Tag: book review

Reviews

Pride Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on Pride Review

35068632Pride is retelling of the classic tale Pride and Prejudice but with a modern twist. Zuri Benitez is a proud resident of her neighbourhood of Bushwick in Brooklyn. She has lived there her entire life and knows everyone on her block, but one day a new very wealthy family moves across the street and now it seems like change is inevitable.

Zuri kind of got on my nerves a little at the start of the book. She was a little too judgemental for my liking. She was just so passionate in her dislike for the Darcy’s that I almost found her to be a little juvenile and immature. She didn’t really come across as being seventeen in my eyes. However, as the plot progressed we did see her evolve as she grew closer to Darius and learnt more about his family and why we did see her let go of her preconceptions.

Darius at the start as well was a little too standoffish for my liking. He was almost too unlikeable for me to warm to him towards the end of the book when he did open up more and explain his situation. I get that the author wanted to stay true to the original concept but I feel the introductions happened too fast and they hated each other too quickly that it almost didn’t make sense to me.

Towards the end of the book I did come around and enjoyed the plot and how it progressed. I like that we see Zuri’s neighbourhood start to get gentrified and how she realises this throughout the course of the book and what her feelings are towards this. She really has to come around to the fact that change really is inevitable and there isn’t anything that you can do about it.  

It was a very fast paced book; I did eventually enjoy all the characters and their arcs. Zuri’s younger sisters especially were very entertaining and brought a source of amusement and light-heartedness to the novel. If the start of the book was a little more lengthened and had time to really establish the characters and why they didn’t like each other I may have been able to really engage with the story a lot more.  

⭐️3.5/5 Good book, just didn’t do enough for me personally.

Reviews

Never World Wake Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on Never World Wake Review

91tzv+xgsslIt’s been a year since Bee has spoken to any of her friends since the mysterious death of her boyfriend. Now after a whirlwind night that leaves them all walking away from a near fatal car crash something strange has happened. They are stuck in a sort of time-lapse called the Never World Wake where they have to vote for only one person to make it out alive.

This book was super obscure and very interesting! I liked the slow build up of tension throughout the plot and how things started unraveling as the storyline progressed. I didn’t really know what to expect from the premise but I enjoyed the direction the book went with. The mystery surrounding Jim’s death and what happened that night, as well as trying to figure out what the Never World Wake is and how they are going to get out of it.

I was definitely intrigued by Bee. She comes across as so innocent and nice and the other characters even mention it about her. No one would ever suspect her of any wrong doing ever and she is always immediately dismissed as decent and pure. But I had a feeling throughout that she was not as guiltless as everyone perceived.

I thought the way that information was discovered through the use of the Wake was fascinating. Especially one Martha figured out how to jump to different Wakes and how that affected the times. I was very engaged and was eager to read on to figure out how it was all happened and what their connections to the Wake were. The twist at the end as well I thought was very well executed, the doubt that is plied consistently throughout the course of the book really helped to completely blind side me when we eventually find out what really happened and everyone’s motivations for what they have done.

I thoroughly enjoyed my read of this. Again I didn’t know what to expect and I was actually pleasantly surprised that I liked it as much as I did. For some reason I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to enjoy the book because it was so hyped but this was another instance that I feel like the hype was justified!

⭐️4/5 A wild ride from beginning to end!

Reviews

If We Were Villains Review

by amyleighreads1 Comment on If We Were Villains Review

*SPOILERS*

91Sh4g2DW4LThis story follows Oliver who is one of 7 fourth year students at a highly prestigious and very competitive Shakespearean Arts College. They each have their niche and the status quo has remained unchanged the last 3 years. However, when the castings change and the stars have to take a step back, the plays start to spill dangerously over into real life.

All of the characters are very distinguishable and unique; they each have their own voices and traits. I found Oliver to be a little bit dull at the start of the book but he shows a lot of growth over the course of the plot. He goes from really blending in the background to being right at the forefront of the story. I think out of the seven of them I would have to say that Alexander and Phillipa are my favourites. They were each so interesting and had me intrigued. We don’t get a lot of information about Phillipa’s background and where she comes from but she is very vital in the story and I liked how she still visited Oliver whilst he was in jail which really warmed me to her and kind of made me trust her. Alexander was just kind of a train wreck and that always endears me to a character. He speaks his mind and tells it like it is and I really appreciated his candour.

I thought it was really unique how the story was formatted like a play and how it blended with the overall tone and premise of the plotline. The pacing was kind of up and down for me. Some passages were a little slow and then there would be a lot of frantic, suspenseful scenes and then it would be a bit slower again. The start was a little difficult to get into as well with all of Shakespearean language to deal with but you kind of get used to it as the plot progresses. The characters are so immersed into that world that this is really how they communicate and evoke their emotions.

Again I really like how we know how the ending is going to turn out without really spoiling any of the real major twists if that makes sense. We know Oliver ends up in prison but we know he didn’t kill Richard so why is he is prison or did he really kill him but he doesn’t remember? It kept me invested and eager to read on to see how that outcome came about.

The premise of the book I thought was fantastic and something I’ve never really read before. The mystery elements were very well done; I definitely couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. I also thought it was very believable as well. The way that each of the characters reacted and how emotionally unstable they were after enduring Richard’s anger and then his death I thought was very well done and realistic.

I really enjoyed this! Granted at times I was a little confused but all in all I thought it was highly entertaining and that open ending makes me want more!

⭐️4/5 Unlike anything I’ve read before!

Reviews

The Exiled Queen Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on The Exiled Queen Review

TheExiledQueenRaisa has fled the kingdom and is on her way to Oden’s Keep to train at the military school and stay out of her mother and the High Wizard’s way. Han and Dancer are also on their way to Oden’s Keep to try and broaden their newfound powers and knowledge on spell casting and charms at the wizard school.

I loved reading from the two separate perspectives of Raisa and Han both making their way to the same location and then living their lives so separately yet so closely together until finally they connect. Which happened way later in the book than what I was anticipating.

I loved the school setting, it’s just always so fascinating to me watching them grow and learn and evolve as characters whilst surrounded by those who strive for the same thing. It was nice to see all of the different characters from different locations in the seven realms coexist somewhat peacefully.

Han and his character progression over the course of the plot was a joy to read. From seeing him in so much pain and grief after what happened to his mother and sister to then having him apply himself so stringently to his course to better himself so he won’t fail others in the future. I love how sure of himself he is and how he isn’t afraid to ask for help or accept assistance when he knows he needs it.

I found Raisa a little more likeable in this book than the first. I found her to be a little too pretentious and selfish but she is really starting to tone that side of her down and I enjoyed her a lot more for it. I think its because she has had to hide her true identity and just be a somewhat normal cadet rather than the princess heir that everyone is trying to manipulate and charm. She hasn’t been able to use her royal privilege really at all and I like that she hasn’t forced it onto anyone else like she has previously.

I love the direction that the plot is going. The political intrigue, the historical aspects that could come to light as well as the different agenda’s of the wizard council and the clans. This was a great continuation of the storyline and I can’t wait to get straight into The Gray Wolf Throne and see where this story will go next!

⭐️5/5 I absolutely loved this!

Reviews

The Woman in the Window Review

by amyleighreads2 Comments on The Woman in the Window Review

40389527A solid mystery/thriller!

This book follows the story of Anna a woman who for the past 10 months has been stuck inside her home with an intense form of agoraphobia. Everything is going fine until one day she see’s something happen across the street that she wasn’t supposed to see.

Even though this a highly popular mystery thriller I still don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet, so just bear that in mind.

I found the book to be a little slow at the beginning. Learning about Anna and her life and going through the motions was a little repetitive but effective in perspective as we are really getting a feel for what she goes through everyday. It really highlights how easy it is to be able to survive in this modern era without ever having to leave your home.

The pacing really picked out and continued to grow throughout the course of the book. The major plot point happens pretty early on in the book and then having the seeds of doubt planted into Anna’s mind making her second guess herself really prolonged the suspense. 

As a character I found her to be a little unlikeable yet relatable in a way. She stays true to her convictions and she still tries to help other people and doll out advice and just an ear to people like her. I can’t really fault her in any way as she does the best she can with her current circumstances.

I liked the twists and revelations that occur in the book as well. I am not really an avid reader of mysteries or thrillers so all the tropes are relatively new to me. I enjoyed the steady progression of suspense and the flashbacks really helped to establish Anna’s frame of mind and why she is so adamant in finding out the truth. It definitely kept me intrigued and eager to read on and see what was going to happen next. I couldn’t predict any of the plot points so I was definitely surprised when the truth was finally uncovered.

⭐️4/5 I can see why it was so hyped!