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The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
I thought “The Bone Witch” sounded interesting and after reading the last sentence in the book description, “Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Name of the Wind in this brilliant new fantasy series by Rin Chupeco!”, I knew that I had to read this book. Maybe my expectations were too high but I found myself sorely disappointed. Now before I delve into the details, this isn’t a bad read, it just isn’t in the same league as “Memoirs of a Geisha” or “The Name of the Wind”.
The story itself was decent. The story follows Tea as she discovers her innate ability to raise the dead and learns what it means to be a “bone witch”. Along with following Tea as she learns proper magical etiquette, the story alternates chapters with an older Tea as she reflects back on her life and raises beasts from bones. There isn’t a whole lot of action to keep the reader glued to the pages, rather it’s more of a glimpse of life for Tea as she navigates a new society with new rules and challenges. With that being said, there’s enough action that I didn’t give up on the book and finished it through to the last page. The storyline is the one place where I would compare this book to “Memoirs of a Geisha”- a lot of descriptions of the rituals that Tea goes through.
The characters in this book are alright. I didn’t find myself caring about any of them, even the main character, and didn’t really relate to any of them. They weren’t unlikable but I felt that I didn’t know them well enough to care about them. I could have used a little bit more of an emotional connection to all of the characters but maybe throughout the rest of the series there will be more of a connection.
The writing in this book is pretty good. The author writes with a good variety of sentence structure- definitely a polished writer. The descriptions in this book don’t stand out as magical but they’re readable and get the point across. This is why I wouldn’t compare this book to “The Name of the Wind”- the writing just doesn’t live up to the comparison. Even though the writing isn’t the best I’ve ever read- the writing is definitely not amateuar. I would be interested in reading more by this author, just not this series.
The most frustrating part of this book for me was the ending. I had so many unanswered questions at the end that I found myself extremely irritated. There’s such a thing as the perfect amount of intrigue left at the end of a book, this book misses that mark by a long shot. The book would have been much better if the author had fully told the story of Tea’s young life and left her adult life more of a mystery, rather than leaving both stories half finished. If you’re going to read this book- I would recommend waiting until the next book in the series is released.
I can’t say that I would recommend this book but I can’t recommend against it either. If you are looking for a story that combines elements of “Memoirs of a Geisha” with a fantasy story, you will enjoy this book. If you’re looking for a book with writing comparable to “The Name of the Wind”, look elsewhere.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
I greatly enjoyed this book. Reminding me a little bit of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and John Grisham’s novels all rolled into one. “The Radium Girls” chronicles the true account of the Radium poisoning the dial painters, working throughout the United States, contracted by working with luminous paint.
The story begins by introducing the reader to all of the young ladies who worked at the New Jersey radium plant. The author gives a short description of each woman including their general personality and looks. While this part did get a little tedious to read, it only lasts for about a chapter and helps to paint a picture of each lady in the reader’s head. This also is a nice tribute to the women as each one receives a short description, even if they weren’t major players in the events that unfolded. The book also chronicles the women in Illinois who were working for another company using luminous paint. Later in the book there is a chapter introducing these women, but as there weren’t as many of them the descriptions aren’t as tedious.
The story then follows the women as they paint the luminous watch faces in the factories. The author talks about how the pay was fantastic, the work was glamorous (I mean, the women glowed after spending the day painting with radium), and they worked in close proximity to their friends. It sounds like the ideal job; until years later when the women became ill with radium poisoning and started dying off in droves. This is by far the saddest part of the book- reading about what happened to the women and the horrors they faced as their bodies decayed around them. Yet, although extremely sad and disturbing, there is a somewhat upbeat swing to the story as the women begin to realize the connection and fight back against the companies.
At this point in the story (about halfway through) I really started to be reminded of John Grisham novels. The trials the girls (and their lawyers) faced, the way all representatives of the companies behaved, and the constant up and down action all felt more like a novel than real life. Throughout reading you will continually find yourself appalled that this actually happened, let alone happened so recently. You will also find yourself unable to stop reading, caring so much for the characters that you feel you need to know how they all came out of this ordeal.
The writing in this book is straightforward, descriptive, and polished. Moore obviously understands the fundamentals of writing good nonfiction and includes the perfect balance of emotion and cold, hard facts. I will definitely be looking for more works by this author because I greatly enjoyed her writing style.
If you enjoyed “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” then you will certainly enjoy this book. “The Radium Girls” is a disturbing and upsetting, yet deeply powerful book that will leave the reader admiring the young women and thinking about the story for days after finishing. Highly recommend.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Escape to a Future: Review
When I first began reading “Escape to a Future” by Brian Wigley, I didn’t think I would be able to get into the story or enjoy it much. Yet, by the end of the third chapter, I found myself immensely curious as to what would happen next with the main character. Despite not truly liking a lot of the aspects of the book, on the whole, I didn’t have any trouble finishing it and was fairly pleased with my reading experience
The story follows the adventures of Jonathan, or rather the misadventures and then subsequent good fortunes of Jonathan. Jonathan starts out as a lowly farmhand, working the fields with his father, but is soon transported to the big city of London where he works to better himself. When the city is plagued by sickness, Jonathan flees to the coast where he then is caught up amongst events out of his control (mostly) that send him around the world. Jonathan deals with everything thrown his way, regardless of how dreadful it may seem, and somehow always comes out of things with a spring in his step. One thing to note when reading this book is that, although it seems like everything happens within the span of months, the story actually spans multiple years. Just keep that in the back of your mind when reading because I found myself wondering how so much time could have passed throughout the story, I obviously wasn’t paying enough attention to subtle clues as to the passing time.
The main character, Jonathan, drove me absolutely bonkers. I didn’t really mind him at the beginning. He just seemed like a basic character, nothing too deep or confusing about him. But by the end of the story, I absolutely hated him. By about a quarter of the way through the book Jonathan started acting like an entitled and spoiled brat. He seemed to forget his humble roots very quickly and expected to be treated better than everyone else, regardless of his situation. He made the point of stating (many times) how lucky he was and grateful, but then he’d turn around and act like an entitled jerk. I strongly disliked him.
The writing in this book is just alright. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing style. In fact, I found myself getting annoyed at times. The author has a habit of posing questions at the end of paragraphs or chapters. While this does make some sense, as the character is likely thinking these questions as he goes through life, I found the questions throughout the story grating and annoying. Wigley’s writing also isn’t very eloquent. Wigley writes in a very straightforward and simple manner, which while not a bad thing just isn’t my style. If you’re into books that are straightforward, without a lot of description or details than this story is a good choice.
Now although it might seem like I have a lot to complain about within this book, my overall experience wasn’t bad. I was genuinely curious as to what would happen next to Jonathan, which kept me reading right up until the last page. The simple writing style also allowed this book to be read extremely quickly- making for a relaxing weekend read. Bottom line- I enjoyed this book, and although it wasn’t my favorite, I would recommend it for those looking for some simple and enjoyable historical fiction.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bless the Skies: Review
Although “Bless the Skies” by Julie Elise Landry took me quite a few pages to really get into, it turned out to be a marvelous book and one that I couldn’t stop reading. Although the writing wasn’t as polished, the story and characters really put me in the mind of Scott Lynch’s “Lies of Locke Lamora”. The words in this book, the characters, and story just had the same taste as Lies, which kept me wanting to read more long after the story was finished.
“Bless the Skies” follows the lives of 3 young ladies- the Tavens Sisters, Elaina and Laeli, and their friend, Sophie. Although they lead a rough life as prostitues and thieves, it is a relatively safe one. At least it was until they botched a robbery and Elaina was kidnapped as bait by Lord Anderton, an absolutely horrendous villain. I won’t give away any more details, because all of this happens in the beginning of the book, but I will say that there is a lot more going on than just that. There’s a war brewing, a mysterious man called the “fog”, and a unique world just waiting to be explored.
The characters in this book are all very solid. At the beginning of the story I found myself not really liking any of the women and I couldn’t understand how this Lord Anderton character was supposed to be the villain. By the end of the book, all of the women had really grown as characters and I found myself rooting for them. As for Lord Anderton… well let’s just say that he turned out to be an incredibly disturbing man, portrayed in a way that was so realistic and rational it left me too disturbed to go to sleep.
The writing in this book, while not perfectly polished, is easily readable and fits smoothly within the genre. The only true gripes I had with the writing itself were that the author changes perspective too frequently and suddenly to suit me, although I did get used to this by the end of the book, and the author throws the reader right into the middle of the story without much explanation or introduction. I was rather confused at the beginning, this story takes place in a slightly different world and contains complex characters and a fast moving plot, but the author provides the reader with a glimpse into the past about halfway through the book that worked wonders at clearing up all my questions and keeping me glued to the pages. The writing style itself reminded me of Scott Lynch and left a really pleasing taste in my head after reading. If the author continues to write at this caliber in her later works, with only a little more organization, I will definitely be reading more.
“Bless the Skies” is a fantasy novel that represents the genre well. There’s a unique world within the pages that is just begging to be explored- one populated with diverse characters and just enough horrors to keep you reading long into the night.
I would recommend this book for lovers of fantasy, especially those looking for a dark and disturbing story. If you get confused easily by multiple perspective switches then you might want to pass on this book, but if you’re confident in your ability to keep characters straight then definitely give this book a shot. It’s a delightful glimpse into a fantasy world that’s realistic but dreadful. I look forward to reading more by this author.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Safe Room: Review
I was invited to read and review this book by the publisher. Needless to say, when I got the email inviting me to read The Safe Room I was super excited. I had read The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro and really enjoyed it, the opportunity to read her newest book (or so I thought) was thrilling. I was a little dismayed when I logged onto goodreads and noticed that the original publication date was 2002, hmmm must be a reprint. But that does not change the fact that The Safe Room was a really good read and a book I would highly recommend.
This story starts out following the life of Lee, an idealistic 27 year old who lives with her grandmother in an old house in Lexington that was a pivotal point in the underground railroad many generations prior. This book also tells the story of Sarah, the daughter of an abolitionist, through her diary entries. The two women’s stories begin to intersect part way through the book with the introduction of a (possible) ghost in Harden House; that of Silas- a runaway slave living in Harden house and awaiting the fate of his two brothers (also runaway slaves).
It took me until about 26% of the way through this book before I was really into it. But once more of the plot was introduced, I was hooked. I read the rest of the book in a day because it was so difficult to put down. I still can’t decide if this was a truly masterful work, as it wasn’t quite as polished as The Art Forger but it is still a book I would highly recommend.
The Safe Room deals with issues of race throughout the story, but does so in a way more unique than that of the typical pre-civil war era story. The race issues dealt with in this book were also that of modern day. There are parallel race issues going on throughout the story between Lee, in the present day, and Sarah, in the 1850’s and 60’s- whether all white people are the same in their racism towards blacks. I won’t reveal anything more about the race issues in the story, as they are truly what make the story beautiful, but just know that there is a lot more than meets the eye in terms of race in this book.
The characters in this book were really quite wonderful. I felt by the end of the book as if I truly knew the characters, especially Sarah and Lee. Although there were times when I thought the characters reactions were not exactly realistic or that they were not acting the way I expected them to, I realize now that is what made the characters all the more dynamic. The relationships between the characters were also quite beautiful and there were a few relationships (I won’t give anything way), that I wish could have ended differently.
The writing in The Safe Room was consistent with the Shapiro’s style, although not quite as polished. There were a few times where the perspective would shift from Lee to Trina in the middle of a chapter and I would find myself confused as to who’s perspective it was. This occurred more at the beginning of the story as once I was able to recognize the character’s style of thinking, shifts were easier to follow.
In the end, The Safe Room by B.A. Shapiro is a truly beautiful take on a ghost story that deals with serious issues and portrays characters that are extremely likable and easy to relate to. I would highly recommend this book for those with an interest in the underground railroad, tasteful ghost stories, or just beautiful stories.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Lazarus Curse: Review
A fantastic mystery set in London that masterfully blends natural science, the cruelties of slavery, and voodoo into a heart pounding adventure that will leave the reader chilled to the bone.
The Lazarus Curse follows Dr. Thomas Silkstone as he finds himself smack in the middle of a deadly adventure when he asked to catalogue the specimens brought back by an ill fated expedition to the new world. When an important journal disappears and the only remaining member of the expedition party is murdered, Silkstone is thrown into a mystery that will expose him to the cruelties of slavery and the cruelties of people that spans the world.
This story is one that will haunt the reader long after the pages have finished turning. Exposing the reader to not only the cruelties of slavery in England, but to the wickedness of the human being, The Lazarus Curse is a book that will have the reader turning away from the story in horror and eagerly awaiting more in equal parts.
This is the first book that I have read by Tessa Harris and I have to say that I really enjoyed her style of writing. She writes in a manner that is descriptive, without being overly so. Her descriptions of London and the horrors that befell the characters were vivid and easily pictured, yet it was easy to imagine all of the extra pieces without her having to explicitly state what everything looked like exactly. Harris also writes passages of immense action in a smooth and easily followed manner. At no point during the story was I at a loss as to what was going on, the author definitely understands how to paint a clear picture with her words.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fascinating stories that masterfully blend the world of natural science with that of slavery and voodoo. The Lazarus Curse is a fast paced story that will not disappoint.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
The City: Review
I was a little apprehensive when I first began reading this book. I’d read quite a few Koontz books prior to reading The City and the start of this book just didn’t feel like a typical Koontz story. After I got about a third of the way through the book however, that feeling changed greatly. The intrigue picked up and I found myself sucked into the story and the characters.
This story centers around a man, Jonah Kirk, as he recants some strange goings on that happened in his childhood. Johan Kirk’s childhood was tumultuous to say the least. Although able to find escape in piano and music, Kirk dealt with a disappointing father and rather sinister mystery involving some pretty shady people. Although at the beginning of the story I found myself wondering when the mystery and excitement would pick up, it quickly does, carrying the reader along on a journey through a few scary years in the life of a young boy.
The characters in this book are all dazzling. Even when I wasn’t able to relate to the characters (which didn’t happen often), I still found myself lapping up the descriptions of their everyday lives. All of the characters were realistic and spellbinding, reminding me of those people you encounter in everyday life that just seem magical for some reason.
The writing in this book wasn’t exactly typical Koontz writing style, but that doesn’t mean that the writing wasn’t enjoyable to read. The writing in this book seemed so much deeper and more elaborate than a typical Koontz novel, which just added to the spellbinding element of the story. I definitely enjoyed reading the writing in this book.
I would highly recommend this book for those interested in reading books featuring bewitching characters and a marvelous storyline. While it’s important to go into this expecting something a little different than the typical Koontz novel, this book still delivers a marvelous read that can be enjoyed by many.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
Inside The Criminal Mind: Review
Inside the Criminal Mind provides a fascinating and insightful look into the inner workings of the criminal. This book touches on the mentalities that apply in a general way to all criminals and then explains in more depth in relation to each criminal type (whether it’s burglars or pedophiles).
Samenow’s main point is that the criminal has a “criminal personality” which has been present to the relations of the criminal since they were young. Thus, one can potentially identify criminals as youths or can justify finding a criminal guilty (even if they plead temporary insanity) by using their past history to demonstrate that they have a criminal personality. This book does a fantastic job of explaining and using examples to demonstrate exactly what classifies as a criminal mind. Samenow illustrates, using quotes from criminals and those with a criminal mind, exactly what goes on in the minds of most criminals and how they feel about things.
While it’s obvious that the author stands behind his idea of a criminal personality, he recognizes that it doesn’t apply to all cases. Near the end of the book Samenow recognizes that there are actually people who commit crimes of insanity, who didn’t really have control over their actions due to their mental state. He points out that although that can happen, it’s extremely uncommon and is usually very easy to tell whether the person was actually in control of their actions. I appreciated that the author recognized other types of criminals, versus just focusing on those with a criminal personality, because there are always exceptions to the rule which needs to be recognized.
Samenow writes in a style that is very pleasurable to read. He writes in a manner that, while academic sounding, is still easy to follow and understand. There wasn’t a moment in this book where I was confused as to the point that the author was trying to get across as he is very clear in his message and intent. Samenow also brings examples of the criminal personality to life through actual stories and quotes from the criminals, bringing the message home to the reader.
I would recommend this book for those interested in psychology or understanding the criminal mind. This is a highly informative book that really makes me think about what shapes the criminal.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
Race Unmasked: Review
A fascinating look into race and more specifically, the eugenics movement of the 1920’s and the idea of genetics behind racial differences. When I first started reading Race Unmasked I really struggled to get involved in the topic. The information seemed dull and the writing wasn’t pulling me into the book. Yet by about 30% of the way through the book, I found myself unable to put it down.
There is a lot of really interesting information presented throughout this book. I have previous knowledge of a few things relating to eugenics, mainly what they teach in history class, but I really had no idea of the pure scope of the movement and how prominent scientists were reinforcing the movement with shifty research. Along with eugenics, I also learned a lot about the concept of race itself throughout that era. I had no idea how loose the definition and idea of race was within the scientific community and notable speakers during that time, and throughout history. By the time I finished Race Unmasked, I really felt that I had learned a lot about the concepts of race.
The writing in this book, while extremely academic, was relatively easy to read. The author relies heavily on quotes to bring the points across, which could be a challenge to read for some. I personally liked the heavy reliance on quotes. It really gave me an idea of exactly the scope of the information in the words of those who were for the eugenics movement and those who were against it. The authors comments in between each quote aided in connecting the information and making the book flow smoothly from piece to piece.
I would highly recommend this book to those interested in race studies and the eugenics movement. While I don’t think this book is for everyone, for someone with an interest in the topic this book is a great read.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
Seven Modern Plagues: Review
I don’t read very many books about sickness, so when a new one comes on the market I’m quick to grab it up and read it. Seven Modern Plagues is definitely one of the better books I’ve read about sickness in recent years and one that I will definitely be purchasing for myself when it is published.
Seven Modern Plagues focuses on seven major issues that have been afflicting the modern world, such as Salmonella, Lyme Disease, and West Nile Virus, amongst others. This book offers a comprehensive overview of each of the “modern plagues”, the ways in which humans have caused them and what we can do, if anything, to prevent ourselves from forming other, similar plagues.
The information in this book is solid and really taught me a lot about the plagues and how we have caused them. I had never actually considered the possibility that certain serious health concerns could be caused by the actions of humans in such things as deforestation. This book will definitely make me look at any new plagues with a critical eye, wondering whether the actions of humans were responsible for the outbreak. Along with containing unique information, this book also contains strong scientific information. The author does a fantastic job of citing scientific studies and health information. I definitely appreciate it when nonfiction books contain strong scientific facts to back up the points being made in the book.
The author in this book is a clear and concise writer. Walters does a wonderful job of getting the point across in an easy to understand way. The author definitely understands how to write in a way that can be understood by a wide variety of people, regardless of their previous knowledge of the information. The author also does a good job of telling stories throughout the book. The way the author gave personal stories of the people who were impacted by the diseases definitely aided in driving the points in the book home.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in books about sickness, especially the ways that sickness is caused by human actions. I would also recommend this book to just a general reader, this is an important book to read so that we can (hopefully) stop anymore plagues before the infect us.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
Premier Book Review 