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Showing posts with label RIPIX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RIPIX. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
by Sarah Rees Brennan
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Copy received from: Purchased
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Kami has lost the boy she loves, is
tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before.
With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new
magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her
town.
Rob Lynburn is now the master of
Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her
disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a
secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes
responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s
life, but also the lives of those she loves most.
This final book in the Lynburn
Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.
Review: After absolutely loving my time in
Sorry-in-the-Vale in Unspoken and Untold, I had high expectations for this
conclusion. Kami and co. are back and are charming and complex as ever, the
story resolves its interpersonal drama in a satisfying way, and Kami gets many
opportunities to prove she is a hero of a journalist. On the strength of its
characters alone I quite like Unmade,
but I do have some reservations regarding its plot.
As mentioned, Kami, always an active character, really steps
up in this novel. Her refusal to go along with Rob Lynburn’s murderous plans
for the town (unlike the vast majority of its citizens) makes her and her loved
ones a target, but she never backs down from doing what she believes is right
and always has a plan. She takes the initiative when it comes to her
relationship with Jared too, making a decision and acting on it. That doesn’t
mean things are resolved simply though. For two people who shared a mind link
for most of their lives, they sure cause a lot of drama based on
miscommunication. Ash is still a factor as well: moping around like a
professional third wheel, sorcerer-style. Angela, Holly, and Rusty all have
roles to play (besides simply being awesome) and my personal favorite character,
Kami’s dad Jon Glass, nearly saves the town in one quick move (that he doesn’t,
and that it could be as simple as that, is one of my issues with the plot).
This story tends to the darker side of fantasy, with
torture, murder, and the endangerment of small children all a factor, but the
jokes never stop flowing with Rees Brennan’s signature charming humor and world
play. The atmosphere of the novel wants to suggest no one is safe, and there is tragedy that is, dare I say it, Whedonesque.
The novel succeeded in getting me invested in these characters and giving me a
need to know their fate.
Now for my issue: a large part of this novel hinges on the
Big Bad, Rob Lynburn, simply not bothering much about the heroes. He’s
overpowered., except when he’s not, and it’s all very arbitrary. He and his
evil sorcerer gang knows exactly where everyone lives in the small town that no
one tries to leave, and no one makes any real attempts to hide either. Kami,
Jared, and the rest of the crew are in and out of the supposedly impenetrable
evil fortress of the Lynburn house so often a revolving door should’ve been
installed. On the side of evil there’s a
lot of waiting around for the equinox to perform a sacrifice. One the side of good there’s waiting around,
discussing what they can do, having a party, and continuing to stay in obvious
places waiting to be attacked until they finally are and it comes as a shock.
These waiting periods allow lots of time for relationship drama. The action of
the finale is extremely mystical and vaguely described, and I found one of the hero’s
sacrifices frustrating, as it seemed less heroic than unnecessary and
extraneous.
Despite those critiques I did like this novel and definitely
recommend the series as a whole. It’s rare that I find a story with such a
large group of well-rounded characters and complex relationships, let alone
one that can induce such a spectrum of emotions; from laughter to tears, from
swooning to biting your nails from the tension.
This gothic novel qualifies for RIP IX
Monday, September 8, 2014
By Barry Lyga
Published by Little, Brown
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Disclaimer: Copy received for review consideration via NetGalley
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Jazz Dent has been shot and left to
die in New York City. His girlfriend Connie is in the clutches of Jazz's serial
killer father, Billy. And his best friend Howie is bleeding to death on the
floor of Jazz's own home in tiny Lobo's Nod. Somehow, these three must rise
above the horrors their lives have become and find a way to come together in
pursuit of Billy. But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and
soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son?" Who is
the true monster?
The chase is on, and beyond Billy there lurks something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.
Review: After loving the first two books in this trilogy and enduring the intense cliffhanger that is the ending of the second book, I had high expectations for this conclusion. Luckily this book delivered. It's the engaging storytelling I have come to expect from Barry Lyga and a good end to the trilogy. The cliffhanger is resolved fairly quickly, through some very tense moments where the survival of my favorite character was definitely not guaranteed. The action continues to ratchet up as Jazz begins his single-minded pursuit of serial-killing Billy, hoping to rescue his last remaining family.
Connie and Howie, Jazz's girlfriend and best friend, both have their parts to play and their relationships with Jazz are more important than ever. The reader also gets the POV of NY police detective Louis Hughes, the man whose murder investigation is now in shambles due to Jazz's interference, and who finds Jazz in the middle of a scene of carnage. Needless to say, his views on Jazz are not complimentary, providing an insight into how anyone not in Jazz's personal circle would assume about the delinquent son of a serial killer. Jazz himself still struggles with the belief that his traumatic upbringing has made him a monster, and he makes some questionable choices in his desperation to catch Billy, coming ever closer to crossing a line he cannot return from.
All mysteries regarding Jazz's past are solved, the killer mastermind in the shadows is revealed, and Jazz's choice as to his identity is made. It's a satisfying conclusion that is all I could have asked for, and an unique take on the old nature vs. nurture debate. Is there any hope for an individual to break a cycle of abuse when both their DNA and their upbringing are against them? This story provides an answer. Be warned, as with the preceding books the subject matter makes for some dark and disturbing scenes, though usually implied rather than described in graphic detail.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, television shows such as Criminal Minds or Law and Order, or Jennifer Lynn Barnes's YA novel The Naturals. Now that all three in the trilogy are released, I'd suggest binge reading them to avoid the agony of the cliffhanger. I'm not kidding, the ending of The Game is evil.
From the archive I Hunt Killers Review
A RIPIX Read
Monday, September 1, 2014
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
- Dark Fantasy
- Gothic
- Horror
- Supernatural
Or anything sufficiently moody that
shares a kinship with the above.
This year I'm aiming to complete:
That's four books of any length in the qualifying categories. I've spent all summer hoarding collecting a selection of suitably creepy books which includes but is not limited to this pile here:
I've been meaning to read The Passage by Justin Cronin for years and never have. Maybe this will be the year! I'm also intrigued by the nonfiction book The Poet and The Vampyre: The Curse of Byron and the Birth of Literature's Greatest Monsters, because that is some title and apparently it's about how Lord Byron was hot mess who caused drama, The Real Housewives of Nineteenth Century Literature-style. I'm also dipping my toe into Hellblazer comics and will also give the show a try unless it proves to be terrible. Fun times all around.
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Showing posts with label RIPIX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RIPIX. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Review: Unmade (Lynburn Legacy #3) by Sarah Rees Brennan
by Sarah Rees Brennan
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Copy received from: Purchased
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Kami has lost the boy she loves, is
tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before.
With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new
magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her
town.
Rob Lynburn is now the master of
Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her
disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a
secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes
responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s
life, but also the lives of those she loves most.
This final book in the Lynburn
Legacy is a wild, entertaining ride from beginning to shocking end.
Review: After absolutely loving my time in
Sorry-in-the-Vale in Unspoken and Untold, I had high expectations for this
conclusion. Kami and co. are back and are charming and complex as ever, the
story resolves its interpersonal drama in a satisfying way, and Kami gets many
opportunities to prove she is a hero of a journalist. On the strength of its
characters alone I quite like Unmade,
but I do have some reservations regarding its plot.
As mentioned, Kami, always an active character, really steps
up in this novel. Her refusal to go along with Rob Lynburn’s murderous plans
for the town (unlike the vast majority of its citizens) makes her and her loved
ones a target, but she never backs down from doing what she believes is right
and always has a plan. She takes the initiative when it comes to her
relationship with Jared too, making a decision and acting on it. That doesn’t
mean things are resolved simply though. For two people who shared a mind link
for most of their lives, they sure cause a lot of drama based on
miscommunication. Ash is still a factor as well: moping around like a
professional third wheel, sorcerer-style. Angela, Holly, and Rusty all have
roles to play (besides simply being awesome) and my personal favorite character,
Kami’s dad Jon Glass, nearly saves the town in one quick move (that he doesn’t,
and that it could be as simple as that, is one of my issues with the plot).
This story tends to the darker side of fantasy, with
torture, murder, and the endangerment of small children all a factor, but the
jokes never stop flowing with Rees Brennan’s signature charming humor and world
play. The atmosphere of the novel wants to suggest no one is safe, and there is tragedy that is, dare I say it, Whedonesque.
The novel succeeded in getting me invested in these characters and giving me a
need to know their fate.
Now for my issue: a large part of this novel hinges on the
Big Bad, Rob Lynburn, simply not bothering much about the heroes. He’s
overpowered., except when he’s not, and it’s all very arbitrary. He and his
evil sorcerer gang knows exactly where everyone lives in the small town that no
one tries to leave, and no one makes any real attempts to hide either. Kami,
Jared, and the rest of the crew are in and out of the supposedly impenetrable
evil fortress of the Lynburn house so often a revolving door should’ve been
installed. On the side of evil there’s a
lot of waiting around for the equinox to perform a sacrifice. One the side of good there’s waiting around,
discussing what they can do, having a party, and continuing to stay in obvious
places waiting to be attacked until they finally are and it comes as a shock.
These waiting periods allow lots of time for relationship drama. The action of
the finale is extremely mystical and vaguely described, and I found one of the hero’s
sacrifices frustrating, as it seemed less heroic than unnecessary and
extraneous.
Despite those critiques I did like this novel and definitely
recommend the series as a whole. It’s rare that I find a story with such a
large group of well-rounded characters and complex relationships, let alone
one that can induce such a spectrum of emotions; from laughter to tears, from
swooning to biting your nails from the tension.
This gothic novel qualifies for RIP IX
Monday, September 8, 2014
Review: Blood of My Blood (Jasper Dent #3) by Barry Lyga
By Barry Lyga
Published by Little, Brown
Release Date: September 9, 2014
Disclaimer: Copy received for review consideration via NetGalley
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Jazz Dent has been shot and left to
die in New York City. His girlfriend Connie is in the clutches of Jazz's serial
killer father, Billy. And his best friend Howie is bleeding to death on the
floor of Jazz's own home in tiny Lobo's Nod. Somehow, these three must rise
above the horrors their lives have become and find a way to come together in
pursuit of Billy. But then Jazz crosses a line he's never crossed before, and
soon the entire country is wondering: "Like father, like son?" Who is
the true monster?
The chase is on, and beyond Billy there lurks something much, much worse. Prepare to meet...the Crow King.
Review: After loving the first two books in this trilogy and enduring the intense cliffhanger that is the ending of the second book, I had high expectations for this conclusion. Luckily this book delivered. It's the engaging storytelling I have come to expect from Barry Lyga and a good end to the trilogy. The cliffhanger is resolved fairly quickly, through some very tense moments where the survival of my favorite character was definitely not guaranteed. The action continues to ratchet up as Jazz begins his single-minded pursuit of serial-killing Billy, hoping to rescue his last remaining family.
Connie and Howie, Jazz's girlfriend and best friend, both have their parts to play and their relationships with Jazz are more important than ever. The reader also gets the POV of NY police detective Louis Hughes, the man whose murder investigation is now in shambles due to Jazz's interference, and who finds Jazz in the middle of a scene of carnage. Needless to say, his views on Jazz are not complimentary, providing an insight into how anyone not in Jazz's personal circle would assume about the delinquent son of a serial killer. Jazz himself still struggles with the belief that his traumatic upbringing has made him a monster, and he makes some questionable choices in his desperation to catch Billy, coming ever closer to crossing a line he cannot return from.
All mysteries regarding Jazz's past are solved, the killer mastermind in the shadows is revealed, and Jazz's choice as to his identity is made. It's a satisfying conclusion that is all I could have asked for, and an unique take on the old nature vs. nurture debate. Is there any hope for an individual to break a cycle of abuse when both their DNA and their upbringing are against them? This story provides an answer. Be warned, as with the preceding books the subject matter makes for some dark and disturbing scenes, though usually implied rather than described in graphic detail.
I'd recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, television shows such as Criminal Minds or Law and Order, or Jennifer Lynn Barnes's YA novel The Naturals. Now that all three in the trilogy are released, I'd suggest binge reading them to avoid the agony of the cliffhanger. I'm not kidding, the ending of The Game is evil.
From the archive I Hunt Killers Review
A RIPIX Read
Monday, September 1, 2014
Readers Imbibing Peril Challenge IX
- Mystery
- Suspense
- Thriller
- Dark Fantasy
- Gothic
- Horror
- Supernatural
Or anything sufficiently moody that
shares a kinship with the above.
This year I'm aiming to complete:
That's four books of any length in the qualifying categories. I've spent all summer hoarding collecting a selection of suitably creepy books which includes but is not limited to this pile here:
I've been meaning to read The Passage by Justin Cronin for years and never have. Maybe this will be the year! I'm also intrigued by the nonfiction book The Poet and The Vampyre: The Curse of Byron and the Birth of Literature's Greatest Monsters, because that is some title and apparently it's about how Lord Byron was hot mess who caused drama, The Real Housewives of Nineteenth Century Literature-style. I'm also dipping my toe into Hellblazer comics and will also give the show a try unless it proves to be terrible. Fun times all around.
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