Review: Truly Madly Guilty

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what I was going to think about this book. The BBQ was drawn out for the entire book. It was interspersed with the present where we saw the consequences of the day, but didn't yet know what had happened.

I was pretty sure I wasn't going to finish it at first because I don't like Erika. Her behavior and thinking patterns did not sit well with me. However, it switched to the perspective of others at the BBQ and then I was able to connect with the story a little more. I liked Tiffany the best of all the narrators. She felt the most human to be I guess.

My biggest reason for not liking the book more was that the ending seemed to neat, and I didn't care for that.

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Review: The Star-Touched Queen

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure about this book when I started it. It had the potential to be another princess who should have been ruler but wasn't a man possibility. However, I was glad that wasn't the case. I enjoyed the mythology that was used in this world. This is a fantasy world, but you can feel Indian mythology and the role it plays in the story. I really enjoy that in books, a touch from our world's history.

Maya is born under stars that foretell dark things in her future. As a result she is blamed for deaths in the palace, and she is ostracized. This would not have been interesting if not for her father who does not believe in the dark reading and wants to use her to end the war between kingdoms. It is after this that things begin to shift into fantasy and they got more interesting. When she is picking her husband another man appears and offers himself as an option. She takes that option and enters the Otherworld.

The Otherworld is from stories Maya told to her half sister and she is amazed by it. This story is full of secrets. I recommend it, and am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

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Review: Doon

Doon by Carey Corp
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Within the first chapter I found a typo. That about made me stop reading. I was also a little annoyed by the stereo types of Scottish.

Did anyone else think Outlander when they were reading this? Jamie being the love interest in both books. It was different no time travel. Just travel to a separated world, but it was still so close.

I can't say I really liked any of the characters as much as I should have. Kenna complaining about her looks was enough to make me dislike her a little bit. Veronica might have been okay, but she needed to stop worrying and share. Before the story gets to Doon, it drags. The thing that saved this from a one star rating was the part in Doon an the kissing. I'm not sure I'll be looking for the next in the series. This looked good from the description but it just didn't work as well as I had hoped.

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Review: Breath Of Earth

Breath Of Earth by Beth Cato
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the steampunk historical fantasy setting. Having it set in San Fransisco right before the earthquake of 1906 lent to the fantasy and magic of the story. I liked the characters but not as much as I wish I could have. Ingrid was a little hung up in her looks and being a woman in a world dominated by men. I know she was that way because she was ignored by the men around her, but it bothered me a bit. The story was both magical and historical and for me it just didn't blend. I enjoyed the book a lot. It just felt a little like something was missing.

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Review: The Storyspinner

The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an easy read and I enjoyed the story. I think I might have enjoyed it more if the there had not been so many points of view. It was hard to get to know the characters since it jumped every chapter. I ended up really liking it by the end because I'd gotten to know the characters by that point.

In the group of Keepers that narrated, I liked Pira and her brother Jacaré. They were very different people, but even though there was friction between them you could see they cared. I think I would have liked Leão but I was only starting to get a feel for his character when the book ended.

For human narrators only Johanna and Rafi narrated enough for me to get a feel for them as characters. I liked them both and felt some attachment for Johanna.

The biggest reason I'm not giving this a higher rating is because I didn't get a chance to really bond with the characters since the perspective kept changing. I did really like the story and I'll be reading the next.

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Review: Illuminae

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

At first, I didn't think I was going to care much for this book. It is not your typical narrative. It is a collection of files that for a narrative of sorts.

Kady and Ezra escape from an illegal mining facility on a remote planet only to find themselves being chased and forced to speak to each other when they had recently broken up. I thought this would really annoy but I ended up liking their weird relationship.

I also was surprised to find I really liked AIDAN the artificial intelligence on the warship. Past science fiction novels that include an AI as a main character fell a bit short for me. I think the combination of places our information came from helped me see the AI in a different way and one I could enjoy.

I'm glad I gave this book a chance because I almost stopped reading it on page 15. I really enjoyed it.

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Review: The Shattered Court

The Shattered Court by M.J. Scott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a nice quick read for the weekend. It was exactly what I was looking for: adventure, magic, sex, lust, kissing, and danger.

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