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patchworkbunny's Reviews (2.12k)
Anya Crichton is looking forward to spending some quality time with her son…even if he ex-husband is in tow. Shortly after boarding their all expenses paid cruise, a teenage girl is found dead. Is she a victim of excess or is there a killer on board? Unable to leave her work behind, Anya becomes involved in the investigation and soon finds out there’s more to the cruise industry than meets the eye.
I think this is the end of this series for me. Whilst I enjoyed the first few books, this one had exactly the same tone and problems that put me off the previous instalment. Kathryn Fox obviously wants to use her books as a sounding board to talk about violence against women, which is great, it’s just not done all that well. It comes across as a bit patronising to point out to the reader that it’s a “common misconception” that women who drink are after sex. That is an excuse, not what the majority of people actually believe and there are several moments where it feels the reader is being lectured on the obvious.
I also found it hard to believe that cruise ships, preserve of the middle class older generations, are full of drunken louts who spend their time hunting young women on board. And this cruise ship, which was just off the coast of America, was incapable of reaching outside help…for several days. It’s all a bit far-fetched and I didn't find there was enough intrigue or tension to keep me turning the pages. It's a shame, because it could have been such a good setting but I'm just not a fan of reading about how "normal" it is for women to be victims of horrible men.
I think this is the end of this series for me. Whilst I enjoyed the first few books, this one had exactly the same tone and problems that put me off the previous instalment. Kathryn Fox obviously wants to use her books as a sounding board to talk about violence against women, which is great, it’s just not done all that well. It comes across as a bit patronising to point out to the reader that it’s a “common misconception” that women who drink are after sex. That is an excuse, not what the majority of people actually believe and there are several moments where it feels the reader is being lectured on the obvious.
I also found it hard to believe that cruise ships, preserve of the middle class older generations, are full of drunken louts who spend their time hunting young women on board. And this cruise ship, which was just off the coast of America, was incapable of reaching outside help…for several days. It’s all a bit far-fetched and I didn't find there was enough intrigue or tension to keep me turning the pages. It's a shame, because it could have been such a good setting but I'm just not a fan of reading about how "normal" it is for women to be victims of horrible men.
Liz has been having recurring nightmares. When she moves away from Wales to escape bullying, she finds the place of her dreams of the edge of Hollow Pike. She brushes the thought off as coincidence, after all, aren't all woods pretty much the same? Yet the history of Hollow Pike is rife with Pagan rituals and witch hunts, could there be any truth in the silly superstitions of the townsfolk?
Immediately Liz falls in with the popular crowd at school although she is drawn to the “freaks”. Soon enough, she's the victim of bullying again but there's something much more sinister going on. Are her new friends hiding something? Is witchcraft really being practised in this Yorkshire town? Is she even safe?
It's a creepy and tense story with a dash of paranoia. It's not a new-girl-at-school-learns-magic sort of plot but one on the edge of being perfectly believable. I've also come to the conclusion that I much prefer British young adult writing, these teenagers actually seem a lot like the teenager I remember being as well as the ones I overhear talking on the bus. They're not mature and sensible. They are bitchy, get drunk and obsess about what other people think.
I keep reading books at the moment that remind me of films and I generally don't like comparing the two but this did make me think of Heathers now and then. Overall Hollow Pike is a solid début novel from ex-teacher James Dawson. If anything, teenagers might just learn that teachers are paying attention.
Immediately Liz falls in with the popular crowd at school although she is drawn to the “freaks”. Soon enough, she's the victim of bullying again but there's something much more sinister going on. Are her new friends hiding something? Is witchcraft really being practised in this Yorkshire town? Is she even safe?
It's a creepy and tense story with a dash of paranoia. It's not a new-girl-at-school-learns-magic sort of plot but one on the edge of being perfectly believable. I've also come to the conclusion that I much prefer British young adult writing, these teenagers actually seem a lot like the teenager I remember being as well as the ones I overhear talking on the bus. They're not mature and sensible. They are bitchy, get drunk and obsess about what other people think.
I keep reading books at the moment that remind me of films and I generally don't like comparing the two but this did make me think of Heathers now and then. Overall Hollow Pike is a solid début novel from ex-teacher James Dawson. If anything, teenagers might just learn that teachers are paying attention.
Following the death of her mother, Katie Greene moves to Japan to live with her aunt. Trying to make friends in a new school is hard enough without struggling to learn a new language. And then she overhears a fight between bad boy Tomohiro and his girlfriend. Knowing it’s none of her business, she tries to hide but when he drops his notebook, Katie can’t believe her eyes. His drawings are moving. Has the stress of the move driven her completely crazy?
I loved the idea behind Ink; it’s a bit like a grown up version of Penny Crayon. Inspired by kami, a word which is used both for gods and paper, Amanda Sun weaves the two together. Tomohiro is part of a lineage that has power over ink. His drawings comes alive and Katie seems to have an effect on his control. It’s also illustrated with drawings from Tomo’s notebook; there are even a couple of flick book animations at the bottom of the page.
The addition of Japanese culture makes a refreshing change from some many young adult books set in America or the UK. Having Katie as a gaijin (foreigner) gives her the excuse to explain certain words and customs. If you’re familiar with Japan, you may find it a bit too over-explanatory but for the audience, it’s probably at the right level. There are trips to view the cherry blossoms and their extra-curricular activities include kendo, calligraphy and karaoke.
What let the book down for me was the central relationship. I can completely understand fancying the bad boy, and she even seems to acknowledge that she shouldn’t really be interested. But they seem overly familiar far too soon. It isn’t even explained away with instalove; her internal monologue clearly knows he’s a stranger but they have these gushy moments that make them seem like they’re known each other forever. The plot with the Yakuza was on the weak side although it did get more exciting when the volume was ramped up on their activities.
It’s an easy read with some good ideas, so definitely worth a read but I felt it just needed a bit more work to pull the plot together.
I loved the idea behind Ink; it’s a bit like a grown up version of Penny Crayon. Inspired by kami, a word which is used both for gods and paper, Amanda Sun weaves the two together. Tomohiro is part of a lineage that has power over ink. His drawings comes alive and Katie seems to have an effect on his control. It’s also illustrated with drawings from Tomo’s notebook; there are even a couple of flick book animations at the bottom of the page.
The addition of Japanese culture makes a refreshing change from some many young adult books set in America or the UK. Having Katie as a gaijin (foreigner) gives her the excuse to explain certain words and customs. If you’re familiar with Japan, you may find it a bit too over-explanatory but for the audience, it’s probably at the right level. There are trips to view the cherry blossoms and their extra-curricular activities include kendo, calligraphy and karaoke.
What let the book down for me was the central relationship. I can completely understand fancying the bad boy, and she even seems to acknowledge that she shouldn’t really be interested. But they seem overly familiar far too soon. It isn’t even explained away with instalove; her internal monologue clearly knows he’s a stranger but they have these gushy moments that make them seem like they’re known each other forever. The plot with the Yakuza was on the weak side although it did get more exciting when the volume was ramped up on their activities.
It’s an easy read with some good ideas, so definitely worth a read but I felt it just needed a bit more work to pull the plot together.
Jodi Brett has been with Todd for twenty years. She has always been there for him no matter his actions. Todd loves Jodi but strays when it comes to sex. When he starts seeing his best friend’s daughter, the cracks in his comfortable life start to appear. Can he have his cake and eat it?
The characters of The Silent Wife are the sort you’ll love to hate. Todd is a serial cheater but Jodi lives in denial. As a therapist, she prides herself on her ability to act coolly and give Todd his space and that’s exactly what Todd loves about her. It’s ironic that the behaviour that Jodi thinks is balanced in her professional opinion is just what makes her seem a bit crazy to the reader. Natasha, the other woman, may be young and impulsive, but her actions seem much more rational from an emotional standpoint.
There’s quite a lot of psychology amongst the pages. Jodi is an odd one; a therapist who refuses to treat people with actual mental illness. Throughout conversations with her mentor, where she had to go through therapy sessions as part of her training, Jodi’s troubled background is slowly revealed. I’m not sure how this directly reflects to how she reacts to Todd’s infidelity except that she is clearly troubled.
I found it slow to get into although when I did the pages flew by. There are plenty of details of their domestic life and it takes a while for something to happen. I’m not sure the present tense narrative suited the story. In the first pages, it is indicated that Jodi will be made into a killer. Normally in a psychological thriller, a crime happens early on, but this is all about the actions that come before. There were several points when it felt like it was using present tense for things in the past and I’m not sure it quite worked for me.
However it got to the point where I was turning the pages to see what crazy thing would pop into Todd or Jodi’s head next. The viewpoint switches between Her and Him and at times they both seem as lost as each other. There were moments when I actually laughed at them; though it’s certainly not meant to be funny but when you don’t like the characters, their predicament stops being traumatising.
The characters of The Silent Wife are the sort you’ll love to hate. Todd is a serial cheater but Jodi lives in denial. As a therapist, she prides herself on her ability to act coolly and give Todd his space and that’s exactly what Todd loves about her. It’s ironic that the behaviour that Jodi thinks is balanced in her professional opinion is just what makes her seem a bit crazy to the reader. Natasha, the other woman, may be young and impulsive, but her actions seem much more rational from an emotional standpoint.
There’s quite a lot of psychology amongst the pages. Jodi is an odd one; a therapist who refuses to treat people with actual mental illness. Throughout conversations with her mentor, where she had to go through therapy sessions as part of her training, Jodi’s troubled background is slowly revealed. I’m not sure how this directly reflects to how she reacts to Todd’s infidelity except that she is clearly troubled.
I found it slow to get into although when I did the pages flew by. There are plenty of details of their domestic life and it takes a while for something to happen. I’m not sure the present tense narrative suited the story. In the first pages, it is indicated that Jodi will be made into a killer. Normally in a psychological thriller, a crime happens early on, but this is all about the actions that come before. There were several points when it felt like it was using present tense for things in the past and I’m not sure it quite worked for me.
However it got to the point where I was turning the pages to see what crazy thing would pop into Todd or Jodi’s head next. The viewpoint switches between Her and Him and at times they both seem as lost as each other. There were moments when I actually laughed at them; though it’s certainly not meant to be funny but when you don’t like the characters, their predicament stops being traumatising.
Lena had told Jared it was bad luck to paint the nursery so early but losing the baby is only the start of her problems. Will has been working undercover, putting his life in danger and lying to Sara. He knows she will never forgive him for the lies. When Sara must travel to Macon, she finds herself amongst those she would rather avoid and the lives of Lena, Will and Sara are about to collide.
What a shocking start! Having decided to read the short story Busted beforehand, Will’s appearance had a little more context but still, I think my jaw may have dropped; a proper, pulse raising beginning to another fantastic book from Karin Slaughter. I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot as I think it might ruin some of the suspense of the opening chapter.
Sara’s grudge against Lena is starting to grate. In my mind, I never blamed Lena for Jeffrey’s death and although she has made some huge mistakes and got into trouble again and again, she is a character I want to see some forgiveness for. It’s not just Sara either, her irrational placing the blame is spreading to Will, Faith and even, it seems, Amanda. Sara is easier to understand as grief can make people irrational, although she is moving away from the likeable character she once was.
I guess a lot of Unseen is about change and acting out of character though. Both Sara and Lena have changed since they parted ways, and I think maybe Lena fairs better. Will is working undercover which in itself is about pretending to be someone else which runs into a scene where he acts completely out of character. The thing about Karin’s characters is that they are not perfect, they have all made momentous mistakes in their lives; sometimes they have been incredibly stupid. But at the end, it makes them much more real, even if you think you hate them a little bit.
Whilst the previous book, Criminal, would work quite well as a standalone novel, I don’t think Unseen can be read out of context. There are too many back stories driving the motivations behind the characters. Yes, there is a central crime and investigation, but the power of the book is the character interactions and their journeys. I’ll admit to getting a bit weepy near the end as there were some lovely moments and that kind of reaction only comes from getting to know the characters over time. They’re like my dysfunctional, fictional friends I only see once a year.
What a shocking start! Having decided to read the short story Busted beforehand, Will’s appearance had a little more context but still, I think my jaw may have dropped; a proper, pulse raising beginning to another fantastic book from Karin Slaughter. I don’t want to reveal too much about the plot as I think it might ruin some of the suspense of the opening chapter.
Sara’s grudge against Lena is starting to grate. In my mind, I never blamed Lena for Jeffrey’s death and although she has made some huge mistakes and got into trouble again and again, she is a character I want to see some forgiveness for. It’s not just Sara either, her irrational placing the blame is spreading to Will, Faith and even, it seems, Amanda. Sara is easier to understand as grief can make people irrational, although she is moving away from the likeable character she once was.
I guess a lot of Unseen is about change and acting out of character though. Both Sara and Lena have changed since they parted ways, and I think maybe Lena fairs better. Will is working undercover which in itself is about pretending to be someone else which runs into a scene where he acts completely out of character. The thing about Karin’s characters is that they are not perfect, they have all made momentous mistakes in their lives; sometimes they have been incredibly stupid. But at the end, it makes them much more real, even if you think you hate them a little bit.
Whilst the previous book, Criminal, would work quite well as a standalone novel, I don’t think Unseen can be read out of context. There are too many back stories driving the motivations behind the characters. Yes, there is a central crime and investigation, but the power of the book is the character interactions and their journeys. I’ll admit to getting a bit weepy near the end as there were some lovely moments and that kind of reaction only comes from getting to know the characters over time. They’re like my dysfunctional, fictional friends I only see once a year.
Will Trent is working undercover in Macon, disguised as tough biker Bill Black. But that doesn’t mean he can’t stop at a gas station for an iced Coke. Whilst waiting for his drink, an armed robbery takes place. Will just can’t let the bad guy get away, or can he?
Busted falls before the new Karin Slaughter novel, Unseen, and gives a bit of an inkling of what Will is up to however it’s not necessary to read it if you’re working through the series. For a digital short, it contains a good full investigation. It’s a case of right place, right time, for Will to end up getting involved when he shouldn’t have been there. Amanda is pissed off and Will wants to do the right thing, even if his alter ego would walk away. Having characters you already know, suits these sorts of short form tales as you don’t need to spend time on character development.
Busted falls before the new Karin Slaughter novel, Unseen, and gives a bit of an inkling of what Will is up to however it’s not necessary to read it if you’re working through the series. For a digital short, it contains a good full investigation. It’s a case of right place, right time, for Will to end up getting involved when he shouldn’t have been there. Amanda is pissed off and Will wants to do the right thing, even if his alter ego would walk away. Having characters you already know, suits these sorts of short form tales as you don’t need to spend time on character development.
Jenna Strong has been imprisoned for the murder of her parents. The year is 2113 and the Independent Republic of Britain is ruled by ACID; the Agency for Crime Investigation and Defence. After two years of surviving as the only girl in maximum security prison, Mileway, she has learned how to look after herself but when she is given the chance to escape she must learn to live a different life. A life that is monitored closely by the very people who put her behind bars.
ACID sets the scene in a not too distant future, where Britain was crippled by financial collapse and an incompetent government. ACID took over to save the country, creating a police state with strict rules. Surveillance, ID cards, segregation of the rich and poor, arranged marriage, privatisation of core services and terrorism; this sound like anything you’ve heard in the news lately? Because ACID is an example of dystopian fiction done right. The politics and world that Jenna lives in drives the story and her actions are the vehicle to explore the different aspects of a society that’s not too hard to imagine.
So there’s a teeny tiny bit of romance, but importantly, it is not central to the book but something that gives the motivation for certain aspects of the story to happen (which aren’t mushy at all). I liked the subtly of it, although some readers may not find it a strong enough relationship. Instead, Jenna spends time with different life partners, highlighting the lack of choice in her world. You are paired up with someone by ACID and that’s that.
Another thing I loved about ACID; adults! Jenna is not some miracle teenager who manages to bring down civilisation by herself. At each stage in her journey, there are adults around who make things possible and therefore more believable. She is tough and she’d like to think independent but it’s clear that her successes have been helped along.
I did start to worry about Jenna’s face by the end of it. I know there have meant to have been great advances in cosmetic surgery but it seemed to happen a bit too often. Whilst I did work out what happened with the murder of her parents early on, I still found the whole thing gripping and there were plenty of other elements to keep me turning the page.
This is YA dystopia finally returning to its Orwellian roots. Huzzah!
ACID sets the scene in a not too distant future, where Britain was crippled by financial collapse and an incompetent government. ACID took over to save the country, creating a police state with strict rules. Surveillance, ID cards, segregation of the rich and poor, arranged marriage, privatisation of core services and terrorism; this sound like anything you’ve heard in the news lately? Because ACID is an example of dystopian fiction done right. The politics and world that Jenna lives in drives the story and her actions are the vehicle to explore the different aspects of a society that’s not too hard to imagine.
So there’s a teeny tiny bit of romance, but importantly, it is not central to the book but something that gives the motivation for certain aspects of the story to happen (which aren’t mushy at all). I liked the subtly of it, although some readers may not find it a strong enough relationship. Instead, Jenna spends time with different life partners, highlighting the lack of choice in her world. You are paired up with someone by ACID and that’s that.
Another thing I loved about ACID; adults! Jenna is not some miracle teenager who manages to bring down civilisation by herself. At each stage in her journey, there are adults around who make things possible and therefore more believable. She is tough and she’d like to think independent but it’s clear that her successes have been helped along.
I did start to worry about Jenna’s face by the end of it. I know there have meant to have been great advances in cosmetic surgery but it seemed to happen a bit too often. Whilst I did work out what happened with the murder of her parents early on, I still found the whole thing gripping and there were plenty of other elements to keep me turning the page.
This is YA dystopia finally returning to its Orwellian roots. Huzzah!
Cathy has plans to escape out the window the night before her wedding to William but her family have other ideas. She wakes up trying to remember what it was she was meant to do. Meanwhile, Sam is trying to get back to normal life and patch up his marriage but he’s not even sure he’s married to the same woman any more. There’s definitely something strange about her new employer.
It did take me a while to get into the first book, so it was great to just dive into the story, picking up the threads that were left hanging from Between Two Thorns. The gargoyle has less of a part to play this time, but he’s there alongside Max who is still trying to work out who is to blame for the destruction of his chapter. Again, there is a lot going on, but this works as part of a series.
Again, there’s a lot about the oppression of women in the Nether Society. If it were as simple as Cathy marrying her parents’ choice and having her own life, it would be easier to swallow. But her every action is monitored and controlled. The Iris family make Lord Poppy seem like a puppy (I wish there was more of Lord Poppy) and the tension rises as you can’t see how Cathy can win. However Cathy reluctantly sets up house and I loved the insight into the customs and goings on behind doors. Of course, Cathy plans to shake things up a bit.
This line stuck out for me because I was feeling a little bit sorry for William. He doesn’t have a choice in the marriage either and is in love with another woman. He brings forward the date to rescue Cathy from the abuse at the hands of her father and she throws it in his face. He is kind, and OK he has a bit on the side, but I found Cathy to be blinded by her own anger and couldn’t see that he was trying to make the most of a bad situation. He doesn’t even mind her reading books! I hope she is kinder to him in the next instalment as she seems to become aware of her selfishness.
I love the world and I love the little bits of humour. The best part is, I don’t have to wait another year for the final instalment which is due out in October. You can also read weekly shorts stories set in the same world for free at Split Worlds.
It did take me a while to get into the first book, so it was great to just dive into the story, picking up the threads that were left hanging from Between Two Thorns. The gargoyle has less of a part to play this time, but he’s there alongside Max who is still trying to work out who is to blame for the destruction of his chapter. Again, there is a lot going on, but this works as part of a series.
Again, there’s a lot about the oppression of women in the Nether Society. If it were as simple as Cathy marrying her parents’ choice and having her own life, it would be easier to swallow. But her every action is monitored and controlled. The Iris family make Lord Poppy seem like a puppy (I wish there was more of Lord Poppy) and the tension rises as you can’t see how Cathy can win. However Cathy reluctantly sets up house and I loved the insight into the customs and goings on behind doors. Of course, Cathy plans to shake things up a bit.
She’d said with such bitterness that women didn’t have any choices, but she didn’t realise that so few of the men did either.
This line stuck out for me because I was feeling a little bit sorry for William. He doesn’t have a choice in the marriage either and is in love with another woman. He brings forward the date to rescue Cathy from the abuse at the hands of her father and she throws it in his face. He is kind, and OK he has a bit on the side, but I found Cathy to be blinded by her own anger and couldn’t see that he was trying to make the most of a bad situation. He doesn’t even mind her reading books! I hope she is kinder to him in the next instalment as she seems to become aware of her selfishness.
I love the world and I love the little bits of humour. The best part is, I don’t have to wait another year for the final instalment which is due out in October. You can also read weekly shorts stories set in the same world for free at Split Worlds.
Araby has escaped the city, leaving the Red Death and the chaos behind. Reeling from the betrayal of both Will and her father, she takes refuge in the swamp and in the arms of Elliott. But they can’t rest for long; Araby searches her father’s notebook for clues for a cure, and his innocence. She knows she must return to the city and face Malcontent if she is to have any chance of saving April.
I wish the last 100 pages of The Dance of the Red Death had been expanded upon to be the whole novel. In fact, the title suggests the dance would be the central element. Prospero is determined to hold a great ball in the face of the Red Death; his entertainments cruel and controlling. The scenes at the dance are dark and menacing, will a real threat towards the characters. The chiming of the clock and the masquerade, hark back to the original inspiration that was Poe’s story. Yet, everything seemed to be rushed over, from the starting pages, right through to the startling end. I wanted to love this book but it contained too much and not enough in depth.
There is no chemistry between Araby and Elliott. Every time she turned to him, I felt it was just so the reader would be put out on Will’s behalf. In The Masque of the Red Death, my loyalties swung between her two suitors but this time, I was just annoyed that she was stringing Elliott along and not forgiving Will.
Malcontent’s army, the people in the swamp, Elliott’s band of rebels, Araby’s father, Prospero’s kidnapping antics, the sinister ball and the constant sense of running from one life or death situation to the next, didn’t really leave space for anything to be developed in full. Ultimately, I ended up enjoying the book, mostly for Prospero’s evilness but it could have been so much more.
I wish the last 100 pages of The Dance of the Red Death had been expanded upon to be the whole novel. In fact, the title suggests the dance would be the central element. Prospero is determined to hold a great ball in the face of the Red Death; his entertainments cruel and controlling. The scenes at the dance are dark and menacing, will a real threat towards the characters. The chiming of the clock and the masquerade, hark back to the original inspiration that was Poe’s story. Yet, everything seemed to be rushed over, from the starting pages, right through to the startling end. I wanted to love this book but it contained too much and not enough in depth.
There is no chemistry between Araby and Elliott. Every time she turned to him, I felt it was just so the reader would be put out on Will’s behalf. In The Masque of the Red Death, my loyalties swung between her two suitors but this time, I was just annoyed that she was stringing Elliott along and not forgiving Will.
Malcontent’s army, the people in the swamp, Elliott’s band of rebels, Araby’s father, Prospero’s kidnapping antics, the sinister ball and the constant sense of running from one life or death situation to the next, didn’t really leave space for anything to be developed in full. Ultimately, I ended up enjoying the book, mostly for Prospero’s evilness but it could have been so much more.