characters. What worked against the story, is that all these characters were polite. No one had attitude as much as Parker. Although, I liked her "I can do it" motto, I couldn't see the author's message about bottled emotions until 2/3 into the book. By then, Parker became an adrenaline rush junkie, and went from wanting to take relationships slow, to, I love my ex-boyfriend and he has to love me back right now. It just shows how after a huge tragedy, you need to talk to someone before you explode.

Feature and Follow Friday: Ink and Quills talk

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: If you could write a book, what would it be about?

Une photo publiée par natalia (@natyuniverse) le 10 Nov. 2014 à 15h27 PST

I was published in a steampunk anthology, Gears of Brass, and loved the genre that I twisted with horror. For my next story I'm planning something even more scary and gory.

What genre would you pick?

Review: DOAWK: Old School

It's not me, it's you.

I'm a huge fan of Greg and his awkward life moments. He has a quirky family that means well, and the most amazing best friend. But this time (book 10) I feel like Kinney is running out of ideas and just adding things to fulfill his novel deadline. 

We get some deja vus as Greg and his Dad end up in a camp thanks to a one week school break that is not clear(I mean, is he on vacation). All the campers are unsupervised and fed weeks old food, even forced to live without showers. Don't get me wrong, the giggles are there, but barely in plausible situations. 

How long can this series last?

Top Ten Tuesday: Exploring the unknown

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP NEW AUTHORS I DISCOVERED THIS YEAR

Did a small twist on the today's topic, mainly because when I like an author, I tend to devour the series right away. Like I did with the Locke & Key series. Here is the list of authors that caught my eye in 2015.

Susan EE (author of Angelfall)

Angels are not my favorite fantasy/paranormal characters. Particularly, after the disappointing results of the Fallen series. But Susan was able to mix the right amount of tension to change my mind.

August Strindberg (author of Miss Julie)

Misogynistic yes! But so were the men in that period of time. Strindberg added so much drama, and had me gasping in horror at the horrible way men treated women then (sadly, some still do).

Lena Dunham (author of Not that Kind of Girl)

Her sense of humor always gives me the giggles, but I found Dunham's latest book to not only be humorist but also very down to earth and blatantly honest. Loved it!

Joe Hill(author of Locke and Key)

Devoured the first four volumes. Waiting for the last two to arrive this Christmas. 

Tamara Ireland Stone (author of Eevry Last Word)

Plot twists are not easy to do. However, Stone managed to draw me in and gave her book an unexpected ending. 

Sabaa Tahir (author of An Ember in the Ashes)

Not a fan of historical fantasies, but An Ember in the Ashes was off the hook. I need to read the next one. 

   

S.K. Tremayne (author of The Ice Twins)

The Goodreads nomination was not in vain. This book is a psychological thriller with well done characterizations. 

Amy Ewing (author of The Jewel)

This is actually the first book I read in 2015. I was glad to start off the year with a great novel that maintained my interest right away.

Which authors did you discover this year?

Review: Never said

Annie never said what troubled her so much. 

Instead, she just started eating junk, turning her beauty pageant body into the unrecognizable twin. Her parents are devastated and can't stop telling her how "ugly" she looks. But her twin sister, Sarah, suspects more. Why does Annie seem so preoccupied with wanting men to consider her undesirable? Why doesn't she complain about the bullying at school? What is Annie not saying?!?

Told in dual point-of-view, the premise seemed a bit misleading. Although, Sarah was in fact an introvert, the anxiety disorder that her parents constantly criticized didn't seem fit. Sarah stood up for Annie constantly, had a boyfriend and had no problem leaving the house. As for Annie, her story was very slow paced. From the beginning to end, we just saw her eat and want to create a club where everyone is equal and friendly, even though her eating disorder was caused by something traumatic that she refused to get help for. How could she possibly help others in her state? 

Not my favorite Lynch Williams.