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onlyfictionsworld's reviews
48 reviews
The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel
3.0
The book is set in WWII and connects to a later historical event, despite providing only a few details about history. The story lacks details except for the catastrophic events, which are significant in history.
Both Elise and Juliette are married to French men. Elise is married to an artist and a Communist; Juliette is married to a bookseller and has three children. Their daughters are born within weeks of one another. As a war story, it naturally focuses on loss and grief.
The stories of Elise and Juliette were so engaging for me. Motherhood made me think about tough decisions and protecting my family.. The book would be perfect for a book club discussion.
Despite this, the book didn’t resonate with me. Following a tragic event, Juliette became a cold person. At the beginning of the book, she was a likable character and a true friend to Elise. Her bitterness and anger lasted for decades, and that just didn’t seem possible.
Throughout the book, there are several twists and turns. Harmel didn’t introduce a love interest to the two women later on in their lives, which made me happy.
It’s so meh!
Both Elise and Juliette are married to French men. Elise is married to an artist and a Communist; Juliette is married to a bookseller and has three children. Their daughters are born within weeks of one another. As a war story, it naturally focuses on loss and grief.
The stories of Elise and Juliette were so engaging for me. Motherhood made me think about tough decisions and protecting my family.. The book would be perfect for a book club discussion.
Despite this, the book didn’t resonate with me. Following a tragic event, Juliette became a cold person. At the beginning of the book, she was a likable character and a true friend to Elise. Her bitterness and anger lasted for decades, and that just didn’t seem possible.
Throughout the book, there are several twists and turns. Harmel didn’t introduce a love interest to the two women later on in their lives, which made me happy.
It’s so meh!
The Face of Deception: The First Eve Duncan Novel by Iris Johansen
1.0
I can't believe the plot of this book. I would classify it as fantasy. It even has supernatural elements, with Eve hallucinating all the time and talking to the ghost of her dead daughter. The “hero” instantly irked me, and I wanted the heroine to shoot the bastard. Since all books have a formula, they end up sleeping together (fortunately at the end and off-page). The forced relationship/attraction is also something I dislike. The main character in any book must have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone they meet. Not all single people need a partner for intimacy.
Eve perseveres despite a challenging life. Her grief over losing her daughter inspires her to identify the skulls of missing and unidentified children. As the book progresses, she becomes a doormat… I hate it when books do that. Instead of arguing with the surrounding men, she bows down to them when they say boo. She keeps talking about how she’s standing up to them, but she’s not.
The villain is a cartoon character. He is so terrible it’s laughable. He committed a violent act on a minor character who had no significance to the story. A book should not include violence against women if it doesn't contribute to the plot or character development.
The plot and reasons make little sense. This could be science fiction. The reason behind everything is… politics! In order to prevent a republican from winning, someone wants a different candidate to win an election because the current one is an imposter. There is also the JFK conspiracy that isn’t. I dislike books that bombard you with heavy-handed politics. I wouldn’t have touched this book if I had known it contained so much political nonsense. A warning in the book blurb could prevent wasted time.
The book is ideal for someone who wants an easy yet engaging read. As an avid reader seeking immersion in a story, I'd steer clear of this book.
Eve perseveres despite a challenging life. Her grief over losing her daughter inspires her to identify the skulls of missing and unidentified children. As the book progresses, she becomes a doormat… I hate it when books do that. Instead of arguing with the surrounding men, she bows down to them when they say boo. She keeps talking about how she’s standing up to them, but she’s not.
The villain is a cartoon character. He is so terrible it’s laughable. He committed a violent act on a minor character who had no significance to the story. A book should not include violence against women if it doesn't contribute to the plot or character development.
The plot and reasons make little sense. This could be science fiction. The reason behind everything is… politics! In order to prevent a republican from winning, someone wants a different candidate to win an election because the current one is an imposter. There is also the JFK conspiracy that isn’t. I dislike books that bombard you with heavy-handed politics. I wouldn’t have touched this book if I had known it contained so much political nonsense. A warning in the book blurb could prevent wasted time.
The book is ideal for someone who wants an easy yet engaging read. As an avid reader seeking immersion in a story, I'd steer clear of this book.
The Seven Deadly Sins, Vol. 3 by Nakaba Suzuki
3.0
In this volume, Diane, Meliodas, Hawk, and Elizabeth travel to Baste Prison to release Ban. As they approach the Necropolis (Capital of the Dead), more knights stop them. Oslo takes care of these knights.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Diane seems to improve. The moment in the beginning where she tells Elizabeth that she still matters because she can touch people’s hearts was one of my favorites.
We meet King, who turns into a kid. He's aligned with the holy knights involuntarily, but not as a hostage.
We learned Ban killed Elaine, the spirit of the Fountain of Youth. It just so happens that she was King’s sister. He harbored an intense dislike for Ban despite being in the same group.
Maybe Book 4 can explain it? By explaining King's fight with Ban in this way, the author enables the reader to sympathize with King in Book 4.
There are too many things happening on each page for my liking. A lot of times, it interferes with the flow of the story. The complexity of the fight scenes makes it hard to appreciate them fully. Apart from that, interesting reading.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Diane seems to improve. The moment in the beginning where she tells Elizabeth that she still matters because she can touch people’s hearts was one of my favorites.
We meet King, who turns into a kid. He's aligned with the holy knights involuntarily, but not as a hostage.
We learned Ban killed Elaine, the spirit of the Fountain of Youth. It just so happens that she was King’s sister. He harbored an intense dislike for Ban despite being in the same group.
Maybe Book 4 can explain it? By explaining King's fight with Ban in this way, the author enables the reader to sympathize with King in Book 4.
There are too many things happening on each page for my liking. A lot of times, it interferes with the flow of the story. The complexity of the fight scenes makes it hard to appreciate them fully. Apart from that, interesting reading.
The Seven Deadly Sins, Vol. 2 by Nakaba Suzuki
3.0
The second volume introduces us to Gilthunder, who is Elizabeth’s older brother and an acquaintance of Meliodas and Diana. They were in the king’s service. As they exchange blows, Gilthunder reveals where the other sinners are. He tells him that “Fox sin” is in a prison guarded by four sacred knights, and “Grizzly sin” is in the land of the dead.
Diana takes Gilthunder and throws him miles away. While Meliodas is being treated for Gilthunder's wound, Diana looks for the fox sinner Ban. The Holy knights set a trap for the protagonists, and Ban, who has freed himself, wreaks havoc in the castle.
There is a noticeable increase in pace and action sequences in the story. There is not really a story arc as it is volume two in an ongoing series, rather a continuation of the story. With the fight and action scenes, it maintains a good balance between character development and backstory. The story does not feel choppy when it jumps back and forth between Dalmally and Baste Prison.As for the world building, I continue to withhold my opinion. I'm curious to know if there are any limitations to magic, as it seems to be a soft magic system. Despite its abundance of adventure and imagination, the world so far appears plain. As of now, its magic lies in its characters.
How could Meliodas get hurt by a sword mixed with lightning if he could handle Diane's hits? The math doesn’t add up, and it seems unrealistic. It doesn’t seem believable that a single sword slash could injure Meliodas when he took repeated hits from Ruin with no visible signs of injury.
I believe that this is a major plot hole that needs to be addressed. Without explaining Meliodas' injury, the rest of the story is difficult to believe.
A person who likes or seeks an action, adventure, and fantasy story would enjoy this manga. This manga is unsuitable for those who dislike fantasy, violence, blood, or perviness content.
Diana takes Gilthunder and throws him miles away. While Meliodas is being treated for Gilthunder's wound, Diana looks for the fox sinner Ban. The Holy knights set a trap for the protagonists, and Ban, who has freed himself, wreaks havoc in the castle.
There is a noticeable increase in pace and action sequences in the story. There is not really a story arc as it is volume two in an ongoing series, rather a continuation of the story. With the fight and action scenes, it maintains a good balance between character development and backstory. The story does not feel choppy when it jumps back and forth between Dalmally and Baste Prison.As for the world building, I continue to withhold my opinion. I'm curious to know if there are any limitations to magic, as it seems to be a soft magic system. Despite its abundance of adventure and imagination, the world so far appears plain. As of now, its magic lies in its characters.
How could Meliodas get hurt by a sword mixed with lightning if he could handle Diane's hits? The math doesn’t add up, and it seems unrealistic. It doesn’t seem believable that a single sword slash could injure Meliodas when he took repeated hits from Ruin with no visible signs of injury.
I believe that this is a major plot hole that needs to be addressed. Without explaining Meliodas' injury, the rest of the story is difficult to believe.
A person who likes or seeks an action, adventure, and fantasy story would enjoy this manga. This manga is unsuitable for those who dislike fantasy, violence, blood, or perviness content.
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty
1.0
Honestly, I didn’t like this book at all. The book was a complete nightmare for me, and I became frustrated with it from start to finish.
The book is half full of unnecessary information. I had to skip many pages with pointless dialogue. This enhanced neither the story nor the character development. Whenever Kinderman appeared, I just flipped the pages until his scene ended.
The second problem was the characters. It’s really frustrating. Kinderman was an incompetent detective, and everything he said made no sense. It would've been great if Chris could just yell at him and get it out. I felt like the story was heading nowhere, and the characters drove me baffling. I read on to find out what happened, but it was unsatisfactory.
The masturbation scenes in this novel were the only parts I found disturbing. Yes, I understand. The girl is possessed. She’s going to do obscene things. I know people recall the scene where she masturbates with a cross, but I was more concerned about the detail of the scene. She is twelve years old. Reading about child porn doesn't appeal to me. We could have omitted the scene from the novel. It is unnecessary and inappropriate. I could have replaced it with something else that better suit the story.
Last but not least, the ending was ridiculously underwhelming. Without spoiling, it doesn’t make up for mediocrity. It might be best to stop reading this book now if you hope it gets better. The answer is no.
I would not recommend reading this book. The movie is superior to the book, although I'm not a fan of either.
The book is half full of unnecessary information. I had to skip many pages with pointless dialogue. This enhanced neither the story nor the character development. Whenever Kinderman appeared, I just flipped the pages until his scene ended.
The second problem was the characters. It’s really frustrating. Kinderman was an incompetent detective, and everything he said made no sense. It would've been great if Chris could just yell at him and get it out. I felt like the story was heading nowhere, and the characters drove me baffling. I read on to find out what happened, but it was unsatisfactory.
The masturbation scenes in this novel were the only parts I found disturbing. Yes, I understand. The girl is possessed. She’s going to do obscene things. I know people recall the scene where she masturbates with a cross, but I was more concerned about the detail of the scene. She is twelve years old. Reading about child porn doesn't appeal to me. We could have omitted the scene from the novel. It is unnecessary and inappropriate. I could have replaced it with something else that better suit the story.
Last but not least, the ending was ridiculously underwhelming. Without spoiling, it doesn’t make up for mediocrity. It might be best to stop reading this book now if you hope it gets better. The answer is no.
I would not recommend reading this book. The movie is superior to the book, although I'm not a fan of either.
Bad Dreams by R.L. Stine
2.0
Despite my love of fear street, I found this book to be slow and not exceptionally exciting. The book mostly revolved around the girl’s bad dreams.
The only enjoyable part of the book was the end, where almost all the action took place. The book's conclusion explained the friends' injuries and Andrea's gain.
The story needed more events, not just at the end. There was a touch of supernatural in the air. Her dream literally had her running through a cave out of nowhere... This book is pointless and boring. Stine did not fully exploit the potential of the bad dream. The book had little horror or excitement, as it was mostly about her swimming and fighting with her sister. The antagonist's motive was also unclear.
There is nothing special about the Bad Dream. The book has certain parts that can make you so annoyed that you may want to kill Andrea. Do I suggest it? No, not really.
The only enjoyable part of the book was the end, where almost all the action took place. The book's conclusion explained the friends' injuries and Andrea's gain.
The story needed more events, not just at the end. There was a touch of supernatural in the air. Her dream literally had her running through a cave out of nowhere... This book is pointless and boring. Stine did not fully exploit the potential of the bad dream. The book had little horror or excitement, as it was mostly about her swimming and fighting with her sister. The antagonist's motive was also unclear.
There is nothing special about the Bad Dream. The book has certain parts that can make you so annoyed that you may want to kill Andrea. Do I suggest it? No, not really.
Double Date, Volume 23 by R.L. Stine
3.0
The story revolves around Bobby Newkirk, a high school boy. He believes he is God’s gift to women because of his good looks. After dating them for a while, he discards them like used tissues. Until he meets his biggest challenge: the Wade twins. Samantha and Bree are complete opposites, while Bobby strives for high school fame. Can anyone else date twins simultaneously and display both animal magnetism and self-confidence? Only “Bobby the man.”
Bobby is the most conceited and self-absorbed character I’ve ever read. The mentions of it being unfair to deny school girls ‘Bobby the Man’ made me want to puke. He believed every girl he met was in love with him. Sometimes, Bobby would walk off, smugly laughing about how so-and-so desperately wanted him back, after a girl clearly hated him. I found him excessively dramatic.
The plot itself was intriguing. I grasped the book's plot initially. However, it became harder to tell the twins apart as the story continued. My feelings about the ending were mixed as well. Bobby got what he deserved for messing with the girls, but it would have been better if one sister had been a killer instead of a prank. Compared to what I was expecting, it all seemed a little anticlimactic.
Double Date is a quick read, most readers can finish that in a day or two. I would highly recommend it.
Bobby is the most conceited and self-absorbed character I’ve ever read. The mentions of it being unfair to deny school girls ‘Bobby the Man’ made me want to puke. He believed every girl he met was in love with him. Sometimes, Bobby would walk off, smugly laughing about how so-and-so desperately wanted him back, after a girl clearly hated him. I found him excessively dramatic.
The plot itself was intriguing. I grasped the book's plot initially. However, it became harder to tell the twins apart as the story continued. My feelings about the ending were mixed as well. Bobby got what he deserved for messing with the girls, but it would have been better if one sister had been a killer instead of a prank. Compared to what I was expecting, it all seemed a little anticlimactic.
Double Date is a quick read, most readers can finish that in a day or two. I would highly recommend it.
Chainsaw Man, Vol. 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto
3.0
Chainsaw Man appears to exist in a world where humans and demons coexist somewhat. Because of Denji’s debt, he kills devils along with his pet devil dog, Pochita to bring in some income. The Yakuza take their share, leaving little for Denji. In an unfortunate set of circumstances, Denji is forced to join Pochita’s “spirits” to become Chainsaw Man. He works with Makima and a government-based organization as soon as they discover him to keep all demons and devils under control.
This book can be cringe-worthy, especially when Denji realizes his only wish is to touch some boobs. He’s your typical lovesick, dopey boy who doesn’t seem to understand reality or have any serious thoughts. It is important to recognize Denji’s upbringing in order to understand his behavior. Because of his lack of a loving parent and being treated like a pet by the Yukuza, he desires a comfortable life and a woman. Is there any part of it you find annoying? Yes, of course. Does it sometimes detract from what I can describe as world complexity? Yes, I do. Part of me understands what Fujimoto was trying to accomplish with his character, however. Denji’s lack of manners, social cues, and giving into his most basic carnal urges illustrate the environment in which he grew up. However, for me, this takes away from the world-building and complexity of his story. Fujimoto simplifies the world and its characters. This is a flaw in the series.+.
For those who enjoy a gory, baffling manga with lots of action and humor, Chainsaw Man is for you. The first volume is enjoyable, yet pacing and characterization need improvement. The characters are quirky, and it filled the story with wild twists and turns. Chainsaw Man is sure to please anyone looking for a thrilling manga.
This book can be cringe-worthy, especially when Denji realizes his only wish is to touch some boobs. He’s your typical lovesick, dopey boy who doesn’t seem to understand reality or have any serious thoughts. It is important to recognize Denji’s upbringing in order to understand his behavior. Because of his lack of a loving parent and being treated like a pet by the Yukuza, he desires a comfortable life and a woman. Is there any part of it you find annoying? Yes, of course. Does it sometimes detract from what I can describe as world complexity? Yes, I do. Part of me understands what Fujimoto was trying to accomplish with his character, however. Denji’s lack of manners, social cues, and giving into his most basic carnal urges illustrate the environment in which he grew up. However, for me, this takes away from the world-building and complexity of his story. Fujimoto simplifies the world and its characters. This is a flaw in the series.+.
For those who enjoy a gory, baffling manga with lots of action and humor, Chainsaw Man is for you. The first volume is enjoyable, yet pacing and characterization need improvement. The characters are quirky, and it filled the story with wild twists and turns. Chainsaw Man is sure to please anyone looking for a thrilling manga.