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whatsheread's Reviews (2.3k)
The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon is precisely what I have come to expect from Ms. McMahon. It is yet another fantastic thriller from someone who does nothing but write excellent thrillers. While I was expecting the twist, I didn’t know exactly what it would be. As such, the ending is fabulous and not at all what I thought it would be! The Children on the Hill is a fantastic emotional rollercoaster that solidifies my love for Ms. McMahon.
I was not expecting to love The Blood Trials by N. E. Davenport as much as I did, but holy hell did I. It was my favorite book read in March. In The Blood Trials, Ms. Davenport creates an exciting story that also teaches the dangers of inherent racism. I love Ikenna and her loyalty, as well as her determination to succeed; I especially appreciate her unwillingness to condone the racism that permeates her society. Simply put, I loved the story, the twists, the messaging, and the characters. The Blood Trials is a do not miss!
Until the Last of Me is the exciting sequel to Sylvain Neuvel’s Take Them to the Stars series, and I loved every word. Until the Last of Me is Lola’s story rather than Mia’s, and I am here for it. Mia might have infiltrated Hitler’s Germany, but Lola is the stronger of the two heroines. She has guts with a modern sensibility. Samael is equally fascinating. Their cat and mouse game morphs into an intriguing chase. Plus, the surprise ending is a bonus. I cannot wait to see how it all ends.
Tara Sim’s The City of Dusk starts slowly, but once it does, watch out. I get the need for an intense amount of world-building. Most fantasies require it, after all, because the author needs to explain the world to readers. In the case of The City of Dusk, we also have to meet the characters and families and understand their powers and their histories. That part took just a bit too long for me, and I did consider not finishing it. I’m glad I didn’t, especially given what we learn about one of the characters, but know that even I struggled with how slowly the story builds.
The Book of Cold Cases is not my Simone St. James novel. I loved the true crime bits and the actual murder mystery. However, I was not a fan of the Gothic element. I don’t feel that story needs it. In fact, it feels like an easy solution to a plot issue, and I don’t like it. Ms. St. James usually puts out excellent stories, but this, to me, fell short of the mark.
The Golden Couple is yet another fantastic collaboration between Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. There is a gravitas to it that prevents it from being an unbelievable story. Plus, I stayed engaged throughout the entire plot and could not figure out what was going to happen at any point in time. Everything about The Golden Couple is interesting, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Hendricks and Ms. Pekkanen have for us next!
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake is one of those books you need to sit and let marinate. The more you do, the more you appreciate what Ms. Blake achieves. It can be a little disconcerting initially, especially when Ms. Blake spends more time developing her characters than building her world, but trust me. The characters and their connections, the mystery, and the big reveal are worth any initial confusion. The Atlas Six is one of those books that will haunt me for the rest of the year, and I’m aching to read the sequel!
Gallant by Victoria Schwab is dark and heart-breaking on several different levels. There is so much complexity to it, even though it is a relatively simple story. One great example of this is that it would have been easy for Ms. Schwab to make Olivia a tragic figure, given her background. Instead, she is anything but pitiable; instead is fierce, independent, and a figure to admire. In Gallant, Ms. Schwab proves once again that she is a master at creating atmospheric novels in which she blurs the lines between good and evil and heroes and antiheroes.
King of Battle and Blood is my first Scarlett St. Clair novel, and it won’t be my last. Vampires, witches, fierce women, court intrigue, enemies to lovers, and so much spice. Yes. Please.
Autumn’s Tithe by Hannah Parker left me with mixed feelings. I wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I had some issues with the pacing, the predictability, and some of the relationships. Everything happens within two to three days, and everything seems SO fast. Some of this Ms. Parker achieves through the use of magical portals, but it still feels a bit too rapid for what occurs. In addition, while I don’t mind the use of tropes, and Ms. Parker uses almost all of them, I do mind when an author does not use them in a way that feels new. Instead, I felt like I could go down a YA fantasy checklist with Autumn’s Tithe. Lastly, the relationships left me confused. While there are hints that Larken’s relationship with her BFF is more than friendship, it also seems like her reaction to losing her friend seems extreme. Combine that with the insta-love with Finder, which seemingly counters her feelings for her friend, and it makes for a headscratcher. In all, Autumn’s Tithe is a bit too superficial in almost every aspect for me.