km_allan's reviews
227 reviews

It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood

4.0

Funny, awkward, and relatable, Nina Kenwood has crafted an entertaining coming-of-age story that covers friendships, family dynamics, self-consciousness, social anxiety, and first loves. Natalie’s voice is immediate from the first page and pulls you into her world and all the ups and downs of a teen moving into young adulthood.

The Flower and The Serpent by Madeleine D'Este

4.0

The Flower and The Serpent is told through the different viewpoints of teenager Violet, her friends, their drama teacher, and a dark entity that haunts the Tasmanian town of Beacon Hill. It infiltrates the group of teenagers as they are preparing to put on a production of Macbeth, causing havoc and keeping the reader guessing until the reveal on the night of the play's final rehearsal. The mystery builds throughout the story, and the author does a great job of putting the reader into the minds of the characters and of capturing the nostalgic feel of the '90s based story. It reads like something that would have been on shelves back then, but still fits comfortably on modern bookshelves as a good YA story for those who like a little darkness and creepiness mixed with their teenage angst.

A More Complicated Fairytale by Emily Witt, Emily Wrayburn

4.0

A thoroughly enjoyable read. When headstrong Cait crosses path with Prince Felipe, a friendship is formed that will take them through grief, war, opposite opinions, adventure, and force them to confront how they really feel about each other. It's a quick read, but that doesn't make it any less satisfying when you get to the last page. Highly recommended.

The Memories We Hide by Jodi Gibson

4.0

A quick, enjoyable read, The Memories We Hide, tells the tale of Laura, a beautician who is unhappy with her career and life choices. When her mother's cancer enters its final stage, Laura returns to her home town, a small country area she fled 10 years ago after the tragic accidental death of her high school boyfriend. What follows is a story about soul searching, flashbacks, missed and future romance, the horrible truth behind the real reason Laura fled, and the memories she hid from herself about that fateful night on the train tracks. I found the characters enjoyable, the mystery behind her boyfriend's death intriguing, and the reveal of the truth an interesting surprise. Definitely recommended.

Her Crown of Fire by Renee April

5.0

This book has it all: a river-portal to another world, a teenage girl who can control fire, a school for mages, a conspiracy, love, battles, and a cliffhanger that'll have you hanging out for book 2. Highly recommended.

Maternal Instinct by Rebecca Bowyer

4.0

Set in a future which is scarily close to a reality our own world could take, Maternal Instinct is a potential warning about the consequences of gene-editing and government control. It posts some intriguing/disturbing questions and is very much in the vein of The Handmaid's Tale. I enjoyed the characters and the way they evolved and changed perspectives from the start of the book until the end, and although I would have liked to see a little more detail on the final pages as to what happened to the characters and the consequences of their final choices, it did leave me satisfied.

Instructions For Falling In Love Again by Lucy Mitchell

5.0

The premise for this book might sound sad, but the story is heartwarming and funny. Told from the perspective of widow Pippa and her possible new love interest, Mikey, Lucy Mitchell has crafted a story full of misunderstandings that will have you wanting to shake some sense into the characters, situations that will have you rooting for them, events that will make you feel for them, and romance that will leave you smiling. It's a debut definitely worth reading.

Greenhaelan by L.A. Webster

4.0

Greenhaelan is an adventurous debut with a unique world and magic system that is sure to be a hit with Fantasy readers. The main character of the story is 26-year old gardener Sara Martin (although she reads much older than 26), who finds herself mysteriously transported to a new world called Algarth. After making friends and learning the language, she discovers almost everyone who lives in Algarth has a skal, which is magic that manifests in them at a certain age, giving them different abilities, such as shaping wood without tools or healing. Clues expertly planted at the beginning of the story lead to the revelation that Sara herself has a skal and that she can heal plants. This means she's a Greenhaelan, and in this world, that is something to be feared. Now on the run, Sara meets a variety of different characters, which at times is hard to keep track of, but some of them do form a nice friendship with Sarah, which makes up the heart of the book. There are other revelations to be had, like the truth behind Sara's history and who she really is, and those mysteries are the highlights of the story. It does take a while to get into the action of Greenhaelan, with the pace slowed by the author's wordy writing style, tendency to describe physical features, character clothing, and each setting in a lot of detail, but once the book gets to its final battle, you won't be able to put it down. It's a worthy entry in the world of adult fantasy books, and I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes.

How To Make A Monster by Felix I.D. Dimaro

4.0

A well-written collection of short stories that at first glance only seem to have horror in common. As you read, clues and references link the stories together, some in subtle, and some in obvious ways. Standouts include The Loveliest Shade Of Red, Casper, and Daily Special, but all the stories have elements that stay with you. It's not an easy read, as warned by the author, with some characters doing truly awful things to each other, but it does make you think about how humans act and what makes a monster. The final story appears to be an introduction to a character that will be in a future book, one that I would gladly read, as, despite the darker elements of these stories, I thoroughly enjoyed the author's unique writing style.

Dempsey's Grill by Bryan J. Fagan

4.0

It's been a while since I read a story that left me with a smile on my face at the end.

Dempsey's Grill tells the story of Gibson, a teacher who is fired and dumped by his girlfriend (one of the most insufferable characters you'll ever meet on a book page) and has no choice, at the age of twenty-nine, but to move back to his home town and in with his parents. There he meets up with childhood friend, Dempsey, who has a crazy idea about opening up a grill that sells the best burgers in town. Joining in on this venture is Gibson's first love, Gail; an old neighbor who he last saw when they were fifteen, and someone who brings out the best in him. As they help Dempsey achieve his dream, hijinks ensue, friendships are tested, Gibson learns about his own family and self, and what he truly needs to be happy.

Bryan J. Fagan writes in such a fun, conversational tone that you'll feel like your hearing this story from your best friend. I definitely recommend this book for those looking for a feel-good story that teaches you a little something about growing up when you're already supposed to be grown, and the relationships that help shape you.