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v_nerdbooks's Reviews (3.21k)
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this one, Grady Hendrix can sometimes be a bit of a hit or miss with me, but usually they are a solid 4 star read, this one however tipped it just over.
I loved hearing the stories about the girls, and because they were all given new names when they first get to the home, they can be whoever they want to be, and although they still carry the shame of being unwed and pregnant (inset eye roll here) they form firm, lifelong friendships.
If you are a fantasy hater like me (grin) you will be pleased to know that the witches/magic in this one is minimal, I mean don't get me wrong, it's there, but the story is more based around the young girls trying to cope with their shitty parents throwing them away because a predatory man got them pregnant (they are all under 18) and instead of calling it out, they lean into the misogyny, and dump them far far away.
The book is filled with the usual awful stereotypes and misogyny, and I would say it's from the 1970's and things are so much better now, but unfortunately all you need to do is open Twitter today, and you will see endless posts victim baming girls and women for shitty mens behaviour.
Fantasy lovers, I think you will be possibly disappointed with this book if you go into it thinking that it is going to be Fantasy, if you go in reading it thinking that it is going to be a historical fiction book, with a few added pages of a little witchcraft, then you are going to have a great time.
I loved hearing the stories about the girls, and because they were all given new names when they first get to the home, they can be whoever they want to be, and although they still carry the shame of being unwed and pregnant (inset eye roll here) they form firm, lifelong friendships.
If you are a fantasy hater like me (grin) you will be pleased to know that the witches/magic in this one is minimal, I mean don't get me wrong, it's there, but the story is more based around the young girls trying to cope with their shitty parents throwing them away because a predatory man got them pregnant (they are all under 18) and instead of calling it out, they lean into the misogyny, and dump them far far away.
The book is filled with the usual awful stereotypes and misogyny, and I would say it's from the 1970's and things are so much better now, but unfortunately all you need to do is open Twitter today, and you will see endless posts victim baming girls and women for shitty mens behaviour.
Fantasy lovers, I think you will be possibly disappointed with this book if you go into it thinking that it is going to be Fantasy, if you go in reading it thinking that it is going to be a historical fiction book, with a few added pages of a little witchcraft, then you are going to have a great time.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The audio was really good, but there is a LOT of giggling, like a LOT, "she giggled" "he giggled" "she laughed" "he laughed" and it doesn't need to be acted out every time 😬
There is also singing, not a lot, but it's there FYI.
I'll still read the next book in the series, it's fun, and as long as you suspend your beliefs at the door before you open the book, or put in your headphones, you'll have a great time 😏
There is also singing, not a lot, but it's there FYI.
I'll still read the next book in the series, it's fun, and as long as you suspend your beliefs at the door before you open the book, or put in your headphones, you'll have a great time 😏
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is what i would call a popcorn thriller, it has all of the necessary things to keep you reading, check trigger warnings for DV
It was a "it's not you it's me" kind of book for me, it started great, and narrated by Andi Arndt, so i knew that i was going to enjoy myself, but things just fell a little flat for me, the twists were not as twisty as i thought they could have been, and then a random paranormal episode pops up, which would usually be fine, but it just didn't help in this case and it made the story fall flat for me.
But hey, there are ,many high ratings for the book, so it may have just being me having an off day.
It was a "it's not you it's me" kind of book for me, it started great, and narrated by Andi Arndt, so i knew that i was going to enjoy myself, but things just fell a little flat for me, the twists were not as twisty as i thought they could have been, and then a random paranormal episode pops up, which would usually be fine, but it just didn't help in this case and it made the story fall flat for me.
But hey, there are ,many high ratings for the book, so it may have just being me having an off day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was so looking forward to reading this one, this is such a fun series, in fact my son bought this on release week and read it before i did LOL, he finished it on out flight to America, but I wanted to listen to the audiobook as the narration is always so much fun!
Also the trailer for the movie was released yesterday and ooohhh it's gonna be FUN!
Remember the old teenage slasher films that were huge in the 90's, Think "I Know What You Did Last Summer" mixed with a bit of SCREAM, seasoned with a little dash of CARRIE, and topped off with a BIG portion of Pennywise the clown, that is what you're getting folks, if you don't like clowns, then you shouldn't be reading this series, I mean the title should have given it away anyway, but if that passed you by and you've picked it up thinking "hmmmm" I'd step away.
A good end to a super fun series, this one was not what I thought we were going to get, and even with it being a YA series, a couple of bits in this book made me grimace!
The villains were great villains, the twists were fun, all in all I had a great time reading this.
Also the trailer for the movie was released yesterday and ooohhh it's gonna be FUN!
Remember the old teenage slasher films that were huge in the 90's, Think "I Know What You Did Last Summer" mixed with a bit of SCREAM, seasoned with a little dash of CARRIE, and topped off with a BIG portion of Pennywise the clown, that is what you're getting folks, if you don't like clowns, then you shouldn't be reading this series, I mean the title should have given it away anyway, but if that passed you by and you've picked it up thinking "hmmmm" I'd step away.
A good end to a super fun series, this one was not what I thought we were going to get, and even with it being a YA series, a couple of bits in this book made me grimace!
The villains were great villains, the twists were fun, all in all I had a great time reading this.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you are part of a cult, wear a little red hat, and worship an orange maniac, you will *HATE* this book.
However, it will also show you what people actually think about you, soooo maybe give it a go 🤷
I personally loved it, it is a bit of fun, but granted in these times, especially in the centre of it all, American folks may want to wait a while as it is a little close to home at the moment 😬
Let's just say that people get sucked into right-wing propaganda by watching "Facts News" (insert zombie voice saying Juuuussttt the Faaaaccccttsssss" here 😳)
If you think it sounds familiar, it is, there is a hidden person called E who's anonymous, and gets into people's heads.
If you have friends/family that have fallen down the Fox News rabbit hole, this may be a little too much for you 😬
However, it will also show you what people actually think about you, soooo maybe give it a go 🤷
I personally loved it, it is a bit of fun, but granted in these times, especially in the centre of it all, American folks may want to wait a while as it is a little close to home at the moment 😬
Let's just say that people get sucked into right-wing propaganda by watching "Facts News" (insert zombie voice saying Juuuussttt the Faaaaccccttsssss" here 😳)
If you think it sounds familiar, it is, there is a hidden person called E who's anonymous, and gets into people's heads.
If you have friends/family that have fallen down the Fox News rabbit hole, this may be a little too much for you 😬
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Another solid read by John Marrs!
In this book we are still in the same timeline/world as his previous stories, but we are now following the idea of AI children.
With people being no longer able to afford children (money/over population etc), they can now pay a monthly fee, and create their own Virtual child, a Meta kid, that they can nurture and watch grow up, all while wearing a gaming headset in the comfort of their living room.
The company trying to push this into mainstream is hoping that a cool new gameshow will push people into buying their own.
And so "The Family Experiment" is born, millions of people will watch 10 young, childless couples raise a virtual baby up to the age of 18 (sped up into a 9mth series) the audience watching will have a chance to judge all of your parenting skills, and vote for their favourites.
The prize for the winner? Well, you get to keep your meta child of course........or you can just hand it all back and get money to try and have the chance to make a "real" baby.......
I hate that John's books always make me think "omg this could actually happen" because there is always something hiding in the shadows that throw a spanner in the works, and this book is no exception! Secrets, Lies and lots of characters, who seemingly have nothing in common.....until they do.
A fab read, and I would definitely recommend the audiobook to be able to hear all of the different adverts in between the chapters, you are after all, part of the experiment!!!
In this book we are still in the same timeline/world as his previous stories, but we are now following the idea of AI children.
With people being no longer able to afford children (money/over population etc), they can now pay a monthly fee, and create their own Virtual child, a Meta kid, that they can nurture and watch grow up, all while wearing a gaming headset in the comfort of their living room.
The company trying to push this into mainstream is hoping that a cool new gameshow will push people into buying their own.
And so "The Family Experiment" is born, millions of people will watch 10 young, childless couples raise a virtual baby up to the age of 18 (sped up into a 9mth series) the audience watching will have a chance to judge all of your parenting skills, and vote for their favourites.
The prize for the winner? Well, you get to keep your meta child of course........or you can just hand it all back and get money to try and have the chance to make a "real" baby.......
I hate that John's books always make me think "omg this could actually happen" because there is always something hiding in the shadows that throw a spanner in the works, and this book is no exception! Secrets, Lies and lots of characters, who seemingly have nothing in common.....until they do.
A fab read, and I would definitely recommend the audiobook to be able to hear all of the different adverts in between the chapters, you are after all, part of the experiment!!!