Scan barcode
kba76's reviews
3136 reviews
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I know I’m going to be in the minority but this just didn’t work for me.
The first third of the book was - for me - boring and I found myself wanting to skip the repetitive scenes between Xaden and Violet. It’s never a good sign when you feel like you have to force yourself to pick up a book. If it weren’t from comments from other readers that it got considerably better, I may not have bothered.
Once the cadets were sent on their quests things picked up. We learnt a little more about the challenges they’re facing, and Violet’s father seems to have been prepared for much of what transpired. The development of Adarna’s situation felt unfair, but it definitely created a bit of interest.
I found myself constantly checking to see how much was left. The battle Violet faced offered, as you could predict, some drama but I found myself wondering why so much of this was happening. As for the ending..it felt horribly manipulative. I didn’t feel broken by it, just a bit bored.
The first third of the book was - for me - boring and I found myself wanting to skip the repetitive scenes between Xaden and Violet. It’s never a good sign when you feel like you have to force yourself to pick up a book. If it weren’t from comments from other readers that it got considerably better, I may not have bothered.
Once the cadets were sent on their quests things picked up. We learnt a little more about the challenges they’re facing, and Violet’s father seems to have been prepared for much of what transpired. The development of Adarna’s situation felt unfair, but it definitely created a bit of interest.
I found myself constantly checking to see how much was left. The battle Violet faced offered, as you could predict, some drama but I found myself wondering why so much of this was happening. As for the ending..it felt horribly manipulative. I didn’t feel broken by it, just a bit bored.
The Crash by Freida McFadden
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A fast-paced thriller, perhaps not up to McFadden’s usual standard, but entertaining enough.
The Crash focuses on a young woman called Tegan. She’s eight months pregnant, desperate for money, but isn’t prepared to sign the NDA the baby’s father wants her to sign in exchange for a hefty settlement because she is convinced he drugged and raped her. Eager for a bit of respite in the closing stages of her pregnancy she plans to visit her brother. Unfortunately she gets caught in a major snowstorm, her car crashes and so begins a rather unusual few days.
Tegan is rescued by Hank, an intimidating looking man, who offers to take her to his home so she can be warm and safe until the snow clears. With a possible broken ankle, Tegan has little alternative. She fears Hank, and everything about his wife Polly’s behaviour feeds into her assumptions. Once Tegan is put downstairs in the basement - a converted space for an ill mother - she starts to realise that she may never get out of this situation.
It’s easy for readers to see where this is going, and Polly is something of a caricature villain. However, there’s a few shocks in store which make for a rather preposterous ending.
The Crash focuses on a young woman called Tegan. She’s eight months pregnant, desperate for money, but isn’t prepared to sign the NDA the baby’s father wants her to sign in exchange for a hefty settlement because she is convinced he drugged and raped her. Eager for a bit of respite in the closing stages of her pregnancy she plans to visit her brother. Unfortunately she gets caught in a major snowstorm, her car crashes and so begins a rather unusual few days.
Tegan is rescued by Hank, an intimidating looking man, who offers to take her to his home so she can be warm and safe until the snow clears. With a possible broken ankle, Tegan has little alternative. She fears Hank, and everything about his wife Polly’s behaviour feeds into her assumptions. Once Tegan is put downstairs in the basement - a converted space for an ill mother - she starts to realise that she may never get out of this situation.
It’s easy for readers to see where this is going, and Polly is something of a caricature villain. However, there’s a few shocks in store which make for a rather preposterous ending.
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Floating Hotel is a mixed bag. There’s a lot going on, and we’re not always privy to the reasons why. A lot of characters and it’s hard to gather much idea about why they all end up in the Hotel.
The hotel has, for many decades, toured space and taken passengers around the galaxy. We see the manager Carl when he first gets on board, and we soon become aware that many of the guests are not what they seem. Someone keeps writing messages to people on board and there’s a number of undercover agents trying to find out the identity of the mysterious lamplighter.
Having just finished I feel this struggled with trying to work out what it was. Sci-fi, mystery or something else.
The hotel has, for many decades, toured space and taken passengers around the galaxy. We see the manager Carl when he first gets on board, and we soon become aware that many of the guests are not what they seem. Someone keeps writing messages to people on board and there’s a number of undercover agents trying to find out the identity of the mysterious lamplighter.
Having just finished I feel this struggled with trying to work out what it was. Sci-fi, mystery or something else.
The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The story begins in dramatic fashion, with one car piling into another. Unfortunately, the passengers in both cars have history…and they’re on their way to Scotland for the wedding of a mutual friend. Their only option is to travel together in the undamaged car, and we realise how momentous this is as their history is revealed.
Dylan and Addie used to be a couple. They haven’t spoken in over a year, so we expect things to be awkward. This is made more so by the fact that Dylan’s best friend Marcus, who played a part in trying to split them up, is travelling with them.
The road trip does not go to plan. Chaotic experience follows chaotic experience, but the time together offers an opportunity for us to learn about how they got together and the circumstances of their break-up.
By the end of the book so much is resolved. The characters are not particularly likeable, but I get the feeling they’re not meant to be.
Dylan and Addie used to be a couple. They haven’t spoken in over a year, so we expect things to be awkward. This is made more so by the fact that Dylan’s best friend Marcus, who played a part in trying to split them up, is travelling with them.
The road trip does not go to plan. Chaotic experience follows chaotic experience, but the time together offers an opportunity for us to learn about how they got together and the circumstances of their break-up.
By the end of the book so much is resolved. The characters are not particularly likeable, but I get the feeling they’re not meant to be.
Champions Again Olė Olė by Phil Brennan
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
So much more than a look back at the 2023-2024 season.
Reading this really brings home just what a fantastic sense of history Stockport County holds. The historical details are fascinating and bring to life some of the players featured on the wall inside Edgeley Park.
It means that little bit more when you come to read about the seasons you’ve been fortunate enough to have been watching County for, and I really count my blessings to have been able to celebrate two title wins with this club after some truly awful times.
This is the kind of book I can imagine the author can keep updating, and I hope it continues to look as rosy as it has in recent years.
Reading this really brings home just what a fantastic sense of history Stockport County holds. The historical details are fascinating and bring to life some of the players featured on the wall inside Edgeley Park.
It means that little bit more when you come to read about the seasons you’ve been fortunate enough to have been watching County for, and I really count my blessings to have been able to celebrate two title wins with this club after some truly awful times.
This is the kind of book I can imagine the author can keep updating, and I hope it continues to look as rosy as it has in recent years.
Lovely, Dark & Deep by Megan Stockton
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
A strange and rather unsettling read.
We begin with the inhabitants of Six Mile Island preparing to face the onset of a terrible storm. Many head for the mainland, but a core group remain. They are caught up in trying to find a missing baby, while trying to keep things secure.
Before we know it it’s clear that there’s stranger things to deal with than the storm. Things coming from the ocean, supernatural creatures that pose a much greater threat.
Nobody is safe.
Not at all what I expected.
We begin with the inhabitants of Six Mile Island preparing to face the onset of a terrible storm. Many head for the mainland, but a core group remain. They are caught up in trying to find a missing baby, while trying to keep things secure.
Before we know it it’s clear that there’s stranger things to deal with than the storm. Things coming from the ocean, supernatural creatures that pose a much greater threat.
Nobody is safe.
Not at all what I expected.
Anything For You: A Tense and Unputdownable Psychological Thriller from the SUNDAY TIMES Bestselling Author by Sophie McKenzie
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
How far would a mother go to protect her child? When Alison learns that her eighteen year old daughter, Lola, has been seeing a much older man, Brendan, she is appalled. Brendan was a friend of Alison’s at university. He raped her. Alison is desperate that her daughter does not continue a relationship with him.
When Alison talks to Brendan about it, he laughs at her. However, he does agree to end things with Lola if he is paid. She steals the inheritance her boyfriend received, but the problem is not solved. Brendan is murdered, and it appears that the last person to have seen him alive was Lola.
As the police investigate, Alison and her family clutch at possible ways they can prove Lola’s innocence.
Without giving the details away, things aren’t what we’re led to believe. We lurch from one implausible scenario to another which makes for entertaining reading but never seems to make sense. The key characters we’re never really fleshed out so as the story moves forward it was hard to care too much what was going on.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
When Alison talks to Brendan about it, he laughs at her. However, he does agree to end things with Lola if he is paid. She steals the inheritance her boyfriend received, but the problem is not solved. Brendan is murdered, and it appears that the last person to have seen him alive was Lola.
As the police investigate, Alison and her family clutch at possible ways they can prove Lola’s innocence.
Without giving the details away, things aren’t what we’re led to believe. We lurch from one implausible scenario to another which makes for entertaining reading but never seems to make sense. The key characters we’re never really fleshed out so as the story moves forward it was hard to care too much what was going on.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
Mondays are Murder by Ravena Guron
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A fast-paced thriller with twists aplenty that perfectly blends the different elements to create a story that is hard to put down.
Our main character,Kay, is returning to her old hometown as her parents are going on holiday and don’t want her left alone. This is the first time she’s been back since the death of her best friend, Ivy, and the death of her aunt.
Kay is looking forward to seeing old friends and spending time with family, until she finds a mysterious note left on her bed promising a week of strange events culminating in her death…unless she can work out the identity of the mysterious Monday.
As the story progresses Kay has to reach out to people she thought she’d left behind in order to try and crack the case and save herself. In the process she learns a lot more about those she left behind.
Definitely a story to go into knowing as little as possible. Perhaps not always plausible, but great fun. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
Our main character,Kay, is returning to her old hometown as her parents are going on holiday and don’t want her left alone. This is the first time she’s been back since the death of her best friend, Ivy, and the death of her aunt.
Kay is looking forward to seeing old friends and spending time with family, until she finds a mysterious note left on her bed promising a week of strange events culminating in her death…unless she can work out the identity of the mysterious Monday.
As the story progresses Kay has to reach out to people she thought she’d left behind in order to try and crack the case and save herself. In the process she learns a lot more about those she left behind.
Definitely a story to go into knowing as little as possible. Perhaps not always plausible, but great fun. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Grandest Game focuses on the first puzzle created by Avery as she attempts to do good with her inheritance. We have a disparate group of characters, each with their own reasons for wanting to win the prize. One thing they all have in common is wealth and a certain privilege. Hardly pushing the boat out in philanthropic terms!
While I found some of the elements of the game entertaining, there was a lot that didn’t particularly work well. We don’t ever get to see enough of some of the game players. We have no idea why Grayson is involved. There’s hints of a link to an old mystery surrounding the Hawthornes but nothing is satisfactorily explained. The dynamics between characters never quite clicked…and the hair brushing scene had me spluttering in hysterics (which I’m not sure is the desired effect).
The ending is a fairly obvious hook to make us keep reading the next spin-off. If you don’t think too much about this, you’ll be entertained. Sadly, I think the series is becoming less entertaining the more we spend time in its world.
While I found some of the elements of the game entertaining, there was a lot that didn’t particularly work well. We don’t ever get to see enough of some of the game players. We have no idea why Grayson is involved. There’s hints of a link to an old mystery surrounding the Hawthornes but nothing is satisfactorily explained. The dynamics between characters never quite clicked…and the hair brushing scene had me spluttering in hysterics (which I’m not sure is the desired effect).
The ending is a fairly obvious hook to make us keep reading the next spin-off. If you don’t think too much about this, you’ll be entertained. Sadly, I think the series is becoming less entertaining the more we spend time in its world.
Lie or Die by A.J. Clack
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
If you already have a negative view of reality TV and its influence, this fast-paced thriller will serve as evidence for your negative opinion.
At the start of the book we hear that Kass is trying to get a place on a new reality TV show, Live or Die. The premise is simple…two agents, one detective and a number of players who are all competing for a major prize. Filmed continuously during the show it’s a high-stakes game where only those willing to do what it takes will survive.
Kass is rejected, but her best friend is not.
On the day the show is scheduled to begin, a most unfortunate accident means Kass is asked to step in at the last minute.
The set-up of the show takes a little longer than you’d imagine, but it introduces us to key players and offers hints at what might be to come. Itching prepares us for the shock of u folding events, and the blurring of TV manipulation and reality is cleverly presented.
From the moment the true nature of the game is revealed this has more of a horror-feel to it. It offers some interesting ideas about our obsession with people wanting to be in the public eye, but the ending felt like a rather cheap attempt to eke out something that worked once.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
At the start of the book we hear that Kass is trying to get a place on a new reality TV show, Live or Die. The premise is simple…two agents, one detective and a number of players who are all competing for a major prize. Filmed continuously during the show it’s a high-stakes game where only those willing to do what it takes will survive.
Kass is rejected, but her best friend is not.
On the day the show is scheduled to begin, a most unfortunate accident means Kass is asked to step in at the last minute.
The set-up of the show takes a little longer than you’d imagine, but it introduces us to key players and offers hints at what might be to come. Itching prepares us for the shock of u folding events, and the blurring of TV manipulation and reality is cleverly presented.
From the moment the true nature of the game is revealed this has more of a horror-feel to it. It offers some interesting ideas about our obsession with people wanting to be in the public eye, but the ending felt like a rather cheap attempt to eke out something that worked once.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.