Review- Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

Summary-

More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.

Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts - just the beginning, he believes - of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp's dreamlight.

Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. It doesn't take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.

Release date: December 29th 2009

Published by: Putnam Adult

Page numbers: 353

Review-

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz is the first book in her Dream light trilogy and the seventh book in her Arcane Society series. I have read a few books in the Arcane society series before but not in order. The whole concept upon which these books are based is quite interesting but sadly, Fired Up failed to meet my expectations. It was an okay read.

Jack Winters is the descendant of Nicholas Winters. The males in the Winters line are cursed that they will turn into a monster if they don't find the Burning Lamp. Plus he needs a woman to find the lamp, specifically one who can read dream light. I liked Jack. He was okay but nothing special. I liked his determination where Chole was concerned though.

Private Investigator Chloe Harper can read dream light. She solves many of he cases using her ability and when Jack asks for her help she agrees. I liked Chloe but again there was nothing super special that I adored about her. She was tenacious and strong.

There was definitely chemistry between Jack and Chloe but I didn't find it as appealing as it was in some of Jayne Ann Krentz's previous books. There is also the whole mystery plot line which forms the base of the story. It was interesting to see the various abilities and the whole Nightshade thing.

I also really liked meeting Fallon Jones again. I am quite intrigued by him and I really hope to read his book some day. All in all Fired Up was a good change of pace for me. I liked the mystery where romance took a back seat. It was not as interesting as some of her other books but still Fired Up was an okay read.

Review- Every You, Every Me by David Levithan

Every You, Every Me on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absence. And as crazy as it sounds, Evan's starting to believe it's Ariel that's behind all of this, punishing him. But the more Evan starts to unravel the mystery, the more his paranoia and insomnia amplify, and the more he starts to unravel himself. Creatively told with black-and-white photos interspersed between the text so the reader can see the photos that are so unnerving to Evan, Every You, Every Me is a one-of-a-kind departure from a one-of-a-kind author.

Release date: September 11th 2012

Published by: Ember

Page numbers: 243

REVIEW: 

Being a huge, huge, HUGE David Levithan fan, I was really looking forward to reading Every You, Every Me. But just the fact that this is a David Levithan book didn't excite me as much as the fact that this is a photographic novel. Now I have read books with photos, but a photographic novel was a new concept, and I was quite excited to see how it would turn out. I normally don't care much for pictures in books, because it's the words that matter to me, but I thought that with Every You, Every Me, my mind would be changed for the better. 

Now while I did like the idea of Every You, Every Me, for a David Levithan book- and I hate saying this with all my heart- it was rather mediocre and lacklustre. The writing and narrative were brilliant, as always because when David Levithan sits to write, I imagine the words just flow from his head and heart. So the writing was undoubtedly perfect, although the strikethroughs were very close to getting on my nerves, but I could easily oversee that. As expected, the writing was flawless and faultless. 

What really annoyed me this time with Every You, Every Me was the characters who were very typical David Levithan in their quaint and unique way, but they irritated me because no one was clear about what was going on, what they wanted, and what they were willing to do about it. So while we have the mysteriously disappeared Ariel whose presence wasn't felt in her absence, we have her friend and our main voice Evan, who was just confused. The only character who seemed likeable and at times practical to me was Jack, Ariel's ex-boyfriend because at least he seemed sure of what he didn't want. 

Overall, I was disappointed with Every You, Every Me. If you take a look at my copy of the book, which is practically covered in sticky notes, you might question my disappointment. But you have to understand, I fell in love with the words, not so much with the story. So for the pleasure of words, sentences, lines and reading just to feel the power and glory of words, I would recommend this book without the blink of an eye, but here's a warning: don't expect a moving David Levithan story.  

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Review- Inferno by Dan Brown

Inferno on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

‘Seek and ye shall find.’

With these words echoing in his head, eminent Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon awakes in a hospital bed with no recollection of where he is or how he got there. Nor can he explain the origin of the macabre object that is found hidden in his belongings.

A threat to his life will propel him and a young doctor, Sienna Brooks, into a breakneck chase across the city of Florence. Only Langdon’s knowledge of hidden passageways and ancient secrets that lie behind its historic facade can save them from the clutches of their unknown pursuers.

With only a few lines from Dante’s dark and epic masterpiece, The Inferno, to guide them, they must decipher a sequence of codes buried deep within some of the most celebrated artefacts of the Renaissance – sculptures, paintings, buildings – to find the answers to a puzzle which may, or may not, help them save the world from a terrifying threat…

Set against an extraordinary landscape inspired by one of history’s most ominous literary classics, Inferno is Dan Brown’s most compelling and thought-provoking novel yet, a breathless race-against-time thriller that will grab you from page one and not let you go until you close the book. 

Release date: May 14th 2013

Published by: Bantam Press

Page numbers: 465

REVIEW: 

After The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, Inferno was the third Dan Brown book I read. I had actually watched the movie when it came out, and I could relate to it on a whole new and practical level of reality and acceptance, which had me curious to pick up the book. When I ended up picking the book name from my 2017 TBR jar, I was more than excited to finally get on another Robert Langdon adventure.

Inferno starts very abruptly with Langdon somehow waking up in a hospital in Italy and escaping the dangerous Vayentha with Doctor Sienna Brooks. When a mysterious object with an inscrutable message is found in Langdon's jacket, a search begins for decoding, discovering and destroying Bertrand Zobrist's gift for the world.

I found the story to be very slow and with unnecessary details sometimes because for a 400 plus pages book, the story itself only revolves around a couple of days. But, as always, Langdon's adventures are packed with action and knowledge, a combination I've grown to appreciate and admire. I wish more people would worship this incredible hero who is someone to look up to!

Dan Brown writes the most meticulous and accurate stories that have the reader on the edge of the seat from the starting until the very end, and Inferno wasn't any exception as it proved to be another marvel of Brown. However, I do have a soft spot for this one because I learned so much from this book.

Overall, I would highly recommend Inferno if you care about the world and art and when you know you have time to invest in a book as this is a long, but a bloody brilliant one.

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

Review- The Secret of the Sea by Tanya Dias

The Secret of the Sea on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

A fast-paced suspense thriller set in the Indian state of Goa. 

Inspector Pinto receives a call one evening, about a new case. A young college student Namita is murdered at Morjim beach in Goa and her body is found floating in the sea. Inspector Pinto leads the investigation, only to discover a shocking secret. Namita's murder exposes a startling truth. 

Who wanted Namita dead and why? Follow Inspector Pinto in this fast-paced crime thriller set in Goa, as he finds out... 

Release date: November 8th 2017

Page numbers: 170

REVIEW: 

When I interviewed my classmate from college and now author, Tanya Dias on the blog, I was very curious to know more about her book, The Secret of the Sea, which I was delighted to know about. I always am very apprehensive about reviewing books for friends, because I don't like to be biased and also because I don't want to find or say anything negative, but I thought I should just give Tanya's book a try and see how it goes.

The Secret of the Sea is the story of Inspector Caji and a case that isn't filed in his police station but that has him curious anyway. The death of a young girl, Namita Kulkarni, shakes the entire state of Goa, and has everyone on the edge of their seat as people want to know what happened.

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at how well Tanya writes, because clearly, I was thrown into the story from the first chapter itself. The Secret of the Sea did not seem like it was her first book. Tanya's writing was simple and precise, which is exactly how I like my stories to be, as there's no unnecessary interruption and drama.

Moving from the writing, the story telling was neat and extremely intriguing. I usually don't read mysteries because they are very easy to figure out, but with The Secret of the Sea, I found myself moving with Inspector Caji as every person introduced in the book seemed like a suspect, and the end result was slightly disappointing but truly mysterious and well done.

What I liked the most about The Secret of the Sea was the insight that I got into how the police and journalism departments work in controversial times. That was something that really stuck with me. I sure am looking forward to more of Inspector Caji's adventures, because I'm sure they'll be just as interesting and daring as this one.

Overall, this book is short, simple, gripping and impressive for a first time author. I would definitely recommend this one to fans of short mysteries.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Tanya Dias in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Hi, guys! So I read Thirteen Reasons Why a long, long time ago, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring out this review that's been collecting dust in my drafts. I'm posting it now in honour of the web series on the book being started. 

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

Release date: June 14th 2011

Published by: Razorbill

Page numbers: 288

REVIEW: 

I actually came across Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why when I read and reviewed a book called 34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues. A great number of reviewers compared the latter to the former and while I wasn't very fond of 34 Pieces of You myself, I was highly intrigued by Thirteen Reasons Why since I love suicide plot lines. I was on a hunt for the book since then and once I got it, I couldn't wait to devour it. Somewhere, I feel I was going to like this book anyhow, anyway, no matter what. And that's what I did. 

Thirteen Reasons Why is the story of Hannah, who leaves a packet of thirteen tapes that she recorded before committing suicide and that she wishes are passed around to nine people, who were, in some minute and tiny way, responsible for her giving up on life. The person from whose point of view we read the book and listen to the tapes is Clay. From the beginning, I was hoping for some dangerous and torturous reason why Clay was on the tape, but the real reason left me awestruck. It was breathtaking in its own way. I loved the story the two shared. 

I read that the book made readers change the way they are. It left them feeling that being nice is the least and the best thing one can do to anyone else. Jay Asher actually shows how something that we do- that might seem insignificant and silly to us- actually has an impact on someone else. It affects their life and the way they look at things. I admire stories that go beyond the ordinary and explore what really lies underneath all the covers and masks that we built. 

Thirteen Reasons Why is an intriguing, peculiar and completely mind-blowing story that's written in a very somber yet sparkling and slightly creepy manner. I literally couldn't put the book down. Once I read a few pages, I had to read a few more and that kept me occupied for the time that it took me to read the book. It was highly addictive and really well put down. I especially love the way it  ended- it was perfect. It's a book that's going to stay with me. 

Buy the book: AMAZON (IN)

Review- Stolen by Lucy Christopher

 BOOK SUMMARY:


It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Release date: May 4th 2009

Published by: Chicken House Ltd

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW: 

Stolen. Hmmm. What do I say about this book? One thing I know for sure is that my friends Glass and Tanja over at Ja citam, a ti? will be very happy and proud of the fact that I finally read Stolen. You should check out their buddy review of the same. Another confirmation I can make is that these two girls always recommend very, very good books, but I always knew that anyway. 

When it comes to the story, Stolen wasn't anything new to me. I won't spoil anything for people who haven't read the book though. One aspect of Stolen that for me makes the story what it is is the setup. The story takes place in a deserted desert in Australia, and it is portrayed so beautifully. At first, the over descriptive narration really irritated me and slowed my reading pace, but the second person point of view is what kept it interesting. Once I crossed the fifty percent mark, however, the book took such a wonderful turn that I couldn't put it down. This is not just the story of Gemma and Ty, but of nature and how we have to love what needs to be loved and there is so much hidden behind that. 

Speaking of Gemma and Ty, the main characters. Oh my God, the characters. They made the story. If I were to describe my feelings for Gemma and Ty in two words, those two words would be: mixed feelings. They are two of the most complicated, well developed, well portrayed and thoroughly amazing characters. They were the kind of characters or people that you love to hate and hate to love. I felt so connected to them both. And that in itself is a feat. With so much going on in the book which ultimately means so much going on on the reader's mind at the same time, the characters manage to really establish a relation with the reader. One moment, I wanted to hug Gemma and Ty and the next, I wanted to slap them. I loved Ty for his caring and thoughtful nature and I hated him for forcing his lifestyle on someone else. I hated Gemma for not adapting to the situations life put her in, and I loved her not for being strong, but for not being weak. They were both beautifully portrayed. 

The ending of the book was good. It was pretty apt and predictable, but... There's always going to be a but there. So I will just conclude by saying that Lucy Christopher has written a very amazing, beautiful and wonderful book that is definitely worth a try. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- Three Sisters by Helen Smith

Three Sisters on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

Three Sisters introduces twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles in this popular new British mystery series.

Emily receives an invitation to a party in a large house at the end of her street, hosted by a mysterious troupe of circus performers. She accepts, despite her misgivings, because her dog has died and she needs cheering up. But when she witnesses a murder in the midst of the surreal entertainment, no one will believe what she has seen. Is Emily befuddled with grief at the loss of her pet? Or has something wicked happened in plain sight of all the party-goers? Emily and her eccentric neighbours attempt to discover the truth in a charming story that will have you giggling at every funny line.

Readers of M C Beaton or Alexander McCall Smith will enjoy discovering a new mystery author.

Chosen as a “Favorite Book of the Year” by Elizabeth at The Frugal Ereader.

This short mystery is a standalone story set in London. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order, but if you’d like to read them in the order they were written and published, this is the chronology:

#1 Three Sisters (Emily Castles Short Mysteries)
#2 Showstoppers (Emily Castles Short Mysteries)
#3 Invitation to Die (Emily Castles Mysteries)
#4 Beyond Belief (Emily Castles Mysteries)



Release date: February 5th 2011
Published by: Tyger Books
Page numbers: 104

REVIEW: 

Previously, I have read a couple of short stories by Helen Smith, and they ended up being very interesting. Same goes for Three Sisters as well. It was a very interesting read that had a mysterious aura surrounding it since the first page and went on till the end of the story. Being a novella, the story was very well thought of and put down in a minimum number of pages. 

Three Sisters is a novella in the Emily Castles Mystery series. In this one, Emily has recently lost her dog. As she is still accepting the permanent absence of her feline half, she is invited to a communal party for which she makes a rather passable dish of potatoes. At this gathering, there is food, music, performances and art in all forms. 

Amongst these performers are twin sisters ZiZi and Zsa-Zsa who play with knifes and come from a Hungarian family that specialises in the same. There is also Emily's friend Midori who goes by the name Hana-bi as the DJ for the night. Just as Emily is cleaning up her plate after having food with a handsome guy named Joe, she sees Midori collapse. A series of unexpected and freaky events later, Emily is determined to find out the mystery behind all acts with the help of another neighbour, Dr. Muriel and Chirs, another bloke. 

Not the biggest fan of the novella, I still felt it was quite entertaining as it kept me wanting to know more in the tiny amount of time it took me to finish the story, which was very decent. The writing was nice as well, and the mysterious, almost alarming aura made it fun but gave me goosebumps as well. This is a really great novella for the occasional short length mystery read for when one is in the mood for that. 

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Real Elves by Helen Smith

 Real Elves on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

~ This is a short story ~

In a department store in London, a little girl called Sophie visits Santa’s magical forest with her grandfather. As they emerge from the forest, Sophie’s grandfather reports her missing… but the little girl’s right there. Is she a ghost, a twin, an alien abductee—or is there some simpler explanation? Twenty-six-year-old amateur sleuth Emily Castles has fifteen minutes to figure out the puzzle before the police are called and Christmas is ruined.

REAL ELVES is a standalone story set in London. It first appeared in the anthology Naughty or Nice in aid of Kids Need to Read. The Emily Castles mysteries can be read in any order.

Helen Smith has created a great little cozy series with the charming Emily Castles Criminal Element



Release date: September 16th 2014
Published by: Tyger Books
Page numbers: 35

REVIEW: 

This was the first Helen Smith book that I read. The story behind how I came across it is rather interesting, but it's telling could possibly wait. I feel like this book came to me at the perfect time since I had been looking for some cozy and enjoyable short stories.

Real Elves is a short story that can be read as a standalone or as part of the Emily Castles Mystery series of which it is the fifth book. I honestly don't see the point in summarising this short story, as the story in itself is barely a half and hour long read and the summary aptly describes what it is about anyway.

I absolutely enjoy short Christmas stories. I believe all of them are wonderful and warming, and the latter is a feat especially when the weather almost everywhere is cold. Real Elves was no different. Although what I found most interesting about this story was the kind of hazy and subtle mystery surrounding it.

For a few pages short story, Real Elves was very intriguing and quite an enjoyable read. Author Helen Smith's writing is very easy to follow and beautiful in its innocent and charming simplicity. I enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend it.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Goodreads Summary:

"What do you want from me?" he asks. What I want from every person in my life, I want to tell him. More.

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future. 

REVIEW:

I am tempted to say that Tanja forced me to read Melina Marchetta's Jellicoe Road. I am also tempted to say that she bullied me into reading it. But I won't say it. Because after Tanja read a few books that I recommended her, it was about time that I gave Melina Marchetta, an author Tanja swears by, a try. And trust me, Tanja knows her stuff. Don't ever mess with her. Don't ever doubt her. Because one point that is absolutely clear to me now is that Tanja will recommend books that will make you cry and in the end, those are the best books. 

It wasn't easy for me to get into Jellicoe Road. The story is confusing as hell, and there were times when I had no idea what I was reading but I just kept reading because, 1) I had to do this for my girl who 2) kept motivating me to go on with it. But even if I didn't have reason number two, I would have still continued reading because Melina Marchetta created magic with her writing and just the flow of words had me wanting to turn the pages. The confusing shift between past and present was difficult to understand at first, but once I got the connection between the two, it became incredible. 

I guess with books like Jellicoe Road, it's not so much about understanding as it is about feeling. And I felt. I am unable to pinpoint exactly what I felt, but I felt that pull in my heart that made me want to hug the characters. It was towards the last 15% of the book that I really got into the story and started feeling, but that's okay, because those last few chapters were so damn stunning. So even though 85% is huge, I forgive it, because the last bit was where everything came together, all dots were connected and life went on. 

So to conclude, I will just say that Jellicoe Road is difficult to understand and confusing to read, but you don't you dare give up, because there are very few books that bring tears to your eyes, and this is one of those books. While I do not love this book as much as Tanja and Glass do, I still want to thank them both for making me read it. You girls owe me now. But first, thank you. Thank you for making me read this heart-breaking yet fulfilling story about what matters the most- family and roots. 

Don't forget to check out Tanja and Glass' reviews of the book. 

P.S: There is so much more I wanted to say, but for now, this should be enough. 

RATING: 

Review- Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Goodreads Summary:

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 

She devises a plan to get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.

REVIEW:

Author Ruta Sepetys' Out of the Easy had been sitting on my shelf since a very long time. Then out of the blue, the book was constantly on my mind for some reason, so I decided to finally pick it up and read it. I had only seen the book around before and heard great stuff about it. Having no clue what it was actually about, I went in without any expectations whatsoever, other than the fact that I was hoping the book would blow my mind away. Thankfully, the book was intriguing, mysterious and unique enough to do just that. I can't really say that I was surprised by the same, because from the very beginning, I knew that I had confronted a really nice story. 

Out of the Easy is the story of literature admirer and bookstore caretaker, Josie, who also happens to be the daughter of a prostitute who works for a very chic, quirky, strong and powerful women by the name of Willie. Josie also works for Willie wherein she does cleanup at the brothel. For me, having these three women at the core of the story made the book very women-centric. What was most admirable was that each of them was so unique in their own way and had a personality that was quite contrasting to the others. Having said that, the men in the story were very unparalleled as well. So we go from Cokie, the driver, to many men who visit the brothel and get nicknamed based on the place they come from to Charlie, book owner and author to spooks who give chills... Everyone was very unique and well developed as characters. Josie had two guys in her life, Patrick and Jesse, both of whom were astoundingly attractive and commendably smart. 

Even though Out of the Easy is essentially historical, there wasn't much of the socio-political history of the late 1940s and early 1950s other than the mention of a few wars here and there. What was really historical and what made it very charming was the description of the old world from the houses, buildings and exteriors to the roads, cafes and restaurants. Another positive was the mystery added which kept the story very gripping and extremely fast-paced as well. I thoroughly loved every second of the story and I was curious to read and know more. To top it all off, Ruta Sepetys' writing was so lovely and had a very rapidly poetic feel to it, and made the book very mysterious and dazzling. 

While the ending of the story was rather simplistic in my eyes and I would have liked the mystery to take a stronger hold since it seemed like it was the most important aspect after a certain point, I still liked Out of the Easy more than enough. Josie was a lovely and smart girl who made for a very brave and admirable character whose company I loved since page one. Her love for literature was easy to relate to. She is the heroine of the book, and honestly, there wouldn't be any problem if there were no guys in the story, because Josie was the hero too. This was her book and her story. A dazzling tale of the dark side of a town, the dark side of power, the unsteadiness in relationships, ambition, strife and everyone looking for their own advantages, Out of the Easy is a very lovely and gripping story. 

RATING:

Review- Paper Towns by John Green

Goodreads Summary:

Quentin has always loved Margo Roth Spiegelman, for Margo (and her adventures) are the stuff of legend at their high school. So when she one day climbs through his window and summons him on an all-night road trip of revenge he cannot help but follow.

But the next day Margo doesn’t come to school and a week later she is still missing. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance . . . and they are for him. But as he gets deeper into the mystery – culminating in another awesome road trip across America – he becomes less sure of who and what he is looking for.

Masterfully written by John Green, this is a thoughtful, insightful and hilarious coming-of-age story. 

REVIEW:

At first, when I began reading Paper Towns, it seemed like it was another Looking for Alaska with a nerd guy and an attractive, popular and quirky girl. For about fifty percent of the book, it was just that, except we have no girl. But it's when Paper Towns has barely twenty percent remaining that it really begins to kick and goes on to become this action-packed, comical, almost innocent and philosophically enlightening read. That obviously means that the first eighty percent of the book wasn't all that extraordinary, but it wasn't bad at all because overall, the book was great. Honestly speaking though, only the last twenty percent of the book- which makes up part three or The Vessel- is necessary because that is the part where there's that promised road trip. The rest is just filling pages up to make a novel. 

Quentin and Margo know each other since childhood as they are neighbours who end up going to the same school. Their acquaintance doesn't really go anywhere until one night when Margo decides to get into Quentin's window and take him on an adventure. Speaking of love and romance in this novel, it was very typical. And even dumb, if I may say so. But the end was simply superb. It was perfect not just in terms of the friendship and all stuff unspoken between Quentin and Margo but for Quentin and Margo as individuals. Quentin was just a regular guy with regular dreams, which was nice and refreshing. Margo was his opposite. While very unconventional, she did stuff without any reason, and both qualities are admirable. But her absence was more than her presence and that was disappointing. Also, her personality and story lacked depth. 

The most fun and interesting aspect of Paper Towns is Quentin's friends, Ben and Radar. They were just so fantastic and fabulous that it was hard not to laugh or at least smile when either or both of them were involved. Ben and Radar were amazing friends who were always there for Quentin whether he needed them or not. It is only for these two awesome guys that I have added another half owl to my rating. It would be really cool to read more about them. In the form of novellas, perhaps? Another really lovely aspect was all the hidden philosophy and thought-provoking stuff that John Green is famous for. Also, the pee jokes! I genuinely appreciate toilet humour, so it was hilarious. 

While Paper Towns was not something that can be called a marvel or a masterpiece, it was still a fun read that has many points to contemplate. John Green, once again, tells us a brilliant story of American teenagers who are very intellectual for their age. A nerdy book in its essence, Paper Towns is a nice read that is funny and contemplative all at once, which makes it very unique in some way. The reason I read the book is because I wanted to get to it before the movie, so I hope the movie is decent enough. But again, speaking honestly, a movie can be made with just the last twenty percent of the book. Just saying. 

RATING:

Review- The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

Goodreads Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. 

REVIEW:

The realisation that I have come to after reading The Devil You Know is that I miss the Trish Doller who wrote that insightful and simply dazzling book, Something Like Normal. The author wrote two books after that (one of which was Where the Stars Still Shine); both of which ended up being disappointing, for me at least. Having said that, I didn't hate the author's third novel, The Devil You Know, but I didn't appreciate it immensely either. While the beginning and the ending were both really nice, the rest of the story was just predictable and dull. 

After losing her mother to cancer, Arcadia becomes mother to her little brother while her father still mopes over the loss of his wife. Thoroughly done with being the responsible person in the house, on one of her day off, Arcadia decides to just let it all go, leave it all behind and take a break by going to a party happening somewhere nearby. That's where she meets two cousin brothers who are out on a road trip. She is attracted to them both, but thankfully, she prefers one over the other. Arcadia, whether in rage, rebellion or sheer dumbness (I can't point out which) decides to accompany these guys up to a certain extent because that's her only ticket to escape and finally live the adventures she has only dreamt of until now. She has no idea what adventure really awaits her. 

While the need to turn dreams into reality, being attracted to someone truly hot and nice, taking the risk to do something, whatever that may be, is understandable, there were so many aspects that had me questioning the whole point of the book. When Arcadia was so concerned about her family, I didn't see why she had to take off with someone she barely knew. While she seemed really caring at first, she just turned out to be dumb later. Although I have to give her credit for the act she pulled out at the end of the book. I couldn't stand her most of the time, but she didn't piss me off to no end either. She was just about bearable and her love and respect for her mom was nice to see. Of the two brothers, I really liked Noah. He was genuinely nice and his dog Molly was the centre of attention and highlight of the book for me. 

What was really nice about The Devil You Know was the mystery surrounding the story from the very beginning. It was easy to figure out there was something really freaky going on, and even easier to find out who the culprit was. It was really the dullest point ever. At one point, the story turned very alarming and spine-chilling which was really a work of marvel by Trish Doller. And as mentioned before, the very intriguing beginning and the gutsy and nice ending were a relief. It's just that everything that happened in between was very average and honestly, sometimes even unnecessary. All in all, this was just an okay read that thankfully was quick as well. 

RATING:

Review- Modern Monsters by Kelley York

Goodreads Summary:

Vic Howard never wanted to go to the party. He’s the Invisible Guy at school, a special kind of hell for quiet, nice guys. But because his best friend is as popular as Vic is ignored, he went…

And wished he hadn’t.

Because something happened to a girl that night. Something terrible, unimaginable, and Callie Wheeler’s life will never be the same. Plus, now Callie has told the police that Vic is responsible. Suddenly, Invisible Vic is painfully visible, on trial both literally, with the police, and figuratively, with the angry kids at school. As the whispers and violence escalate, he becomes determined to clear his name, even if it means an uneasy alliance with Callie's best friend, the beautiful but aloof Autumn Dixon.

But as Autumn and Vic slowly peel back the layers of what happened at the party, they realize that while the truth can set Vic free, it can also shatter everything he thought he knew about his life… 

REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Modern Monsters by Kelley York from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. We thank them for the book!

Sheer excitement started running through me when I got to know that Kelley York was writing a new book. An auto-read author for me, Kelley York is one of my most favourite and preferred contemporary writers of our time. So when I got the opportunity to read and review an e-arc of Modern Monsters, I was elated. Obviously, I had expectations from the book, and even though they weren't necessarily met to the absolute last point, the book did exactly what is necessary for me to appreciate a book. 

Vic Howard, the protagonist of Modern Monsters, from whose point of view the book goes, was very easy to relate to and I could connect with him so well. He was the awkward and reserved wallflower who had no problem being alone, and who has always been a shadow of his close friend, Brett. When accused of raping his school mate Callie at a famous lake house party, he suddenly becomes the centre of attention. While the whole mystery surrounding the rape was very intriguing and interesting, at some point, I knew who the culprit would be and I was right. This obviousness didn't disappoint me, because it only showed me how engaged and involved I was in the story that I instantly felt part of it. This is what I want a story to do to me in any case- make me feel belonged, and Modern Monsters did that. 

While Vic was the epitome of a character created by Kelley York, the story wasn't. There was darkness, there was mystery and there was thrill, but not too intense. When Vic and Callie's closest friend Autumn join hands to solve the mystery behind the rape, the story seemed to focus more on boy meets girl and you know what happens, which was really lovely, but had me slightly disappointed and bored. Also, I found it odd how Autumn immediately trusts Vic, but then again, Vic is genuinely a great and strong guy, which is such a rarity that I adored him. So was Autumn. She was just like autumn: fresh and nice. A nice friendship then turned into a gorgeous  slow burn romance, which is again dense in some Young Adult reads, so that was really satisfying and refreshing to read about. 

At one point, I stopped comparing Modern Monsters to any previous Kelley York book, and that's when I really started appreciating it. It was something very different, fresh and new. As if it isn't already evident, this book has shown me, once again, how talented Kelley York is in telling stories that leave me feeling. What that is and how that happens, I don't know. What matters the most to me is the fact that I felt that I was part of the story, right there with Vic, Autumn, Callie and Brett. Considering it to be a different read, I thought that Modern Monsters was quite a great read that ended perfectly and brought a smile to my face once I shut it, another aspect that I love and respect about such dazzling, emotional and powerful stories. 

RATING: