starkiwi's reviews
306 reviews

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

5.0

This may very well be the first non-fiction book I have enjoyed. At first I was unsure because I do not normally like non-fiction. But from the words obsession and killer I didn’t think it could be too bad. And it wasn’t. My hair stylist actually recommended this one to me. Partially surprised I remembered it. The title isn’t an easy one. At times I read this at night, which was partially a mistake on my part. The book got a little creepy at times. I guess I asked for it. For not reading many horror novels as well, it was scary, yet amazing. I loved it so much. True crime may be the only non-fiction books I like, but I think thats a good category to stick with. The book was a mystery with no ending that gave you all the shivers as if he were still alive. I did the math one day and figured out that he could be. He would be really old. Like 65. But he could be. And that just made the book all the more creepy.

Elemental Thief by Rachel Morgan

4.0

Definitely has romance. I can say that. It wasn’t the best. But it had magic, so it wasn’t that bad. Books with magic always open up new ideas to the world around us. I have not read any other of this series. I don’t feel keen on doing so either. It was a good book. Quite dystopian too. The author handled the dystopian genre well. Something I find not all authors can do. Most novels in this genre are practically the same. So I try to look for the ones that are different. This was different enough. The author added a lot of her own style here. It made the book very creative.

Suitors and Sabotage by Cindy Anstey

3.0

I often like books that are set in victorian times. They use very proper language and their customs add a laugh here and there. This was okay. I liked the whole suitor business. But I feel the mystery part was a little down-sided. It lacked the whole mystery part. You did not feel compelled to find the suspect or feel creeped out by them. They were more of an annoyance getting in the way of your love story. And it was kinda like ‘hey, move over. Im trying to find the boy I love’. I feel like the whole mystery thing could have been shut out. The romance on the other hand was very good. It was a love triangle. Which I never understood that analogy. Its always used to describe two people shooting for the same person. What about the other side of the triangle? Anyway, I thought the romance was brought out perfectly. Especially in victorian times when courting in involved. As well as chaperones. That was the aspect of the book I favored most.

Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston

4.0

Its not that I didn't like this book. I did. Its just that I don't feel it really affected me. It was well written and allowed me a deeper insight on one particular charecter that you don't see pictures in the main films. And there’s something about that I think specially adds to a series. The only thing is I didn’t connect to this character as much as I thought I would. Overall though it was still a great book and reading made me feel a bit more involved in the Star Wars universe. That made me happy at least. If I know the characters, especially the lesser seen or notes ones, I feel more involved in something than before because by some element I have become more knowledgable about the larger subject in which I was reading.

Dark Disciple by Christie Golden

5.0

I really loved this book. Star Wars is really starting to grow on me. Before the newer movies came out I liked it, but didn’t love it. Now (and I know a lot of people don’t like the newer movies) I love it. This book only encouraged that love. It was very dynamic in characters. I got to see characters grow, fall, and meet their destiny. In just one book. Most of the time it takes a whole series to complete that character growth and cycle. This book made me laugh, cry, and sit on the very edge of my chair. And that is all a good thing. Because if a book doesn’t evoke emotion out of you, then you weren’t really in it. And the writing wasn’t good enough to get you into the story. I believe that any Star Wars fan, big or small, has to read this book. Any non-Star Wars fan should also read it because the characters are so amazingly written. It also might get you to like Star Wars. Which is a necessity in life.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard

5.0

I consider this book to be the best of the series. The first one was good, the second one was a bit boring, the third was tiring, but this one was excellent. By the second book I hated the person Mare was becoming. In this book she became okay for me again. And that made the book all the better. Normally with books in series I don’t really like, the length will often bother me. When I first picked up this book I was thinking “oh, its soooo long” despite the fact that I have read longer books. I was very dissatisfied with the ending. I will not give anything away, but I think Victoria really needs to write a short story at least finishing the book. If not I am fine to write my own Two Years Later.

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

3.0

Im not really sure what to say about this book. It was weird, but cute at times I guess. And really it was very very strange. Im not exactly sure how many stars to give it either. I mean it was just to unratable. I don’t know if I mean that in a good way or a bad way. Its so hard to tell with this book. But I gave it three stars for its ability to make me smile at times. I like the swans the best, they were cute and pretty. But otherwise, most of the time I had no idea what was going on. Or what the basic plot line was for that matter. So ... I don’t know. Read it if you want I guess. I just ... you might feel a bit more strongly to one side than I do. You know, go read someone else’s review, this probably isn’t going to help you decide.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

5.0

An amazing story about friendship, love, and goodbyes that the title already spoils for you because SPOILER ALERT, they die at the end. Obviously. I hate this book because of that, but it makes me love it even more. My friend gave me this book to read off her own bookshelf. P.s thank you! She told me to read it because she needed someone to rant about it too. And you cant rant about books to people who haven’t read the book because they just don’t get it. So I begin reading the book and I send her texts with status updates. They start out like “started the book” “really getting into it”. But by the end I am just full out ranting to her, doing my best to yell through the texts and not hurt anyone’s feelings. And that is so hard because this book AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGG. The only book Adam Silvers has written that was not sad was one that he co-wrote with another author. And that pretty much describes the feelings of this book. But ... yeah, its a great book.

Empire's End by Chuck Wendig

4.0

Totally not what I expected out of this book. Mainly, I started this series because when the sequels came out, I was confused as every others star wars fan. I came into this book with a lot of questions, hoping to have a few answered, but I came out of this series with a few maybe-answers, and more questions than I can keep track of. All the same, the book was amazing and really let me immerse myself into the stars wars universe in the way that only books can. I can say that I learned so much more about the universe and its planets. As well as where a lot of that junk on Jakku came from. I think all star wars fans need to read a few of the star wars books, because they give you so much more than you could ever ask for about the mysteries of the universe.

Leia: Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

3.0

This book is all about Leia, obviously. But I learned so much about who she is as a person and a few of the people she becomes friends with along the way. It totally changed my view on Leia and I will never look at her the same way. She joined the rebellion at such a young age, she always wanted to help. I admire her so much. Only a book could bring all of this to me. Because they do not have budget cuts, time limits, and scenes to replicate. In the book we can feel and image it all for ourselves. And admiral Holdo from the new star wars ... I used to think she was terrible, but she is in this book!!! WHAT!!!! And it totally changed my view on her as well. I now know who she is, and not only that but who she was to Leia. Everything a Leia admirer could want is hidden within these glorious pages.