Susana "Lost in Fantasy Land"

Picked this up because I wanted something more lightweight before starting reading my next book... and I sure got it. -_-
The writing is juvenile. The characters are undeveloped clichés. Nothing is properly developed, not even the cheesy teen romance.
By now some of you are probably saying, "oh, you're being too harsh just because this isn't for you."
Thing is, I would never in a million years give this book to a middle grader, or even a teen. And that is because this is one of those books, that manages to not develop a decent plot so that it can gush about a stupid, maybe toxic romance. For those who have read this, you're probably thinking, "oh, but Nick is a good guy!"
Yes, Nick is not a bad guy for a sixteen year old. But I found him manipulative, and in the end of the story, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth, because I couldn't help feeling that another women got sidetracked of all her potential because of a guy.
What a waste of an original concept.

October proved out to be a month with reads above the average: I only dnf'ed one book.

I am so proud of myself... although that might mean that I'll Dnf two books in November: namely the ones that I managed not to finish in October. -_-

Books Read: 8

Anthology- Horror/ Dark Fantasy- A feast of Sorrows 3.5 Stars (Arc)

Fairy Tales - The Princess and The Bear ( #2) - 3.5 Stars

Historical Fiction (with traces of retelling):

 Spindle - 3.5 Stars (Arc)

A Study In Scarlet Women - 2.5 Stars (Arc)

Middle Grade / Retellings: The Rat Prince - 3 Stars

Paranormal Romance:

Shifting Dreams ( Cambio Springs, #1) - 3 Stars

Firefly Hollow (#1) - 2 Stars (DNF)

Dnf at 70%

I started this on a whim after seeing some good reviews of some friends.

I just wanted something that would make me want to read, so I started this, and I found myself liking it.

I had never read a paranormal romance in which the paranormal element was so toned down.

Also for a story that takes place in the fifties, the characters were surprisingly modern. I should know that sooner or later there would be a catch.

Sarah is a feminist, she knows what she wants, and she knows how she'll get it.

She wants an education, and she has the support of her family.

Owen, also wants an education. Unfortunately due to his condition _ the shifter thing that runs in the family _ he won't be able to follow his dream. Also, as a consequence of his different condition, he ends up estranged of great part of his family.

In that moment we believe when he says he will live the rest of his life as a hermit. Too bad the author didn't explore this.

Some years go by, Sarah returns home, due to some events, and I'm afraid that things start happening extremely fast: things that had been properly developed would allow for some real conflict.

But no, instead the romance between those two blossoms in the blink of an eye, and by the middle of the book, I was ready for the thing to end. Really.

We have two characters, extremely likeable, sweet and reasonable who start behaving as idiots. Because by that moment, the book was only about their romance. The shifter part was still extremely undeveloped, and Sarah who up until now had behaved in a logical manner, decides to act all drama queen.

Maybe I'll finish it some other time, but at this moment I just don't have the patience for it.

Too bad, because at the beginning of the story I thought I was reading a four star book.

I started this hoping to have found another urban fantasy series that I would love.

Thing is, this series is more romance oriented than I was expecting it to be. Nothing wrong with it, just not what I was expecting.

The characters were actually interesting, the romance was well done, the world building not too messy, and I actually didn't know who the culprit was, so not too bad.

I am actually curious about the couple in the second book so I may read it one of these days.

For a paranormal romance, the guy was not a alpha douche bag, and Jenna ( the main character) could definitely kick his ass when needed.

Why I'm about to dnf this:

First there's the cheesy similes:

“Jane?” Eliza yawned delicately, her elfin face adorable as a kitten’s."

"Eliza went still as a beautiful china doll."

There's the inconsistencies. The author isn't able to define an age for a character:

"He was eight years old but had the intellectual capacity of a child half his age."

Later on...

"He was a boy of six."

In the book, Jane is nineteen years old, so I really don't understand the need to quote parts of most Jane Austen's books: by that age, she had only written her so called juvenilia as well as Lady Susan.

I can only attribute that decision to the need of having something well written in this story.

Then there's the occasional inclusion of words and phrasing that are heavily linked to Jane Austen's writing and putting them in the mouth of someone else...

"To Jane she embodied the perfect combination of sense and sensibility."

C'mon! That wasn't even the title that Jane Austen originally chose.

“You may flatter her lively dancing. Or her complexion,Or her fine eyes." (said by a cousin)

Please. Stop.

“But my nerves won’t stand for a noisy party. (Told by Jane Austen's mother)

Really Mrs Bennet?

“If he deigns to come, I am certain he will be too discourteous to dance, no matter how many women require partners.”

Just STOP.

“You’ve no fortune and are only tolerably pretty."

Said by one of Jane's brothers... because heaven forbids that what she ends up writing would come out of her head!

I always thought Jane Austen must have been an incredibly smart and interesting woman to get to know... at least until I read this :/

Where is her spirit? Her wit?

In this story, young Jane Austen comes out as a bratty, irresponsible girl, who doesn't care a bit about her reputation!

And calling a man that isn't her kin by his first name?

Are you kidding me?

you know what? I've had enough.

Oh, and I was already forgetting about the x-ray vision -_-

"He no longer wore his disguising scarf, but his face was concealed beneath his hat.
She could only see make out his tawny eyes, staring at her intently."

HOW CAN SHE POSSIBLY SEE THE COLOUR OF HIS EYES?!

*all quotes removed from an arc

   Arc Provided by Berkley Publishing Group through Netgalley

Book Status: Already Released ( October 18th)

Here's the thing: I've never been a Sherlock Holmes fan. I would see some "Poirot" episodes, "Miss Marple", "Murder She Wrote", but I never had the patience for Sherlock. serialization with Cumberbatch didn't improve matters, because I really dislike Cumberbatch's weasel... face. -_-

Tony Stark, I mean Downey Jr, was able to make me sit quietly for a couple of minutes in front of the screen, but not enough to make me want to finish watching it...or maybe it was that Watson dude. *cough*

I do however love House and Wilson! So maybe not all is lost? ;)

But I digress. This story, well by now it must be painfully obvious that I didn't request this because of the character...

I requested this because of the author! Sherry Thomas would probably make me read a book about Hannibal Lecter! *okay, maybe not*

I've read the author's historical romances. Her _until now_ only contemporary (please, give me more!). Even two of her YA trilogy, so of course I had to read this one. A female Sherlock? Yes, please! Surely she wouldn't be as annoying as Cumberbatch's performance.

___

I'm afraid that after having read this, I'm no longer sure. Reading this was very strange. And uncomfortable, because I couldn't understand her. But maybe that was to be expected?

Charlotte, future Sherlock Holmes to be, left me wondering in those first pages if she had some level of autism, because if so, that would explain some things.

But then she started talking, and I was left wondering if she was trying to impersonate Dr. House's aloofness. But later on, the girl has the beginning of a panic attack... so I guess in the end she's more like Wilson. But we do end up having a Watson in the book, so that was a little redundant: that overflow of emotions.

By now you're probably saying that none of this makes sense... well that was what I felt at the beginning of this story, so join the club! ;)

Back and forth without actually seeing the events taking place! Hello? This had so much telling, it became absurd. This was supposed to be about the beginning of Sherlock's career, and we don't get to see it!

And what about Charlotte's decisions... are you kidding me? Where is their logic? So, Charlotte Holmes, our main character... how can I say this?

She became a little tiresome. A little like Sheldon, but less funny...

Then there's the other characters: there's Liv, one of Charlotte's sisters. Then two other sisters. I can't remember their names. Then there's the mother (who is an abusive bastard), and the father, who is a lying bastard. Lord Ingram, who ends up being the most interesting character in the book, but he's married, and that makes him a fool. Although not as ridiculous as Charlotte, because Charlotte wins first prize.

There's a Scotland Yard Inspector to whom it is given way too much time in this book, with countless (hours and hours of my life were wasted forever) interrogations that suck the life out of us.

That means that a lot of people die during this story: don't worry, you won't care about any of them. In fact, if you're anything like me, you'll probably end up mixing the whole gang!

In the end, the thing improves a little with all those deaths being perfectly resolved and all that, but it really is impossible for me to forget the fact that for probably three quarters of the story, I was extremely bored by it.

However, I have to give credit where it is due: even with a boring story, Sherry Thomas's writing style is still two hundred percent better than that of other writers.

  This was a cute Cinderella's retelling, with an unexpected main character: Prince Char of the Northern Realm... who happens to be a rat. A royal rat. lol

Now Char is an industrious, fast on his little feet, smart prince, who happens to have a soft spot for poor Lady Rose, who has been nicknamed Cinderella by her wicked stepmother... Char is well aware that the well being of his kingdom depends on getting rid of Cinderella's stepmother: the women is dead serious on poisoning all of Char's people. And that, simply cannot be. That is when Char devises a plan. He will help Cinderella get to the ball so that she can meet the prince and hopefully getting him smitten with her. With Cinderella as Queen, Char hopes to at last have some peace at his home. Good plan, right? Now if only Char and Cinderella would understand one another... With the help of a recovered family heirloom, Char and Cinderella end up getting much more that what they were expecting. Like I said this was a cute retelling. Fast paced, well written, I think younger readers will probably have a blast with this. For me the only downside, is that I can't help wishing that the romance had taken longer to develop, and that in the dialogues between the love birds hadn't relied so much on "cheese"... if you know what I mean. Sometimes, less is more. And this is destined for a younger audience so...

Wow author, could you have written Jane Austen in a more disagreeable manner? -_-

Not happy about this.

Arc Provided by Simon & Schuster through Netgalley

Release Date: November 1rt

Here's the thing, I am starting to realize that Alice Hoffman's writing is like a drug to me: I am addicted to it ( why? Idk. Faulty wiring in the grey cells... depression. Who knows?), but it really messes with me. And not in a good way. Because through imagery and beautiful phrasing the author embellishes ugly scenarios. The worst is that lately, her books seem to be dominated by weak people and by their socially inapt families, and the fact that through some convoluted fairy tale scenarios, most people overcome their issues.

Unless you're killed: Alice Hoffman's characters have a high mortality rate. Mostly due to cancer,(strangely, in some parts of the world, cancer is already seen as a chronic disease, but not in A.H's novels), but there's also drugs, and finicky parrots that suddenly decide to fly (yeah, I still haven't got over that one) leading their owners to death.

The writing as always is great... although there was some repetitions that could have been avoided. Like Ben's last name. Over and over... and over.

But that is not the main reason why this book left me mad as a wet cat.

These are:

1) Use of trigger warning situations only for the shock value of the thing

A friend who is a comma, is bad enough. Survivor's guilt, is bad enough.

So that Shelby got to say "I was fucked" over and over. And for me it wasn't used as a form of dissociation. If "that" was the idea, then the whole thing was poorly done.

The whole thing becomes even more problematic, after she tells her mother what happened, and the mother doesn't do anything about it. That's right, for about two years Shelly does whatever she wants, falling into a deep depression.

And like I said the rape is never properly addressed, so yeah for me, that was really badly done.

2) At the beginning of this review I use the term "weak people". Let me explain: I am not trying to diminish the character's pain. Thing is, bad things happen in life. People die. Family die and we never get over it. That doesn't mean all of us are going to do drugs. That doesn't mean that we're going to enter a relationship like some sort of parasite. Especially if that person likes you. Most of the times we just go on with our lives.

3) Due to the synopsis, I thought this would be more friendship oriented than it ended being. Shelly and Helene are supposed to be best friends, but at beginning, the characterization that the author makes of the two of them felt so heavy handed, "good girl/party girl; good student/couldn't care less about it; reserved/kind of sluty (hopefully this word will be removed from the final story), that I was left completely baffled about what I was reading.

4) The use of a physical image associated with cancer to create pity

After the accident, Shelby shaves her head. She even says that people look at her with pity because they think she has cancer. Maybe if the author hadn't said something of the type, I couldn't care less? But she did, and from that moment on, my hatred for Shelby started growing. She wanted to blend in the background? In that case, average appearance normally does the trick.

5) Alice Hoffman and romance normally don't walk hand in hand.

Obsession, insta attraction and following disappointment, yes. Thing is I had imagined many roads for Shelby and Ben. For a moment I thought, "okay, the author creates the most wonderful Ben's". Read "Practical Magic".

I was happy, or at least I was hoping for a possibility of happiness. And then the author had to choose a "new adult" approach to ruin things.

6) The new adult romance vibe

You know why I mostly can't stand new adult? It is because of the way abusive/toxic relationships are dealt.

Stalkerish vibes?

Away you go.

A guy deciding what is best for you?

Yeah, no.

Dark, brooding, been in prison vibe?

Hell no, Give me a Ben. Even if it started out messy.

7) The cancer card

That's right! Who cares if the story line was already fucked up as it was? The story wouldn't be complete without someone dying from cancer... in a few pages.

8) Another death, because the death tally in this book still wasn't long enough.

Really, stop with the soap opera!

9) No magical realism. There was this supposed "angel" (stupid me was thinking something along the lines of "Turtle Moon") who ended up being a Mr. Know it all, stalkerish type.

Just No.

Truth is, had this been written by any other author ( that not one of my favourites) I probably wouldn't have even finished it. As it is, I feel as if I've read some weird as fuck soap opera. And I hate soap operas.

Guess it is time for me and Alice Hoffman's writing to part ways.

Let me tell you that if this wasn't an arc, I would already have given up.

Really guys, who wants to read a boring book after an amazing read?

This is so boring!! With so many boring characters... and lots of boring interrogations scenes :/

Also, I never cared about Sherlock Holmes: I Know! *collective gasp*

I feel as if I am studying trigonometry all over again!

I HATED IT!

I no longer have patience for boring books. I AM OLD!

All book bloggers go through it once in awhile. It's our holy grail. That elusive five star story that keeps escaping us by the turn of the pages... until it does appear, and we get all flustered and scared searching for words that will never make that story true justice. As you can see, this is one of those cases. I don't even remember any more what it was that caught my attention when requesting this title. But I am so glad that it did. If you're looking for an entrancing story with complex and diverse characters, then search no more. If to that, you're also a fan of magical realism and of beautiful writing, then you're in for a treat. Sam and Miel have been friends since "forever". Forever being, since the old water tower got destroyed, a rush of rusty water delivering this strange girl, Miel to Sam's small town. Alone and with a few bag of memories. Sam, or Samir, is the boy with the dark skin and black hair. The boy that doesn't seem to fit in anywhere: until Miel arrives. Miel, the girl with the roses growing in her wrist. Literally. And with a lot of lore attached to them. Both of them have secrets of their own. Both of them are outcasts in their own way. But one thing is constant between them: their friendship, and later on their love. Their feelings for each other, and most of all, the way they respect one another is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. How they love each other, not despite something, but because of those elements, made me fall in love with them. A wonderful story about all the different bonds of love. A story about what makes us unique. What makes us, us. Is it our bodies? The way other people perceive us? A wonderful complex story of friendship, family, love, and even witches. Witches with glass coffins and wishes that aren't theirs to hold. A story that in the end leaves us sad because it has ended. But happy for having read it. A definite must read!

And now I must go and read the author's first book asap.

Author's Official Site BookDepository.com

Arc Provided by Entangled Teen Through Netgalley Release Date: October 4 th This was certainly different from every single retelling that I've ever read... and for that I'm grateful. I can certainly appreciate a different take on a story inspired by a fairy tale. And this one sure is original. Time frame: end of the nineteen century. Briar Rose is a mill girl along many others. She is a sixteen year old, in charge of her younger siblings. Her reality couldn't be more distant of one of a fairy tale. Well written, this story took me back to the period of suffragettes, a time fraught with changes and possibilities. I liked imagining what it must have been like living back then. Not in a "oh, I wish I could time travel", because I am a woman and let's face it, we're still fighting for our rights... -_- I liked how the author was able to interwove some magical aspects of a fairy tale in a setting such as the one of the industrial revolution. I liked "seeing" the girls reactions to bicycles for instance. How differently the girls reacted to changes. The ones that were eager for it versus the others that kept wishing things wouldn't change. It was all great until things started being a little repetitive. But the thing that left me somewhat disappointed was the way health and magic got a little tangled... I understand why it happened, but I thought it was a little messy. Besides that, I can't help wishing that Briar wouldn't have felt so "goody two shoes". That her younger brothers hadn't been portrayed as such angels, so that maternal instincts could arise on her friends, and things like those. As for Henry I would have liked to have seen more of him. It definitely felt as if the romance was extremely downplayed, and although I don't like it when a romance takes centre stage, a middle ground could have been found. As for the ending, it felt extremely rushed, there my 3.5 rating. All in all, this was a positive experience and I'll be sure to give the author's other stories a try. Author's Official Site Bookdepository.com

The Bluebeard's Daughter:

" My father likes being married and, despite everything, he's apparently catnip for women (..)"

The Jacaranda Wife:

"For all the centuries men have dreamed of the joy of a silent wife, Willoughby discovered that the reality of one was entirely unsatisfactory ."