Scan barcode
rotemd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-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? No
5.0
cala_p's review against another edition
This book had such an amazing review by Aesta's book blog that I just had to look it up. When I realized it was the same author as the The Paper Swan, I was sold. I loved that book so much this had to be just as good.
It was a slow start. Very women's fiction-like, which I am not a fan of. Then it started picking up and I was interested. When I stopped for a day to go to work, I found it hard to pick up again because I wasn't wholly enjoying it. If I can't stop thinking about it, then for sure I would make time to read that night. But that wasn't the case with this one.
So I am DNFing it right now but I'd like to give it a shot again in the future.
It was a slow start. Very women's fiction-like, which I am not a fan of. Then it started picking up and I was interested. When I stopped for a day to go to work, I found it hard to pick up again because I wasn't wholly enjoying it. If I can't stop thinking about it, then for sure I would make time to read that night. But that wasn't the case with this one.
So I am DNFing it right now but I'd like to give it a shot again in the future.
kkelly04's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One of the best books I have ever read in my whole life 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I cannot leave a review as I can never do this book justice………..
lildrinkwater's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very expected for most of the story. The epilogue made it all worth it though. Worth the read just for the ending. Amazing ending.
smolbean_reads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
'we’re all connected in strange, mysterious ways. Pull a thread here and a life unravels there'.
It is paining me to not rate this book higher.
The overall plot is AMAZING. A love story in Africa where two grieving people are bound together by tragic circumstances, not only that but they get involved in the most intense plan to save albino children from hunters (involving an epic train scene that reminded me of the Anastasia film). Amazing settings, and secondary characters with their own story arcs too. (Also our MC Jack is out here looking like Jason Momoa so I have NO complaints there. 'He had something more. Solidity. Substance. The kind of thing the moon does to the tides, making the waves rise to attention'.).
It was also really funny at times.
“Oh, my God. You’re shy. You’re coloring up like the Serengeti sunset.”
First half of the book was a solid 4 star rating. Really beautifully written, really emotional. I highlighted so many parts. And then...it became too indulgent, unbelievable, boring and just bleh. I skim read the rest. I did not enjoy the romance in this.
*spoilers ahead about everything I really didn't like*
1) YOU DO NOT FALL SO IN LOVE IN A WEEK.
Nope. No I cannot get on board with this. The span of this should have been at least a month at the minimum.
2) You are both grieving close family members, and at times that seems to be completely forgotten. I mean, yes, in the first half of the book this was dealt with really well, but the second half the characters seemed wildly distracted by lust. Seriously?...
3) I'm very surprised how weird the first sex scene was, despite being written by a woman. I was surprised she decided to make Ro a virgin and I was cringing over her describing the breaking of the hymen. It isn't some rigid penetrable thing ugh. Please, can we be talking about sex realistically.
4) I simply could not deal with Jack calling Ro 'sweetness' .
--
So basically, the concept was GREAT. The execution was a let down :(
'we’re all connected in strange, mysterious ways. Pull a thread here and a life unravels there'.
It is paining me to not rate this book higher.
The overall plot is AMAZING. A love story in Africa where two grieving people are bound together by tragic circumstances, not only that but they get involved in the most intense plan to save albino children from hunters (involving an epic train scene that reminded me of the Anastasia film). Amazing settings, and secondary characters with their own story arcs too. (Also our MC Jack is out here looking like Jason Momoa so I have NO complaints there. 'He had something more. Solidity. Substance. The kind of thing the moon does to the tides, making the waves rise to attention'.).
It was also really funny at times.
“Oh, my God. You’re shy. You’re coloring up like the Serengeti sunset.”
First half of the book was a solid 4 star rating. Really beautifully written, really emotional. I highlighted so many parts. And then...it became too indulgent, unbelievable, boring and just bleh. I skim read the rest. I did not enjoy the romance in this.
*spoilers ahead about everything I really didn't like*
1) YOU DO NOT FALL SO IN LOVE IN A WEEK.
Nope. No I cannot get on board with this. The span of this should have been at least a month at the minimum.
2) You are both grieving close family members, and at times that seems to be completely forgotten. I mean, yes, in the first half of the book this was dealt with really well, but the second half the characters seemed wildly distracted by lust. Seriously?...
3) I'm very surprised how weird the first sex scene was, despite being written by a woman. I was surprised she decided to make Ro a virgin and I was cringing over her describing the breaking of the hymen. It isn't some rigid penetrable thing ugh. Please, can we be talking about sex realistically.
4) I simply could not deal with Jack calling Ro 'sweetness' .
--
So basically, the concept was GREAT. The execution was a let down :(
treparker73's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing
The epilogue! Wow. Great writing, story was amazing and I did learn more about Africa. All it takes is 1 person to stand up for others, this book reminds me of that fact.
The epilogue! Wow. Great writing, story was amazing and I did learn more about Africa. All it takes is 1 person to stand up for others, this book reminds me of that fact.
simplyxkate's review against another edition
5.0
This book is everything! Beautifully written story of how we are all tied together on this earth. I felt a wide range of emotions while reading this book and was on the edge of my seat from the prologue all the way to the last page of the epilogue, which literally gave me chills and left no questions unanswered. This is a perfect book if you're looking for a romance that is so much more than just romance. The author also does a wonderful job describing life in the African plains. I swear if I closed my eyes I could picture myself there. I loved everything about this!!!
ashleybhaley's review against another edition
5.0
6 Stars!
"We were both feeling guilty for it because desire has no place at grief's table, and yet, there it was, sitting between us like a shameless uninvited guest." - Leylah Attar
This book was beyond perfect. Not just a perfect story, but perfectly written! While it is technically a romance novel, it includes everything I hope for in a book: suspense, mystery, loss, love, friendship, strong characters, and a beautiful story. I have read all of Attar's novels and she has never disappointed, but this one is by far my favorite. I was swept away from the first chapter and I felt this story through my heart and soul. If I ever write a novel, I want to write it with the same lyrical ability as Leylah Attar. Something I wish all authors would note is how she writes her intimate scenes... She writes them with such tenderness without using smutty sex lingo. This whole book played out in my head like a movie, because she makes you feel with her ability to show, not tell the reader- absolute perfection!
"We were both feeling guilty for it because desire has no place at grief's table, and yet, there it was, sitting between us like a shameless uninvited guest." - Leylah Attar
This book was beyond perfect. Not just a perfect story, but perfectly written! While it is technically a romance novel, it includes everything I hope for in a book: suspense, mystery, loss, love, friendship, strong characters, and a beautiful story. I have read all of Attar's novels and she has never disappointed, but this one is by far my favorite. I was swept away from the first chapter and I felt this story through my heart and soul. If I ever write a novel, I want to write it with the same lyrical ability as Leylah Attar. Something I wish all authors would note is how she writes her intimate scenes... She writes them with such tenderness without using smutty sex lingo. This whole book played out in my head like a movie, because she makes you feel with her ability to show, not tell the reader- absolute perfection!
briandthemoon's review against another edition
5.0
Beyond beautiful! Perfect mix of Women's Lit and Romance. One of the best reads ever.
vikcs's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
After reading the synopsis and quite a few reviews about this book I had really high expectations toward the story. Maybe because of this but I sad to say that I pretty disappointed in it. I expected so much more.
The writing style in itself is great, flowing and artsy. The plot also presents a beautiful story but for me it was missing the intensity and the emotions didn’t come through either. And this is my biggest problem with the story for me. This could have been such a phenomenal and heartwarming tale with a bit more intensity, depth to it. It’s needed something to spice up the events. So yeah for me Mist of the Serengeti just falls short.
The two main characters are thrown together by some cruel events of fate. Both of them deal with it differently. Jack is punishing himself by pushing everybody away and acting as an asshole and trying to prove himself and everybody else that he is a bad person. But he is a really good soul and no matter what he does he can’t deny his true self.
Ro is the complete opposite of her sister and after losing her Ro kind of tries and take up her personality, live her life? I don’t know what her original plan was but she rushes into dangerous endeavors half cooked and rash. She tries to prove herself something but she doesn’t know what it is until the very end.
The two characters connect on different levels and bond. Their relationship forms slowly but strongly. It’s beautiful how they heal each other with passion and understanding.
What I liked the most and found the most interesting is the way the author shows life in Africa through Ro eyes. It’s beautiful, brutal and complex. We see a lot of different aspects to this culture and I enjoyed reading about it the most.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful story with a couple of flaws but it just my opinion because everybody loves it. Truth to be told I liked reading it and would recommend it to anybody who loves romance novels and is looking for something with a deeper meaning behind it and not just the usual smut and drama. One thing though I hated the epilogue, yes I get and understand the sentiment behind it but still hated it nonetheless. For me it was a huge downer after the well deserved HEA.
The writing style in itself is great, flowing and artsy. The plot also presents a beautiful story but for me it was missing the intensity and the emotions didn’t come through either. And this is my biggest problem with the story for me. This could have been such a phenomenal and heartwarming tale with a bit more intensity, depth to it. It’s needed something to spice up the events. So yeah for me Mist of the Serengeti just falls short.
The two main characters are thrown together by some cruel events of fate. Both of them deal with it differently. Jack is punishing himself by pushing everybody away and acting as an asshole and trying to prove himself and everybody else that he is a bad person. But he is a really good soul and no matter what he does he can’t deny his true self.
Ro is the complete opposite of her sister and after losing her Ro kind of tries and take up her personality, live her life? I don’t know what her original plan was but she rushes into dangerous endeavors half cooked and rash. She tries to prove herself something but she doesn’t know what it is until the very end.
The two characters connect on different levels and bond. Their relationship forms slowly but strongly. It’s beautiful how they heal each other with passion and understanding.
What I liked the most and found the most interesting is the way the author shows life in Africa through Ro eyes. It’s beautiful, brutal and complex. We see a lot of different aspects to this culture and I enjoyed reading about it the most.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful story with a couple of flaws but it just my opinion because everybody loves it. Truth to be told I liked reading it and would recommend it to anybody who loves romance novels and is looking for something with a deeper meaning behind it and not just the usual smut and drama. One thing though I hated the epilogue, yes I get and understand the sentiment behind it but still hated it nonetheless. For me it was a huge downer after the well deserved HEA.