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introvertdaydream's Reviews (621)
I enjoyed following Ruby in this new world, where survival is the most important thing. But something bothered me a lot : the behavior of Ruby, very annoying, with her appearance: clothing, makeup, … It seems the only thing she wants it’s to still look pretty in case she see friends…. sincerely, who cares about all that while everyone dies all around ?! I really can not believe it.
Aside from this small negative point, The Rain is a good first volume, and the end makes you want to know more!
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-rain-by-virginia-bergin-book-review/
Aside from this small negative point, The Rain is a good first volume, and the end makes you want to know more!
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-rain-by-virginia-bergin-book-review/
I started this book without really knowing what it was talking about, I choose it because the cover is pretty !!! haha ! So I didn’t expect much of it, and in the end it was a really pleasant reading.
The Green Man is a really nice story, the writing is pleasant, the characters are really interesting, this novel reminded me a little bit of a fairy tale. Here you will find : magic, a lot of books, some superstition and of course few poems!
In short, this one-shot is a pleasant reading that I recommend for all lovers of bookstores, literature, poetry and of course magic!
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-green-man-by-michael-bedard-book-review/
The Green Man is a really nice story, the writing is pleasant, the characters are really interesting, this novel reminded me a little bit of a fairy tale. Here you will find : magic, a lot of books, some superstition and of course few poems!
In short, this one-shot is a pleasant reading that I recommend for all lovers of bookstores, literature, poetry and of course magic!
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-green-man-by-michael-bedard-book-review/
I was advised to start with this series before reading “Six of Crows”! So I started this book without knowing exactly what this novel was about. I knew that the author was a little inspired by Russia to create her universe, and that it was also about magic, but that’s it!
We begin the novel directly with the two main characters: Alina and Mal, two orphans and friends. They are then quite young when three people arrived at the Orphanage for the Test! A test that will reveal if they are Grisha or not: magical people (at this moment in the novel, we do not know more about Grisha so I prefer to let you discover). Both are negative, they are “simple humans”.
Time passes, they are ‘almost’ adults now, enroled in the army, in different roles. They are about to cross the Shadow Fold. Between fear and apprehension, nobody wants to cross the Fold, many have find death out there. Terrible beasts are ready to kill them in the midst of the Fold.
The passage begins, but soon nothing goes as planned. And Alina, will reveal herself, finally!
The character of Alina is very interesting, she has no confidence, she thinks she is not the prettiest and she is secretly in love of (you’ll see !). Her life will change radically and I loved following her in her new destiny. She gets to know the history and traditions of the Grisha. Alliance and treason, feelings and friendship, a first book very well written that keeps us intriguing. The character of The Darkling is also very intriguing and interesting. Evil Man? Or true hero?
Now that all the characters and the plot are presented in this first book I can’t wait to read more.
http://www.further-west.com/en/shadow-and-bone-grisha-verse-book-review/
We begin the novel directly with the two main characters: Alina and Mal, two orphans and friends. They are then quite young when three people arrived at the Orphanage for the Test! A test that will reveal if they are Grisha or not: magical people (at this moment in the novel, we do not know more about Grisha so I prefer to let you discover). Both are negative, they are “simple humans”.
Time passes, they are ‘almost’ adults now, enroled in the army, in different roles. They are about to cross the Shadow Fold. Between fear and apprehension, nobody wants to cross the Fold, many have find death out there. Terrible beasts are ready to kill them in the midst of the Fold.
The passage begins, but soon nothing goes as planned. And Alina, will reveal herself, finally!
The character of Alina is very interesting, she has no confidence, she thinks she is not the prettiest and she is secretly in love of (you’ll see !). Her life will change radically and I loved following her in her new destiny. She gets to know the history and traditions of the Grisha. Alliance and treason, feelings and friendship, a first book very well written that keeps us intriguing. The character of The Darkling is also very intriguing and interesting. Evil Man? Or true hero?
Now that all the characters and the plot are presented in this first book I can’t wait to read more.
http://www.further-west.com/en/shadow-and-bone-grisha-verse-book-review/
A difficult subject since this book talk about disease. I thought my reading would be more difficult, sad, but at the risk of seeming to have no heart, it was not the case. I was not upset, maybe because I didn’t like the characters more than that.
In this book, Tuberculosis has become incurable, a mutant strain resists to all the previous treatments. Some Sanatorium, are being set up across the United States (and the rest of the world), in hopes of stabilization, or even a miraculous healing of people (here they are teenagers) affected by disease.
We’re going to follow two teenagers, Lane and Sadie. Both have the disease. Lane has just arrived at Latham House, a kind of high school where every student has the disease. He discovers this new universe, his new life. Quickly he spots Sadie, a girl he is certain to have seen before. Sadie quickly spotted Lane too, the boy who hurt her so much at summer camp a few years ago.
The narration of the novel is shared between these two characters, these two points of view. We will follow their stories, love and friendship, their struggles to recover, to not die and hope to return to a normal life. They are separated from their families and friends, the outside world fears these “sick people”. So they trie to survive one more day, hoping that researchers will finally find a miracle cure!
The writing of the novel is fluid, the characters are not unpleasant, but as I said before I didn’t feel more than some sympathy to them … Even if the novel evokes difficult things, I wasn’t affected by the events. I’m not saying that the novel is bad, this book wasn’t for me, at this moment …
http://www.further-west.com/en/extraordinary-means-by-robyn-schneider-book-review/
In this book, Tuberculosis has become incurable, a mutant strain resists to all the previous treatments. Some Sanatorium, are being set up across the United States (and the rest of the world), in hopes of stabilization, or even a miraculous healing of people (here they are teenagers) affected by disease.
We’re going to follow two teenagers, Lane and Sadie. Both have the disease. Lane has just arrived at Latham House, a kind of high school where every student has the disease. He discovers this new universe, his new life. Quickly he spots Sadie, a girl he is certain to have seen before. Sadie quickly spotted Lane too, the boy who hurt her so much at summer camp a few years ago.
The narration of the novel is shared between these two characters, these two points of view. We will follow their stories, love and friendship, their struggles to recover, to not die and hope to return to a normal life. They are separated from their families and friends, the outside world fears these “sick people”. So they trie to survive one more day, hoping that researchers will finally find a miracle cure!
The writing of the novel is fluid, the characters are not unpleasant, but as I said before I didn’t feel more than some sympathy to them … Even if the novel evokes difficult things, I wasn’t affected by the events. I’m not saying that the novel is bad, this book wasn’t for me, at this moment …
http://www.further-west.com/en/extraordinary-means-by-robyn-schneider-book-review/
Finally I read this book ! I wanted it for so long! I’ve only heard good reviews about it, and the unique format was so intriguing. But I think I have put my expectations a little bit too high, because in the end, even if I read it very quickly, it wasn’t as good as I hoped. Just a basic good read for me.
As I said, the format of Illuminae is really original. Here, the story is not told like in any other book. No, in Illuminae we follow the story of Kady and Ezra via transcripts of surveillance footage, emails, online discussions, … This format may seems weird at first, but I sincerely believe that it is what makes the charm of this novel. Maybe I would have less appreciated it if it was written in a more conventional form.
However, this way of telling the story also has some disadvantages, we know less about the characters, their past, their feelings, … and I think that it is why I had a hard time to really attach myself to them. And during a reading, it bothers me a little. I like to feel things for the characters of a story, that way I can be totally invested in everything that happens to them.
The story of Illuminae begins during an attack on the planet Kerenza, by a powerful “corporation”, we do not know much more at the beginning … All the people try to escape and go to spaceships for get as far away as possible and reach another planet where they will be safe (hopefully). A lot of deaths, a lot of violence, but Ezra and Kady managed to join a ship. But… not the same ship.
The spaceships are escaping from the planet, but the enemy is just behind, close, ready to attack them.
In the same time, a mysterious illness is growing in one of the ship …
In short, Kady and Ezra will try to recover from the attack and survive to the future events.
A lot of actions in this book, a lot of technical terms too, so if you do not like science-fiction I do not recommend it!
Ezra annoyed me a lot, I did not appreciate his way of speaking/writing. Kady, is a character who is transcribed as badass, and computer-nerd, I liked her.
What to add except that I am a little bit disappointed to have only “appreciated” it …
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-illuminae-files-1-illuminae-by-amie-kaufman-and-jay-kristoff-book-review/
As I said, the format of Illuminae is really original. Here, the story is not told like in any other book. No, in Illuminae we follow the story of Kady and Ezra via transcripts of surveillance footage, emails, online discussions, … This format may seems weird at first, but I sincerely believe that it is what makes the charm of this novel. Maybe I would have less appreciated it if it was written in a more conventional form.
However, this way of telling the story also has some disadvantages, we know less about the characters, their past, their feelings, … and I think that it is why I had a hard time to really attach myself to them. And during a reading, it bothers me a little. I like to feel things for the characters of a story, that way I can be totally invested in everything that happens to them.
The story of Illuminae begins during an attack on the planet Kerenza, by a powerful “corporation”, we do not know much more at the beginning … All the people try to escape and go to spaceships for get as far away as possible and reach another planet where they will be safe (hopefully). A lot of deaths, a lot of violence, but Ezra and Kady managed to join a ship. But… not the same ship.
The spaceships are escaping from the planet, but the enemy is just behind, close, ready to attack them.
In the same time, a mysterious illness is growing in one of the ship …
In short, Kady and Ezra will try to recover from the attack and survive to the future events.
A lot of actions in this book, a lot of technical terms too, so if you do not like science-fiction I do not recommend it!
Ezra annoyed me a lot, I did not appreciate his way of speaking/writing. Kady, is a character who is transcribed as badass, and computer-nerd, I liked her.
What to add except that I am a little bit disappointed to have only “appreciated” it …
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-illuminae-files-1-illuminae-by-amie-kaufman-and-jay-kristoff-book-review/
Lately I was more into fantasy books, science fiction, or dystopias. This time I needed something more creepy!
Asylum is the first book of a series of 3 books, plus 4 shorts one, that are either to read between or at the end of the 3 books (I have chosen to read them after the 3 main ones). What I love in this series is that there are many pictures in it (like in the Miss Peregrine series). Pictures taken years ago, inside Asylums. Black and white of course and obviously it’s more scary that way and stick perfectly to the story. I love this kind of books, where in addition to the writing, the photos help us to fully immerse in the story!
The story itself is not super original. Dan arrives at the school during summer vacation, in order to follow some courses that will help him for a future admission to the University. Because of some renewing works, the dorms are installed in a ancient Asylum.
Dan quickly meets two other students: Abby and Jordan, and together they decide to explore forbidden rooms. Inside they will find a lot of pictures of former patients, reports of admissions and treatments. This place gives us goosebumps, and I love it! We discover, through photos and writings, an ancient director who seems very intriguing, with non conventional methods …
Soon, unusual things (and scary) will happen: Dan will found mysteries pictures, he will also receive some creepy messages, … He decides to “investigate” a little more, and his friends will help him.
Asylum is a very nice book, I read it very quickly and without being a horror book, the kind that prevents you from sleeping at night, Asylum gives you a few scares. A little like the Goosebumps series that I read when I was younger. I was totally a fan of this series, and years later I see that I’m still in love with this kind of book!
It is with pleasure that I will read the rest of this series!
http://www.further-west.com/en/asylum-by-madeleine-roux-book-review/
Asylum is the first book of a series of 3 books, plus 4 shorts one, that are either to read between or at the end of the 3 books (I have chosen to read them after the 3 main ones). What I love in this series is that there are many pictures in it (like in the Miss Peregrine series). Pictures taken years ago, inside Asylums. Black and white of course and obviously it’s more scary that way and stick perfectly to the story. I love this kind of books, where in addition to the writing, the photos help us to fully immerse in the story!
The story itself is not super original. Dan arrives at the school during summer vacation, in order to follow some courses that will help him for a future admission to the University. Because of some renewing works, the dorms are installed in a ancient Asylum.
Dan quickly meets two other students: Abby and Jordan, and together they decide to explore forbidden rooms. Inside they will find a lot of pictures of former patients, reports of admissions and treatments. This place gives us goosebumps, and I love it! We discover, through photos and writings, an ancient director who seems very intriguing, with non conventional methods …
Soon, unusual things (and scary) will happen: Dan will found mysteries pictures, he will also receive some creepy messages, … He decides to “investigate” a little more, and his friends will help him.
Asylum is a very nice book, I read it very quickly and without being a horror book, the kind that prevents you from sleeping at night, Asylum gives you a few scares. A little like the Goosebumps series that I read when I was younger. I was totally a fan of this series, and years later I see that I’m still in love with this kind of book!
It is with pleasure that I will read the rest of this series!
http://www.further-west.com/en/asylum-by-madeleine-roux-book-review/
I was a big fan of the TV Show “Penny Dreadful”, and I admit that I didn’t really know the story of Dorian Gray, so I wanted to read this classic of literature since then and I am not disappointed by this reading.
Of course I knew the “big” story, I think everyone knows more or less the plot. But I liked to know more, to know where this famous painting came from, to know the different characters that revolve around this famous Dorian, and what made him become what he became. A cruel human being whose horrors are reflected on this famous painting.
The action takes place in England, in London more precisely, in the heart of the Victorian era, which I particularly like. Initially Dorian is nothing but a (very) narcissistic teenager who doesn’t want to grow old and wants to keep his beauty forever. After all, who doesn’t want to stay young forever? Dorian makes this vow quickly in the story, just a word in the void during a discussion. Yet, it is from this moment that his life will change, forever.
He quickly realizes that every bad action, feeling, speech will be reflected on the painting. He remains handsome and young, but his portrait will become more and more hideous.
We will discover a Dorian who will become so abject, and will no longer hesitate to commit crimes, brave taboos and build a very bad reputation.
I liked this novel, the idea of Oscar Wilde is terribly original and beautifully written.
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-by-oscar-wilde-book-review/
Of course I knew the “big” story, I think everyone knows more or less the plot. But I liked to know more, to know where this famous painting came from, to know the different characters that revolve around this famous Dorian, and what made him become what he became. A cruel human being whose horrors are reflected on this famous painting.
The action takes place in England, in London more precisely, in the heart of the Victorian era, which I particularly like. Initially Dorian is nothing but a (very) narcissistic teenager who doesn’t want to grow old and wants to keep his beauty forever. After all, who doesn’t want to stay young forever? Dorian makes this vow quickly in the story, just a word in the void during a discussion. Yet, it is from this moment that his life will change, forever.
He quickly realizes that every bad action, feeling, speech will be reflected on the painting. He remains handsome and young, but his portrait will become more and more hideous.
We will discover a Dorian who will become so abject, and will no longer hesitate to commit crimes, brave taboos and build a very bad reputation.
I liked this novel, the idea of Oscar Wilde is terribly original and beautifully written.
http://www.further-west.com/en/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-by-oscar-wilde-book-review/
This first book reminded me a lot of the series The Mortal Instruments. Not in a bad way, but I found some similarities and I could not help but make the connection. A heroine who discovers a new universe, and who is not 100% human. A mother who died, (in TMI her mother is kidnapped), a father-in-law who watches over her, a romance,…
I was attracted by this series because it took place in libraries, I imagined stories and mysteries with old books, research, … but it’s not really what I found .
If the beginning of the story actually begins inside a library (Boston), that was it. Of course we stay in libraries because after all the role of the characters is to protect them and humans, but that’s it. Pity…
In short, the universe is too rich, too complex, and I think that’s what lowered my rating. I have nothing against that, on the contrary, but here the author has given us too many informations. Always more things to discover, remember and it really blocked me from enjoying my reading. It’s like I only retained half of everything, and it really annoys me. A first book should be a little bit slow I think …
So, I still don’t know if I will read the next book, maybe I’ll read this first book a second time to be sure to have understand everything!
http://www.further-west.com/en/thief-of-lies-by-brenda-drake-book-review/
I was attracted by this series because it took place in libraries, I imagined stories and mysteries with old books, research, … but it’s not really what I found .
If the beginning of the story actually begins inside a library (Boston), that was it. Of course we stay in libraries because after all the role of the characters is to protect them and humans, but that’s it. Pity…
In short, the universe is too rich, too complex, and I think that’s what lowered my rating. I have nothing against that, on the contrary, but here the author has given us too many informations. Always more things to discover, remember and it really blocked me from enjoying my reading. It’s like I only retained half of everything, and it really annoys me. A first book should be a little bit slow I think …
So, I still don’t know if I will read the next book, maybe I’ll read this first book a second time to be sure to have understand everything!
http://www.further-west.com/en/thief-of-lies-by-brenda-drake-book-review/
I saw this book on bookstagram, I found the cover quite disturbing, and the description really made me want to read it!
From the first pages I was totally hooked by the story. It is written via the point of view of different characters, and I loved it.
We will follow different families throughout the book. We first learn to know them, to know a little more about their lives before the disaster.
Then the “disaster” happens. In a few minutes, all children die, all without exception. Every child who has not reached puberty will die, not just in the US, but around all the world.
The scientists cannot explain what had happened. Nobody understands what could have caused this. Millions and millions of corpses. Cemeteries are unable to keep up. The children will be buried in mass through different places.
Then, 3 days later, they all come back to “life”. I put life in quotation marks, since we learn very quickly that they are not really alive. No breathing, no heartbeat … Undead.
From this moment, the world as we know it will disappear. A somewhat post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Terror, interrogations, we try to understand what is happening.
I loved this reading. The rhythm is perfect, the characters are nice and the story really intriguing!
I recommend “Suffer the children” if you like that kind of book!
http://www.further-west.com/en/suffer-the-children-by-craig-dilouie-book-review/
From the first pages I was totally hooked by the story. It is written via the point of view of different characters, and I loved it.
We will follow different families throughout the book. We first learn to know them, to know a little more about their lives before the disaster.
Then the “disaster” happens. In a few minutes, all children die, all without exception. Every child who has not reached puberty will die, not just in the US, but around all the world.
The scientists cannot explain what had happened. Nobody understands what could have caused this. Millions and millions of corpses. Cemeteries are unable to keep up. The children will be buried in mass through different places.
Then, 3 days later, they all come back to “life”. I put life in quotation marks, since we learn very quickly that they are not really alive. No breathing, no heartbeat … Undead.
From this moment, the world as we know it will disappear. A somewhat post-apocalyptic atmosphere. Terror, interrogations, we try to understand what is happening.
I loved this reading. The rhythm is perfect, the characters are nice and the story really intriguing!
I recommend “Suffer the children” if you like that kind of book!
http://www.further-west.com/en/suffer-the-children-by-craig-dilouie-book-review/
I was quickly hooked! The writing style, the characters, and the story were great.
We follow 3 friends, 3 girls, who apparently are not the big fan of rules and like to go out at night in secret. One night, they decide to go for a session of spiritism in an abandoned barn. But not just any barn, since it belonged to a family that has experienced a drama (it’s the least we can say …). They are all dead !!! All the children (4 or 5 if my memory is good), the father committed suicide and the mother was never found … Since then, there is a sort of legend of the “Red lady” (I read the book in French so I’m not sure about that name in the US version) that we sometimes see at night and that it’s better to avoid crossing.
Kacey’s half-sister is involved in this session, to the despair of the three friends … The evening turns out pretty badly, I let you discover why. From this moment Lauren (the half-sister) becomes very weird, frightened by the events, the session apparently scared her and Kacey is angry at having dragged her into it. Bailey is also different … and a few days later, she disappears, without any words, without any clue …
The investigation will begin, we will suspect everybody, until the final revelation, which I did not necessarily see coming, but which did not really surprise me.
Between chapter, there are some excerpts from Bailey’s diary, that way we get to know her better!
The characters are interesting, well developed. Kacey the main character has a tumultuous and I was a little bit disappointed that it wasn’t more developed …
Apart from that, the plot is great, I read this book very quickly and I really wanted to know what really happened! Without being my favorite, it was a very good reading to close the month of April!
http://www.further-west.com/en/little-monsters-by-kara-thomas-book-review/
We follow 3 friends, 3 girls, who apparently are not the big fan of rules and like to go out at night in secret. One night, they decide to go for a session of spiritism in an abandoned barn. But not just any barn, since it belonged to a family that has experienced a drama (it’s the least we can say …). They are all dead !!! All the children (4 or 5 if my memory is good), the father committed suicide and the mother was never found … Since then, there is a sort of legend of the “Red lady” (I read the book in French so I’m not sure about that name in the US version) that we sometimes see at night and that it’s better to avoid crossing.
Kacey’s half-sister is involved in this session, to the despair of the three friends … The evening turns out pretty badly, I let you discover why. From this moment Lauren (the half-sister) becomes very weird, frightened by the events, the session apparently scared her and Kacey is angry at having dragged her into it. Bailey is also different … and a few days later, she disappears, without any words, without any clue …
The investigation will begin, we will suspect everybody, until the final revelation, which I did not necessarily see coming, but which did not really surprise me.
Between chapter, there are some excerpts from Bailey’s diary, that way we get to know her better!
The characters are interesting, well developed. Kacey the main character has a tumultuous and I was a little bit disappointed that it wasn’t more developed …
Apart from that, the plot is great, I read this book very quickly and I really wanted to know what really happened! Without being my favorite, it was a very good reading to close the month of April!
http://www.further-west.com/en/little-monsters-by-kara-thomas-book-review/