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brons_books's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you so much to BookSirens for sending me an ARC of Oleander.
I had such a fun time reading this novel to me. I read it in one sitting and it helped pull me from my reading slump. It was such a fun and quick read which I believe Supernatural fans would absolutely love.
It's an urban fantasy that sees our main character hunting down ghosts and spooky entities with the help of the police. It was definitely a fun time to binge in bed on Saturday morning.
Would definitely recommend if you're in a slump and need a quick, snappy novel to drag you out of it!
I had such a fun time reading this novel to me. I read it in one sitting and it helped pull me from my reading slump. It was such a fun and quick read which I believe Supernatural fans would absolutely love.
It's an urban fantasy that sees our main character hunting down ghosts and spooky entities with the help of the police. It was definitely a fun time to binge in bed on Saturday morning.
Would definitely recommend if you're in a slump and need a quick, snappy novel to drag you out of it!
daphnedarling's review
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. The best way to describe the feeling I got, when reading Oleander, is cozy. I loved the plant talk in this book and of course who doesn’t like a little weirdness? I enjoyed this story thoroughly. It was really easy to read and kept me wanting more.
Expect some witches,ghosts, and seers.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Expect some witches,ghosts, and seers.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
mommasaystoread's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oleander is the introduction to Jennifer Allis Provost's Poison Garden series, and it's my introduction to the author. Just an FYI: I don't plan on this being the last time I enjoy either one. This book is so much fun. It's a fast-paced, easy read with an entertaining storyline and engaging characters. There is a mystery to solve, a murder mystery, and our heroine, Eli, has a few helpers along the way. One of those is a possible love interest, Dan, who happens to be a police detective. Then there are the magical friends of Eli and their quirks and colorful personalities. The mystery is a bit predictable, but it was more about the characters, the relationships, and the magic for me. I really liked the banter between Eli and Dan, and I look forward to more of them in the next book in the series - especially since there's an open-ended conclusion in this one. I wouldn't call it a cliffy, but there are questions. The story is easily read in an afternoon, which made for a perfect weekend read, curled up on the couch with my ever-present cup of coffee.
jlreadstoperpetuity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
So this is my first time reading a ook combining actual herbology with murder mystery and safe to say, I like it. I appreciate the new knowledge on different plants and what it does to a human anatomy. It was weaved in seamlessly to the storyline.
Plot wise, I am on the fence how I feel about it overall. While I like the different twists introduced, some sounded abrupt because of the transitions could've been better.
I like the characters and their personality, although at one point there were repetitions of descriptions and the meet up between characters were confusing. Nevertheless, the spunk of the FMC more than made up for it
Plot wise, I am on the fence how I feel about it overall. While I like the different twists introduced, some sounded abrupt because of the transitions could've been better.
I like the characters and their personality, although at one point there were repetitions of descriptions and the meet up between characters were confusing. Nevertheless, the spunk of the FMC more than made up for it
madlymusing's review
4.0
Oleander is a lot of fun! It’s a quick read - fast paced, tense and exciting. It reminded me a little of the feeling I get from reading Ilona Andrews; Provost trusts her reader to accept the magic system and hierarchy, and reveals pertinent details with the plot rather than relying on exposition. It makes the reading more enjoyable.
The characterisation is definitely a highlight here. Eli is a great protagonist: she’s strong, but doesn’t always realise that. She has past trauma, and is figuring out how to not be defined by it. She is learning how to trust and determine her place in the world she lives in. All of this felt totally natural and authentic - I really like her. And Dan Lyons! What can I say? He’s similarly complex and I love the connection that builds between them as the story progresses.
I do have a couple of criticisms: one, the pacing is sometimes jarring, and there isn’t enough room for certain elements to breathe. We seem to rush into the action in the first quarter and then have to catch up with additional detail later, which impacts some of the narrative tension. Secondly, much of this book feels like it should be #2 in the series, because we keep getting references to a previous case. I feel a little cheated that there are so many references to a prequel in a novel listed as #1 in the series.
That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characterisation is definitely a highlight here. Eli is a great protagonist: she’s strong, but doesn’t always realise that. She has past trauma, and is figuring out how to not be defined by it. She is learning how to trust and determine her place in the world she lives in. All of this felt totally natural and authentic - I really like her. And Dan Lyons! What can I say? He’s similarly complex and I love the connection that builds between them as the story progresses.
I do have a couple of criticisms: one, the pacing is sometimes jarring, and there isn’t enough room for certain elements to breathe. We seem to rush into the action in the first quarter and then have to catch up with additional detail later, which impacts some of the narrative tension. Secondly, much of this book feels like it should be #2 in the series, because we keep getting references to a previous case. I feel a little cheated that there are so many references to a prequel in a novel listed as #1 in the series.
That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
mk_loisirs's review
3.0
I received an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Read if you are a fan of magical mystery, strong female lead and slow-burn romance.
I unfortunately quit reading at about the halfway mark. I enjoyed the pacing but I wasn't as intrigued by the story as I would have hoped. This isn't at no fault of the author/the book, simply my own brain, but I kept comparing it to other "PI" / other-worldly investigator books (like Anita Blake..etc) and I just wasn't enjoying it enough to continue. I didn't feel the connections between the characters and I wasn't connected to the story.
Other people really enjoyed it though, so I suggest you give it a chance! I might come back to it later but as of now I wasn't really into it!
I am going to give 3 stars, because it has the potential for being a great book it just fell short for ME, but it might not for you!
Read if you are a fan of magical mystery, strong female lead and slow-burn romance.
I unfortunately quit reading at about the halfway mark. I enjoyed the pacing but I wasn't as intrigued by the story as I would have hoped. This isn't at no fault of the author/the book, simply my own brain, but I kept comparing it to other "PI" / other-worldly investigator books (like Anita Blake..etc) and I just wasn't enjoying it enough to continue. I didn't feel the connections between the characters and I wasn't connected to the story.
Other people really enjoyed it though, so I suggest you give it a chance! I might come back to it later but as of now I wasn't really into it!
I am going to give 3 stars, because it has the potential for being a great book it just fell short for ME, but it might not for you!
annarella's review
Great start of a new urban fantasy series, I thorughly enjoyed it and had fun.
Excellent storytelling, world building, likeable characters.
Can't wait to read the next story, highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Excellent storytelling, world building, likeable characters.
Can't wait to read the next story, highly recommended.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
facebehindabook's review
5.0
~Thanks to booksirens for the ARC in return for an honest review~
Cops, Seers and witches oh my…..
This book started with a mystery right out the gate and things just kept building right up until the cliffhanger. I liked how this book left me wondering who the HELL till about 60% and then pieces started clicking together but not enough to give the whole story away but enough to keep you wanting to know WHAT NEXT.
Cops, Seers and witches oh my…..
This book started with a mystery right out the gate and things just kept building right up until the cliffhanger. I liked how this book left me wondering who the HELL till about 60% and then pieces started clicking together but not enough to give the whole story away but enough to keep you wanting to know WHAT NEXT.
kittyhawk's review
5.0
I LOVED this book.
I had never heard of this author before. I will be looking them up after this review to see what else has been written. It does not read like a well published author, so I'm only expecting to find a few books, but it'll be well worth the effort to me to find a new favorite.
So we start out knowing very little about Eli and where she came from, but we get a few very tantalizing hints from the beginning. It is rather confusing at first, and feels a bit like there was another book you didn't actually get to read. But then as you continue you just continue to get bits and dribbles. "How odd," you think, "these things are interesting but don't really feel like a valuable piece of this particular story."
Absolutely will be rereading this in the future, and seeking out any further books in this series. I can only hope this will continue on such a positive note in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had never heard of this author before. I will be looking them up after this review to see what else has been written. It does not read like a well published author, so I'm only expecting to find a few books, but it'll be well worth the effort to me to find a new favorite.
So we start out knowing very little about Eli and where she came from, but we get a few very tantalizing hints from the beginning. It is rather confusing at first, and feels a bit like there was another book you didn't actually get to read. But then as you continue you just continue to get bits and dribbles. "How odd," you think, "these things are interesting but don't really feel like a valuable piece of this particular story."
Absolutely will be rereading this in the future, and seeking out any further books in this series. I can only hope this will continue on such a positive note in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
pen_and_pixel's review
4.0
I wasn’t sure on this one initially. I’ve seen a few ‘female detective agency’ takes and it can either be fantastic of fall short there is no in between. But Oleander was pretty easy to get into. The main character was easy to love. I found I related to her in many ways. She is struggling to deal with her grief about her grandmothers death, her past trauma, her responsibilities and her desire to have a life.
She didn’t give up despite everything and she had more than enough reason to. I loved that though I was pretty sure I knew where the romance was going to develop, it wasn’t done in a way that made Eli look like she had no backbone. She was her own person, one who was stronger than she often gave herself credit for.
The writing in Oleander was well done. It kept me invested and turning the pages. I loved the characters, even though it felt like I didn’t know enough about any of them. I was a bit sad about the ending though. I love a good cliff hanger as much as the next person but this one felt like more than a cliff hanger it felt rushed. I found myself with two chapters left thinking they can’t possible cram the ending into two chapters.
I feel like Oleander has great potential to be a really great series. Maybe even a few short stories or prequel to let us know more about Bennet and Tess. Despite how I felt about the ending I am really invested and looking forward to watching how things progress.
I highly recommend Oleander to anyone who likes stories involving witches, and seers in the modern world. It’s definitely worth the read.
4 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
She didn’t give up despite everything and she had more than enough reason to. I loved that though I was pretty sure I knew where the romance was going to develop, it wasn’t done in a way that made Eli look like she had no backbone. She was her own person, one who was stronger than she often gave herself credit for.
The writing in Oleander was well done. It kept me invested and turning the pages. I loved the characters, even though it felt like I didn’t know enough about any of them. I was a bit sad about the ending though. I love a good cliff hanger as much as the next person but this one felt like more than a cliff hanger it felt rushed. I found myself with two chapters left thinking they can’t possible cram the ending into two chapters.
I feel like Oleander has great potential to be a really great series. Maybe even a few short stories or prequel to let us know more about Bennet and Tess. Despite how I felt about the ending I am really invested and looking forward to watching how things progress.
I highly recommend Oleander to anyone who likes stories involving witches, and seers in the modern world. It’s definitely worth the read.
4 Stars
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.