Genre: Historical Fiction/Murder Mystery Rating (1-5): 4 Characters:4 Plot:5 The Second Duchess was a great, suspenseful read, that transported you back in time to Renaissance Italy. Barbara of Austria is the second duchess to Alfonso d'Este, and finds herself asking questions about the mysterious death of the first duchess of Ferrara, Lucrezia De' Medici. Her curiosity leads her about the city of Ferrara, asking questions to those close to the first duchesses' death, much to the duke's disliking. Barbara wonders if the duke's disliking to her digging in the past is because of his dislike of her personally, or because he was someone involved in Lucrezia's murder. As she continues to investigate, Barbara's life slowly becomes more and more in danger, and feels like she isn't getting any closer to finding answers. In my opinion, the best part of this book was the plot. It was extremely well written, and the story as a whole was very mysterious. It's told from the point of view of Barbara, but as well as from Lucrezia De' Medici, as she observes the events transpire as a ghost. This added a unique viewpoint to the story, because you're getting to hear two sides to the story. Barbara can only guess what may have happened while the first duchess is alive, but the parts narrated by Lucrezia give you insight to what actually happened. To begin with, this book was a little bit slower for me, and thus took me a little bit longer to get through. But once I got to the halfway point, I was flying through it because of the twists and turns the novel was taking. A lot of shocking reveals, and the character development was great! The one thing I did not like about The Second Duchess, was the overabundance of characters. I understand that when writing a murder mystery, it's good to have a multitude of characters, that way it's not too obvious who the actual culprit is. However, the amount of characters in this book just made it confusing. So many different names were involved, that majority of the time I had to look back to remember the particular character's place in court. I'm just torn about how I feel about this, because I understand that sometimes it's necessary dependent upon the type of novel you are writing, but at the same time, too much is just too much. If it hadn't been for this, I probably would have given the novel a 5 star rating. WOULD I RECOMMEND I gave this book a 4 star rating, so obviously it is one that I recommend, especially if you are a lover of historical fiction! If you decide to read this one, be sure to read the author's note at the end. It is full of information on the people the characters were based off of, and was very interesting! To read more about The Second Duchess, head on over to Goodreads. Happy Reading!
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Genre: Romance/Thriller Rating (1-5): 2 Characters: Poor Plot: Fair Nicholas Sparks is normally an author you see and think, "this will probably be a good book". You think of the popular love stories like The Notebook, and Dear John, which were both books I really enjoyed. However, this one just didn't do it for me. I couldn't get invested in the characters, and I was somewhat bored halfway through. There are multiple ways where it could have been a better read for me personally. Just because I didn't like this particular book, doesn't mean that others didn't. It has received great reviews on Goodreads, and I'm sure for those people it was a great book. The thoughts I put onto this page are just my personal opinions, which stem from personal preferences in the books I read. One of the great things about books and reading is that multiple people can read the same book, but develop different opinions and views about it. Which ultimately leads to discussions with fellow readers, and learning to respect that everyone has different viewpoints. Now to explain why I just did not like this book. I got 25% of the way in, and it was already turning creepy. I looked at how many pages I had left to read, and thought "how much weirder/creepier is this dude gonna get?". Majority of the book was spent focusing on how Richard is a major stalker, and I feel like a good opportunity to make the book more mysterious was missed out on. It would have been a very thrilling read if Julie didn't know who the stalker was, and if Richard's true character hadn't been revealed until later on. When books are meant to be suspenseful, I just like them better when the answer you're looking for isn't revealed until the last possible moment. But in The Guardian, you have knowledge of Richard's creepiness almost from the beginning, and can pretty much predict what's going to happen. Ultimately, this made the book very boring and made the desire to read it diminish. Another thing that really irked me about this book, was that the characters weren't that good. The best character was probably Singer, the dog. Other than that Julie somewhat bored me, and Nicholas Sparks basically made it known that Mike is a loser. Mike is supposed to be the main love interest, but it is hard to get on board with that when he isn't described in a desirable way what so ever. Then Richard just straight up scared me, which I guess could be considered a good thing, since his character was given enough detail to make me feel that way. I had no emotional attachment to any characters which led to me not really caring about the outcome of the novel. I hate to be a Debbie downer over a book, but my main goal is to give you honest feedback on those that I read. There are going to be books every now and then that I'm not going to like, and I just have to accept that that is a part of the process. WOULD I RECOMMEND Obviously, I did not like this book, and personally wish I had never read it. However, if you are a Nicholas Sparks fan and want to give it a shot, go ahead. Just be prepared for an ending you won't really recover from. To read more about The Guardian, head on over to Goodreads.Happy Reading! Genre: Historical Fiction Rating:5 Characters:Great Plot:Excellent March seems to be the month this year where I keep selecting books I absolutely love. The Huntress was a book I stumbled upon on Instagram, because a lot of users on there were reviewing advance copies they had received, and it was getting great feedback. It was just released on February 18, 2019, so it is a very new release! Kate Quinn seems to be a very popular author in the "bookstagram" world (I'm fairly new to all this, but it seems a lot of people talk about/like her work), and after reading this book I can understand why. It was a thrilling read, that actually took a little longer to read than I anticipated, because I had to keep putting the book down to process all that was happening. I'm not going to go into too much detail in this post, just because if you decide to read this book, I don't want anything to be spoiled! This book can be more of a slow read, just because it is very character driven. However, the characters are very compelling, and you really get pulled into them and their lives, you almost feel like you are old friends with them! The book is told from three points of view, in dual-time periods. The main focus seemed to be Nina Markova, a native of eastern Soviet Russia, who becomes a female night-bomber for the Red Army, who is fearless. You also read from the point of view of Ian Graham, a British war correspondent, who has now tossed aside journalism to hunt down war criminals and bring them to justice. And then there is Jordan McBride, a 17 year old in love with photography, who finds herself skeptical of her new foreign step-mother's story, and if she really is who she is claiming to be. I was skeptical of this novel at first, just because of it being told from different points of view as well as different time periods, and this can easily make it confusing for the reader. However, after reading the book, I understand why it was necessary to write it that way. Jumping between characters and time periods provided the information that was necessary at the time in the story. Revealing just enough information, but not too much, which made me personally stay up way too late because I knew if I kept reading, I would get more clues/information. I loved the way Quinn weaved all the different stories together, and how she would dangle the huntress right under their noses, only to yank her back. It was quite frustrating for me how the antagonist kept slipping away or talking herself out of things. The stories she would weave were so believable, and she was truly a master of deception. The fact that "the huntress" in this book is based off of actual women from Nazi Germany, makes me feel sick. Kate Quinn has an author's note at the end of the novel going over all the research she did, and who some of the characters were based off of. WOULD I RECOMMEND If you are a historical fiction buff, add this to your TBR (to be read) list. It was excellent and a very thrilling read. It has received a lot of praise, and if you read it, you won't be disappointed. To read more about The Huntress head on over to Goodreads. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so on Amazon here, or at Barnes & Noble here. If you decide to read this book, please let me know what you think! Happy Reading!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating (1-5): 5 Characters: Excellent Plot: Excellent For me, the books that I consider the best are the ones that evoke a multitude of emotions from me. The books that have me crying, smiling, or that have me becoming angry. This book was just that for me. Lisa Wingate provided a heart-wrenching story, that had my emotions all over the place. Part of what made it such an emotional read for me was the knowledge that this story is based off of actual events that happened. Sometimes with emotional books, you can feel better at the end because you know it didn't actually happen. That wasn't the case with this one, seeing as the Tennessee Children's Home Society was a real place, and that the events written about in this book are the stories of actual victims. Before We Were Yours jumps between two different stories in different time periods. Rill Foss is the oldest of the five Foss children, and growing up on a river shanty boat in the late 1930's, early 1940's, she has always looked out for her younger siblings. She will have to look out for them more than ever when they are all tricked and swept away by the wrong people. Jumping forward to present day, Avery Stafford is a federal prosecutor and daughter of a senator. A publicity visit with her father to a nursing home is what leads her to May Crandall, which has Avery questioning everything she thought she knew. Now she is wondering how her family could be connected to May Crandall and the Tennessee Children's Home Society. The innocence and confusion Rill feels throughout the events that transpire are what I'm sure a lot of the actual children that went through the home felt. Children have a hard time understanding that there are evil people out there that would want to tear families apart for their own gain. Rill had a blind innocence when the workers originally came and took them away, truly thinking they were going to take them to their parents like they said. The emotional turmoil Rill goes through as she realized more and more what was happening, was heart-wrenching and hard to read. Rill does her best to grasp at power in a situation designed to make her feel powerless, and the journey she and her siblings go on is astonishing. The best way to describe Avery, is that she is determined. Once a situation is thrown her way, it's just her personality to do all she can to find the answer. A general intrigue in a woman in a nursing home turns into an all out investigation into her grandmother's life and things. She is driven by the fact that she truly believes the truth should always be known and brought to life, but she may not be ready to realize what the truth actually is. As well as the characters, the plot of this book was excellent. It was a page turner, and the way Wingate weaved the two timelines together was great. The question of how the Stafford's were connected to the Tennessee Children's Home Society was never really clear until the end, and that mystery component is probably what made it such an exciting read. WOULD I RECOMMEND 1000 times yes. This is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time, and you should definitely add this to your must be read pile. You will not be disappointed!!! To read more about Before We Were Yours, head on over to Goodreads. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so on Amazon here or at Barnes and Noble here. I really hope you read this book, and if you do, please reach out and let me know what you think!Happy Reading! Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy Rating (1-5): 3 Characters: Very good Plot: Good This book is the sequel to Year One by Nora Roberts, and the second in the Chronicles of One series. If you haven't read Year One yet, do not keep reading in case you want to stay safe of somewhat small spoilers. It's my goal to remain as spoiler free as possible, but it's hard to do sometimes when reviewing a sequel. I'm actually quite upset with myself right now, because I normally don't start reading a series until I know the WHOLE series is complete. Well, for some reason I just skipped this step, and now I'm sad/mad/crying internally, because the next book doesn't release until NOVEMBER 26, 2019!!! So that was a fail on my part, and now I will play the waiting game for the much anticipated conclusion to this story. Of Blood and Bone jumps ahead 13 years from where Year One left off, with Fallon Swift being the main focus and character. Fallon is the daughter of Max and Lana, and is known as The One. The One who is supposed to bring the world back to order, and defeat the darkness once and for all. Another new character introduced in this book in Mallick, the seasoned witch whose task is to prepare Fallon for all that is to come. While her parents have trained her thoroughly in matters of survival techniques, hunting, tracking, and farming, the magickal training she has received is nowhere near where it needs to be. So this is why Fallon must leave and train with Mallick for two years. It was sweet to see the relationship between Fallon and Mallick, and how they learned from each other. Fallon at times would be the typical stubborn teenager, and question why she has to be The One, as well as become frustrated when Mallick kept emphasizing random tasks and simple spells. Just like the first book in the series, Of Blood and Bone jumps between multiple characters perspectives, but mainly focuses on Fallon. We get chances to read about life in New Hope, and how Katie's twins, Duncan and Antonia, have developed into seasoned fighters. From the amount that Roberts focused on the twins, I get a feeling that they will be important for the rest of the series. When it comes to multiple story lines, I wish that there would've been more perspective from the Purity Warrior standpoint. I feel like Roberts really missed out on the opportunity to show us the other side of the story, and get some background from those people. I really enjoyed all the new characters introduced, and I feel like they helped me enjoy the story a little more. They were more dynamic than the characters in the first book, which is an improvement. Don't let the rating of 3 fool you, I am enjoying the overall story and direction Nora Roberts is taking this series. However, the plot of this book was extremely slow, with a lot of building up and anticipation, but never really getting a solid climax. There were a few sections dedicated to action, but I felt they were lacking. There was never the fear that the bad guys could possibly win, and you always felt comfortable with the safety of your favorite characters. WOULD I RECOMMEND I'm still enjoying this series, so I'm definitely going to encourage you to read it. Don't start with this book, but with Year One. HOWEVER, if you hate waiting on sequels as much as I do, I would push back reading this series until a later date. You can read more about Of Blood and Bone on Goodreads here. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so on Amazon here or at Barnes and Noble here. If you decide to read this series, let me know what you think! Happy Reading! Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy Rating (1-5): 4 Characters: Good Plot: very good The Doom swept over the world, from person to person, and brought with it death, despair, and destruction. With the death toll in the billions, those who are immune to the Doom have to learn to adjust to a new world without their loved ones. A new world where the old rules no longer apply, and old, magickal forces are awakened. Not only do you have to worry about supplies and shelter, but also whether it can be taken from you at any moment by Raiders, and the evil magick users. There is strength in numbers, but can you trust strangers? Or even people you thought you knew? Normally when I'm reading a book, I stop and take notes throughout. It's just an easy way for me to gather my thoughts, and also highlight things I like throughout the whole book. However, with this one, I was almost halfway through and hadn't made a single note. I was devouring the book and couldn't bear to put it down to write notes on it. This is a book that follows multiple story lines for majority of the book. It jumps between Max and Lana, a young witch couple from New York, Arlys and Fred, coworkers at a TV station in New York, and Jonah, Rachel, & Katie, plus her babies. Jonah is a paramedic and Rachel is an emergency medicine doctor, and they are introduced to Katie when they help deliver her twins. I'm not typically a fan of books that jump around between different characters, mostly because I always have a favorite character that I want to focus on. However, Nora Roberts did a good job of giving each story line equal time, and equally fascinating twists, until all the characters ultimately ended up together in one place. I loved seeing how the characters developed as the story went on, and appreciated the way in which Roberts brought all the characters together. Because of the multiple story lines, I feel this book could do really well as a TV show. But I always end up being upset when books I read become TV shows, because the shows never really do it justice, so maybe I don't actually want that to happen (haha). If the main protagonists would've had more complexity, I would have rated this book a 5. I just had a hard time with how GOOD the characters always were, like they didn't have a bad bone in their bodies. The idea of this book was somewhat terrifying for me, because who wouldn't be scared about the end of the world (LOL). This is also because Nora Roberts really showed the potential for evil in people's hearts. People who will take advantage of a falling world to be cruel, and bring about more death and destruction. People who will take up leadership, when all other forms of it are gone, and convince masses that anyone who thinks/is different from them should be persecuted and executed. There are big power struggles between groups in this book, between those who are trying to maintain civility and just all around goodness, and those who seek to take everything for themselves, and don't care who gets hurt along the way. Despite loss and very bleak situations, the characters always keep hope, and that the world they once lived in will somehow return to normality. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series very much, and can't wait to see where Nora Roberts takes this story. WOULD I RECOMMEND All I can say is please read this book. It was SO enjoyable, and very well written. You can read more about Year One on Goodreads here. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so on Amazon here or at Barnes & Noble here. If you decide to read this book, let me know what you think! Happy Reading! |
AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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