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missjackieoh's review
I'm not going to review this book too much. I DNF'd at about 40%, not because it was terrible or anything like that, but because it just wasn't for me. I hate that I HAVE to rate this book. I don't like rating books I don't finish. Therefore, I highly encourage you to read what I have said and then make your own decision, and read other reviews as well.
I can definitely see why some people are going to love this book. The characters (from the little I read) were good, the plot is interesting, and the writing style was great.
My sole problem with the book is that we are introduced to so many characters so quickly that I couldn't get a feel for any one character or their role in the story. By the time I gave up I don't think we had even gotten to the plot of the story and I had already been given so much information that it almost felt tedious to continue. If I have gotten nearly halfway through and I don't have a favorite character or an interest in the plot, then I have to just say this book isn't for me.
** this book was given to me for free for review from the publisher. Thank you to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity. My opinions are entirely my own.
I can definitely see why some people are going to love this book. The characters (from the little I read) were good, the plot is interesting, and the writing style was great.
My sole problem with the book is that we are introduced to so many characters so quickly that I couldn't get a feel for any one character or their role in the story. By the time I gave up I don't think we had even gotten to the plot of the story and I had already been given so much information that it almost felt tedious to continue. If I have gotten nearly halfway through and I don't have a favorite character or an interest in the plot, then I have to just say this book isn't for me.
** this book was given to me for free for review from the publisher. Thank you to Netgalley and Flame Tree Press for the opportunity. My opinions are entirely my own.
annarella's review
5.0
This book is amazing and full of food for thought. It's a page turner you cannot put down and a very well written book.
I cannot find anything negative to say, I liked everything.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for this ARC
I cannot find anything negative to say, I liked everything.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press and Netgalley for this ARC
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Award-winning writer P.D. Cacek delivers a full-length novel based on reincarnation that is very much character, rather than plot, driven with an interesting and memorable cast. It explores issues of life and death and the effects of each on families and the wider community. Having just lost someone close to me I could relate to the emotive scenes and felt they were beautiful and sensitively done. It's a well written, compulsive and thought-provoking read which blurs the line between myth and reality making us question philosophical principles of why we are here.
Second Lives is a surprisingly superb novel which manages to be rather difficult to classify. The best definition is a cross between speculative fiction, literary fiction and horror with some interesting supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. The writing and flow work perfectly to keep you grasping at straws and wondering what would likely come next. It's a unique story and one that you'll enjoy provided you can let go and suspend your disbelief. I look forward to picking up more of her work.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for an ARC.
Second Lives is a surprisingly superb novel which manages to be rather difficult to classify. The best definition is a cross between speculative fiction, literary fiction and horror with some interesting supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. The writing and flow work perfectly to keep you grasping at straws and wondering what would likely come next. It's a unique story and one that you'll enjoy provided you can let go and suspend your disbelief. I look forward to picking up more of her work.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for an ARC.
armand_rosamilia's review
5.0
A very emotional roller coaster of a book! I went in expecting this to be a horror or supernatural book and I'm glad I didn't read any other reviews or the description because it blew me away. It is so much more. Emotional. Funny. Sad. Poignant. I found myself smiling as I finished it, knowing I'd just read something important.
astoldbybex's review
4.0
Thank you to Flame Tree Press for providing me with a copy of Second Lives by P.D. Cacek in exchange for an honest review!
Second Lives did not go in the direction that I expected; mainly, because I went in with the impression that this would be classified as horror. Reader, I was wrong. However, I am very glad that I chose to read this novel from P.D. Cacek!
Second Lives dives into the lives of several characters; chapters alternating between the cast and different time periods. This sounds like it could get messy, but P.D. Cacek does an amazing job of bringing each character to life. I, at no point, got confused at who was what, and where was when.
This read does have some challenging topics that may possibly be difficult for some to read. There were points where Second Lives dragged my mood down, especially in terms of an Alzheimer’s patient who becomes inhabited by a child after his death. So, yes, this isn’t the happiest read.
At times, Second Lives might feel slow, but this was clearly done so readers have a chance to get to know the characters and their relationships; allowing for a bigger impact when the characters die & move into other bodies. If Cacek didn’t provide us with a deep view of the characters prior to the meat of the story, then it wouldn’t have been close to being as good of a read as it was.
I thoroughly enjoyed the aspect of the characters having to adjust; not necessarily the ones who are dealing with being in a different body, but those around them who must now deal with their loved ones being taken over by another soul.
This is not necessarily a book that I would reread, again very depressing, but I am very glad that I did read it. I enjoyed Cacek’s writing style and her ability to create such rounded characters that I ended up really caring about during my read.
Second Lives did not go in the direction that I expected; mainly, because I went in with the impression that this would be classified as horror. Reader, I was wrong. However, I am very glad that I chose to read this novel from P.D. Cacek!
Second Lives dives into the lives of several characters; chapters alternating between the cast and different time periods. This sounds like it could get messy, but P.D. Cacek does an amazing job of bringing each character to life. I, at no point, got confused at who was what, and where was when.
This read does have some challenging topics that may possibly be difficult for some to read. There were points where Second Lives dragged my mood down, especially in terms of an Alzheimer’s patient who becomes inhabited by a child after his death. So, yes, this isn’t the happiest read.
At times, Second Lives might feel slow, but this was clearly done so readers have a chance to get to know the characters and their relationships; allowing for a bigger impact when the characters die & move into other bodies. If Cacek didn’t provide us with a deep view of the characters prior to the meat of the story, then it wouldn’t have been close to being as good of a read as it was.
I thoroughly enjoyed the aspect of the characters having to adjust; not necessarily the ones who are dealing with being in a different body, but those around them who must now deal with their loved ones being taken over by another soul.
This is not necessarily a book that I would reread, again very depressing, but I am very glad that I did read it. I enjoyed Cacek’s writing style and her ability to create such rounded characters that I ended up really caring about during my read.
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