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yazthebookish's reviews
1017 reviews
Blossom in Winter by Melanie Martins
3.0
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Blossom in Winter is a story of forbidden romance between 17 year-old heiress Petra and her Godfather Alex.
Forbidden Romance is a trope I’m very skeptical about for good reasons, but some authors succeed at it and some... don’t.
I enjoyed this author’s writing and found it to be a light read and this is the main reason I did not rate it lower. The dialogue was awkward sometimes especially with the couple speaking in formalities sometimes even though they’re already intimate. And I read this without realizing that this is labeled as erotica. I enjoy steamy romances but I’m not enthusiastic about eroticas, but that’s not my main issue with this book.
The romance did not develop organically considering the lifestyle Alex follows and the sheltered life Petra lives. It went from fluffy romance to lighter version of fifty shades of grey real quick in the second half.
Note that Alex is younger than her 55 year-old father and the age gap between Petra and Alex is 21 years making him 38-39 years old.
Not only that, but I found many things unrealistic about their relationship:
• He left and cut off contact because she wanted to marry him when she was seven and insulted his girlfriend in front of everybody, a child?
• Her protective father gets angry about them dating one moment and in the next he is like “I’m all good with it”? It may likely be because of Alex’s background but still.. it was very unrealistic.
• Alex left his girlfriend of 10 years because she wanted to have kids, he has a strict policy about using condoms, he does not want to have kids but suddenly he’s ok with all of that with Petra? I still don’t get it and I know he “loves” Petra but still I’m confused
• I can’t wrap my head around the reason why he fell for Petra? it just felt forced to me.
And the conclusion is just... I don’t know how many times I rolled my eyes at how melodramatic the scenes were. It’s like the author had thrown every possible scenario to play with the reader’s emotions; I was just slightly annoyed.
But I’d like to thank the author for showcasing Petra’s disorder throughout the book rather than mentioning once that she has anxiety and then ignoring it.
I’m surprised to find that it will have a sequel but unfortunately I did not form an attachment to the characters nor the story and that being said, I will not be reading the sequel.
Blossom in Winter is a story of forbidden romance between 17 year-old heiress Petra and her Godfather Alex.
Forbidden Romance is a trope I’m very skeptical about for good reasons, but some authors succeed at it and some... don’t.
I enjoyed this author’s writing and found it to be a light read and this is the main reason I did not rate it lower. The dialogue was awkward sometimes especially with the couple speaking in formalities sometimes even though they’re already intimate. And I read this without realizing that this is labeled as erotica. I enjoy steamy romances but I’m not enthusiastic about eroticas, but that’s not my main issue with this book.
The romance did not develop organically considering the lifestyle Alex follows and the sheltered life Petra lives. It went from fluffy romance to lighter version of fifty shades of grey real quick in the second half.
Note that Alex is younger than her 55 year-old father and the age gap between Petra and Alex is 21 years making him 38-39 years old.
Not only that, but I found many things unrealistic about their relationship:
• He left and cut off contact because she wanted to marry him when she was seven and insulted his girlfriend in front of everybody, a child?
• Her protective father gets angry about them dating one moment and in the next he is like “I’m all good with it”? It may likely be because of Alex’s background but still.. it was very unrealistic.
• Alex left his girlfriend of 10 years because she wanted to have kids, he has a strict policy about using condoms, he does not want to have kids but suddenly he’s ok with all of that with Petra? I still don’t get it and I know he “loves” Petra but still I’m confused
• I can’t wrap my head around the reason why he fell for Petra? it just felt forced to me.
And the conclusion is just... I don’t know how many times I rolled my eyes at how melodramatic the scenes were. It’s like the author had thrown every possible scenario to play with the reader’s emotions; I was just slightly annoyed.
But I’d like to thank the author for showcasing Petra’s disorder throughout the book rather than mentioning once that she has anxiety and then ignoring it.
I’m surprised to find that it will have a sequel but unfortunately I did not form an attachment to the characters nor the story and that being said, I will not be reading the sequel.
Dreaming of You by Jennifer McNare
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dreaming of You is a tale of true love sprouting out of a soil of treachery and deceit.
• The lush Writing captivated me from the very first page. Through mere words, I was left with a whirlpool of indescribable emotions.
• The build up of the Plot was done well, although its romance-heavy as it should be, but it was easy to pinpoint what the plot was rather than lose track of it. The pacing progressed with the plot which encouraged me to finish this book in one sitting.
• The characters were so endearing. Melody and Gavin are victims to a horrible treachery, sacrificial lambs to fulfill an depraved old Duke’s wish yet even in the deep darkness they found the light to which gave life to their love.
• The Romance was steamy, passionate and emotional. The chemistry between the couple is so appealing that it kept my butterflies at a frenzy.
Dreaming of You is a tale of true love sprouting out of a soil of treachery and deceit.
• The lush Writing captivated me from the very first page. Through mere words, I was left with a whirlpool of indescribable emotions.
• The build up of the Plot was done well, although its romance-heavy as it should be, but it was easy to pinpoint what the plot was rather than lose track of it. The pacing progressed with the plot which encouraged me to finish this book in one sitting.
• The characters were so endearing. Melody and Gavin are victims to a horrible treachery, sacrificial lambs to fulfill an depraved old Duke’s wish yet even in the deep darkness they found the light to which gave life to their love.
• The Romance was steamy, passionate and emotional. The chemistry between the couple is so appealing that it kept my butterflies at a frenzy.
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”Death was not prejudiced by mortal things such as station or gender. It came for kings and queens and prostitutes alike, often leaving the living with regrets. What might we have done differently if we’d known the end was so near?”
Stalking Jack the Ripper for me was the perfect book to start the spooky month with. Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer known for the 1888 Whitechapel murders whose victims were prostitutes. He was a real person yet there are many controversies since he was never identified; he was also known as Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.
This book takes its inspiration from the well-known gruesome murders and we follow seventeen year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a lord’s daughter and student of Forensic Medicine which keeps her in company of corpses in her Uncle’s Laboratory along with his apprentice, the devilish charmer Thomas Cresswell. Audrey is thrust into a mysterious case of murders targeting women in poverty-stricken areas around Whitechapel district. Audrey and Thomas set on a quest to seek answers and find clues on the identity of the killer whom had cast London into a nightmarish reality.
Kerri Maniscalo seamlessly crafts an eerie and dark story blending in history to her reimagination of Victorian London and the murder cases of Whitechapel. With a dash of romance and mystery intrigue, she delivers an entertaining story led by a strong-willed protagonist.
Audrey Rose Wasaworth pursued her interests in Forensic Medicine against the expectations of proper society. Her status as a lord’s daughter and the dazzling world of finery does not sway her from what her heart truly desires: education. I admired Audrey Rose’s sense of duty and her eagerness to contribute to the investigator of the murders; society’s view of these women due to their occupation did not deter her from seeking to bring justice for them. Her sass made her interactions with others entertaining especially with Thomas. Unlike the women of her time, she is not demure and submissive. Also, it was mentioned that Audrey comes from an Indian background from her mother’s side, and it is especially noticed when her eyes sparkle as she spots some Indian delicacies.
Thomas Cresswell is a charming devil. His wit and intelligence makes him quite an attractive character and yes he is described as handsome. For men of his time, Thomas has a progressive mentality which is why I find him very appealing with Audrey. There are times when his arrogance takes over yet you can’t stop your heart from melting over his sweetness.
”You’ll still fancy me tomorrow no matter how much you wish otherwise. I’m unpredictable and you adore it. Just as I cannot wrap my massive brain around the equation of you yet adore it.”
Audrey and Thomas as a duo feel like a nod to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Not only they are perfect romantic partners with such a sizzling chemistry, but also partners in education and mystery-solving. Their interactions are always fun and I’m excited to follow more of their adventures together.
I enjoyed Maniacalo’s descriptive writing and her world-building was atmospheric, I was immersed into a dark version of London and as I flipped through the pages there was this eerie presence of a shadow that I could not visualize but I still felt it as I read. Some of the descriptions were graphic to the point it made my stomach turn. However, I have to say that the pacing sometimes felt unstable but the anticipation kept me moving.
I thought I would be more intrigued with the mysteries and the identity of the killer but it was kind of predictable and predictability can ruin one’s excitement. The book failed to keep me on edge but I still enjoyed it.
Our next stop with Audrey and Thomas shall be in Romania and I’m told that a certain Dracula dwells there.
”Death was not prejudiced by mortal things such as station or gender. It came for kings and queens and prostitutes alike, often leaving the living with regrets. What might we have done differently if we’d known the end was so near?”
Stalking Jack the Ripper for me was the perfect book to start the spooky month with. Jack the Ripper was a notorious serial killer known for the 1888 Whitechapel murders whose victims were prostitutes. He was a real person yet there are many controversies since he was never identified; he was also known as Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.
This book takes its inspiration from the well-known gruesome murders and we follow seventeen year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth, a lord’s daughter and student of Forensic Medicine which keeps her in company of corpses in her Uncle’s Laboratory along with his apprentice, the devilish charmer Thomas Cresswell. Audrey is thrust into a mysterious case of murders targeting women in poverty-stricken areas around Whitechapel district. Audrey and Thomas set on a quest to seek answers and find clues on the identity of the killer whom had cast London into a nightmarish reality.
Kerri Maniscalo seamlessly crafts an eerie and dark story blending in history to her reimagination of Victorian London and the murder cases of Whitechapel. With a dash of romance and mystery intrigue, she delivers an entertaining story led by a strong-willed protagonist.
Audrey Rose Wasaworth pursued her interests in Forensic Medicine against the expectations of proper society. Her status as a lord’s daughter and the dazzling world of finery does not sway her from what her heart truly desires: education. I admired Audrey Rose’s sense of duty and her eagerness to contribute to the investigator of the murders; society’s view of these women due to their occupation did not deter her from seeking to bring justice for them. Her sass made her interactions with others entertaining especially with Thomas. Unlike the women of her time, she is not demure and submissive. Also, it was mentioned that Audrey comes from an Indian background from her mother’s side, and it is especially noticed when her eyes sparkle as she spots some Indian delicacies.
Thomas Cresswell is a charming devil. His wit and intelligence makes him quite an attractive character and yes he is described as handsome. For men of his time, Thomas has a progressive mentality which is why I find him very appealing with Audrey. There are times when his arrogance takes over yet you can’t stop your heart from melting over his sweetness.
”You’ll still fancy me tomorrow no matter how much you wish otherwise. I’m unpredictable and you adore it. Just as I cannot wrap my massive brain around the equation of you yet adore it.”
Audrey and Thomas as a duo feel like a nod to Sherlock Holmes and Watson. Not only they are perfect romantic partners with such a sizzling chemistry, but also partners in education and mystery-solving. Their interactions are always fun and I’m excited to follow more of their adventures together.
I enjoyed Maniacalo’s descriptive writing and her world-building was atmospheric, I was immersed into a dark version of London and as I flipped through the pages there was this eerie presence of a shadow that I could not visualize but I still felt it as I read. Some of the descriptions were graphic to the point it made my stomach turn. However, I have to say that the pacing sometimes felt unstable but the anticipation kept me moving.
I thought I would be more intrigued with the mysteries and the identity of the killer but it was kind of predictable and predictability can ruin one’s excitement. The book failed to keep me on edge but I still enjoyed it.
Our next stop with Audrey and Thomas shall be in Romania and I’m told that a certain Dracula dwells there.
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
5.0
5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness."
This book gave birth to the genre we know today was sci-fi or science fiction. A genre that I do not usually gravitate towards but I absolutely loved Frankenstein for the fact it deeply explored the complex emotions of both Victor Frankenstein and his creation which he abhors.
At 13, natural science sparked the interest of the young Victor, making him seek the works of Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Albertus and Magnus.
"I have described myself as always having been imbued with a feverent longing to penetrate the secretes of nature."
His passion in the science inspired him to one day pioneer the mysteries of creation and become a renowned man of science. But even in pursuit of greatness, madness sneaks its way to the mind of a genius.
"I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart."
Victor's dreams and ambitions blinded him from the reality of his creation. That his creature may be not as refined and beautiful as a human. That he is exceeding a line to which no human dared to cross.
"Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, I shall again be virtuous."
The tragedy for both Victor and his creature is that the mad dreams of a scientist brought him and his family nothing but grief and death while the creature sought the love and compassion of humans but he is met with hatred and revulsion; not even his creator is willing to show him whatever compassion there is. For he is his creator, a father-figure and guardian yet he is not wanted.
"I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness."
Frankenstein was fascinated by humanity. These lovely creatures that made him long to discover their motives and feelings.
"Where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster."
My heart broke for the creature, for being denied the affections of his lovely humans, his friends whom they've never met and when they did they held nothing but hatred for him.
Mary Shelley's is a brilliant writer no doubt and her writing immersed me completely into this tragic story. Her words stirred my emotions for both characters and this book will forever be memorable.
"I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness."
This book gave birth to the genre we know today was sci-fi or science fiction. A genre that I do not usually gravitate towards but I absolutely loved Frankenstein for the fact it deeply explored the complex emotions of both Victor Frankenstein and his creation which he abhors.
At 13, natural science sparked the interest of the young Victor, making him seek the works of Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, Albertus and Magnus.
"I have described myself as always having been imbued with a feverent longing to penetrate the secretes of nature."
His passion in the science inspired him to one day pioneer the mysteries of creation and become a renowned man of science. But even in pursuit of greatness, madness sneaks its way to the mind of a genius.
"I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart."
Victor's dreams and ambitions blinded him from the reality of his creation. That his creature may be not as refined and beautiful as a human. That he is exceeding a line to which no human dared to cross.
"Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, I shall again be virtuous."
The tragedy for both Victor and his creature is that the mad dreams of a scientist brought him and his family nothing but grief and death while the creature sought the love and compassion of humans but he is met with hatred and revulsion; not even his creator is willing to show him whatever compassion there is. For he is his creator, a father-figure and guardian yet he is not wanted.
"I am miserable, and they shall share my wretchedness."
Frankenstein was fascinated by humanity. These lovely creatures that made him long to discover their motives and feelings.
"Where they ought to see a feeling and kind friend, they behold only a detestable monster."
My heart broke for the creature, for being denied the affections of his lovely humans, his friends whom they've never met and when they did they held nothing but hatred for him.
Mary Shelley's is a brilliant writer no doubt and her writing immersed me completely into this tragic story. Her words stirred my emotions for both characters and this book will forever be memorable.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
4.0
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens. Someone else could be labeled a villain for trying to stop them. Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human."
Another fitting title for Vicious could be 50 shades of morally grey. The grey spectrum in this book was incredible, there were no entirely good or entirely bad characters which makes it such a compelling read.
Let me start by saying V. E. Schwab's writing is brilliant and fluid, I was easily immersed into the book and add to that the steady pacing which was fitting for how the story progressed, there was never a dull moment.
I liked how she played with the concept of superheroes and rather than follow the overly-used tropes, she makes those heroes flawed and villainous in a way that made me root for them. The book does not necessarily call them superheroes or persons with superpowers; they're called ExtraOrdinaries, EOs for short.
I was gripped by all the chaotic mess that was happening; the deviously-constructed plans, the cold-blooded crimes and the twists and suspense that kept me on edge after every chapter.
What's intriguing about the narrative is that it does not revolve around redemption, every action taken has an ulterior motive especially if we are speaking of Victor and Eli. It also plays with the concepts of death and rebirth which I found very fascinating.
The characterizations were complex which gave us a cast of morally ambiguous characters.
Victor is a villain set on having his revenge on his former best friend and archnemeses Eli. A very iconic and likable villain.
Eli is a delusional hero who had taken upon himself the quest to rid the world of EOs and fulfilling God's purpose. Narcissism at its best.
Sydney is a girl abandoned by her older sister and with a power that could unsettle the realms of the living and the dead. Also, the cinnamon roll character in the book.
Mitch is someone that is always at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Serena is Sydney's older sister and Eli's enigmatic sidekick. Extremely un likable but there are more layers to her.
And Schwab seamlessly weaves their storylines together and allowed it to develop organically, giving each character the necessary scene-time and exposure to flesh out their storyline.
Although I found the time-jumps annoying from the start, later on I managed to keep track of the timelines without it being such a daunting experience.
The book is definitely a character-driven story leading up to the long-awaited confrontation between the former best friends and nemeses which kept the suspense and excitement going.
Writing a review of this book is tricky and I feel like there are many points that I probably missed. However, I think this is it for my review of Vicious and I'm curious about the events that will take place in the second book. What I guess is that it will be a bloody mess!
"Someone could call themselves a hero and still walk around killing dozens. Someone else could be labeled a villain for trying to stop them. Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human."
Another fitting title for Vicious could be 50 shades of morally grey. The grey spectrum in this book was incredible, there were no entirely good or entirely bad characters which makes it such a compelling read.
Let me start by saying V. E. Schwab's writing is brilliant and fluid, I was easily immersed into the book and add to that the steady pacing which was fitting for how the story progressed, there was never a dull moment.
I liked how she played with the concept of superheroes and rather than follow the overly-used tropes, she makes those heroes flawed and villainous in a way that made me root for them. The book does not necessarily call them superheroes or persons with superpowers; they're called ExtraOrdinaries, EOs for short.
I was gripped by all the chaotic mess that was happening; the deviously-constructed plans, the cold-blooded crimes and the twists and suspense that kept me on edge after every chapter.
What's intriguing about the narrative is that it does not revolve around redemption, every action taken has an ulterior motive especially if we are speaking of Victor and Eli. It also plays with the concepts of death and rebirth which I found very fascinating.
The characterizations were complex which gave us a cast of morally ambiguous characters.
Victor is a villain set on having his revenge on his former best friend and archnemeses Eli. A very iconic and likable villain.
Eli is a delusional hero who had taken upon himself the quest to rid the world of EOs and fulfilling God's purpose. Narcissism at its best.
Sydney is a girl abandoned by her older sister and with a power that could unsettle the realms of the living and the dead. Also, the cinnamon roll character in the book.
Mitch is someone that is always at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Serena is Sydney's older sister and Eli's enigmatic sidekick. Extremely un likable but there are more layers to her.
And Schwab seamlessly weaves their storylines together and allowed it to develop organically, giving each character the necessary scene-time and exposure to flesh out their storyline.
Although I found the time-jumps annoying from the start, later on I managed to keep track of the timelines without it being such a daunting experience.
The book is definitely a character-driven story leading up to the long-awaited confrontation between the former best friends and nemeses which kept the suspense and excitement going.
Writing a review of this book is tricky and I feel like there are many points that I probably missed. However, I think this is it for my review of Vicious and I'm curious about the events that will take place in the second book. What I guess is that it will be a bloody mess!