December | 2019 | Ad Librum Aeternam

Genre: Science-fiction, YA, adventure

Pages: 300

ASIN: B07ZCCRC9R

Format: eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: December 17th, 2019

Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing

Type: Novel (Series – The Neverland Transmissions)

I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to dear J.M. Sullivan and Bleeding Ink Publishing!

Introduction:

So, I’ve been waiting for Lost Boy since I reviewed Second Star, and let me tell you it satisfied me! Of course, I had to try and review the new book. Fortunately, Miss Sullivan did obtain me an ARC. (I’m immensely grateful!)

I mean, the Second Star story kept popping up in my mind throughout the years and I wondered what would happen next. I read a lot of books and for one to get stuck in my head like this means it’s excellent.

But what about the sequel?

Let’s find out, shall we?!

The Blurb:

Wendy swore she would return . . .

But Peter isn’t willing to wait. After marooning himself on Neverland to ensure his crew’s return home, Peter is determined to find a way off the ageless planet and back to the Jolly Roger and Wendy’s arms. Looking to the future, he presses on, until someone from his past reveals the dark secrets hidden in Neverland’s depths.

Meanwhile, traveling across distant galaxies, Wendy’s ship is failing. With systems malfunctions increasing and supplies running low, Wendy and her crew must find a way to keep the antiquated vessel afloat. But creaks and groans on an aging vessel aren’t the Captain’s only concern–there are whispers onboard, quiet voices skittering through the shadows that warn of something much more sinister.

The Positive Sides:

Let me start with the biggest and best news: there are no inconsistencies in the story this time around! The author really improved on this point. Kudos to her!

I liked the introduction by Aidan Boyce in his log at the beginning of the book. It’s interesting, and it does fill us in on the details and what’s going on with the crew since we last saw them. Speaking of Aidan, his introduction is foreboding—I like it greatly! Okay, okay, I won’t lie: I love it! It’s a bit unsettling too with his acting strange and the darkness he mentions at the end. Creepy. Which only intensifies throughout the book—very intriguing. The fact that the important details of the first book are seamlessly and believably inserted in the sequel is hugely appreciated and even pleasant to read. I felt no weight as I read through them. Seriously good writing skills here!

What about the writing itself? Well, the reading is smooth and flows. Plus, there is a lot of jokes and funny moments, which is so nice. I laughed out loud a good three times, so it’s always welcome! So the verdict? Her writing is lovely! The words are diversified and well-chosen, but the writing isn’t heavy. Like I mentioned above, it flows smoothly as we read. And the editing is super well done! Another great point.

Moreover, I really enjoyed the friendships in Lost Boy, notably with Wendy and her pilot, Dawes. They’re funny and adorable. Two awesome female friends! Peter’s friendship with Tinc and Seven (respectively a nanobot and a cute fox-like animal) is sweet, and Wendy’s friendship with Johns and Michaels is, as always, beautiful and caring. Funny, too.

As for the, ahum, “trouble” with Aidan… Well, I love their angsty love triangle (insert Wendy and Peter here). It’s amusing to read and sad at the same time. Poor Aidan, hahaha.

I think that the secondary characters having romances too is sweet. I’m glad the author made this choice and that not only Wendy and her love triangle exists. It makes it more realistic.

And… YES!! There is still Peter’s point of view. I was SO waiting for him. He is charming, funny, and lovely as always. Just like I love him. Oh, and he’s a red head, did you know? Psssst, I love red heads! Ahum, yes, so…

Moving on. Peter’s plan is thrilling and fits so well with his skills (you’ll see when you read it). The plot is interesting and intriguing, and I did enjoy the Stjarnins’ presence and collaboration with Peter. Also, I’ll admit I was as surprised as Peter with the Stjarnins’ secrets. Cool!!

All in all, this series is definitely my favourite retelling!!! And I read a lot of those. If that’s not convincing you to read Lost Boy (or Second Star, if you haven’t), I don’t know what will.

The Negative Sides:

The good news is I couldn’t find many of them. Heck, there was only one I noticed! What is it?

Well, the plot hints are too big and obvious. We can see right away what is happening on the ship and Boyce, and that’s a bit saddening. I’m not sure it was intentional or not. As one who figures out the twists quite easily, this one was given on a golden plate, unfortunately.

But the plot was still good and intriguing, don’t worry. It’s just it was obvious.

In Conclusion:

I loved, loved, loved Lost Boy by J.M. Sullivan! Meeting with the crew and Peter Pan again made my heart pulse with energy, curl up in bed with my Kobo and squeal like a total fangirl (which I am). It was wonderful! Now I’m waiting for the third book! GIVE IT TO ME!

So, what’s the rating? Due to the plot being too obvious, I’m taking away a .5, but I give Lost Boy a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which proves how excellent it is. I’m telling you, read the sequel, it does not disappoint and you get to know all the characters much better. They become your friends, believe it or not.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her (gorgeous) Web site, you can also follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Amazon author page, Facebook, Goodreads and LibraryThing. Love podcasts? Listen to hers. You can visit her publisher, Bleeding Ink Publishing. You can also add Lost Boy to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

Desire of Whimsy: A Book Review

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Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 76
ASIN: B07M8DH3GV
Format: eBook (Kindle), paperback, hardcover
Publication date: December 11th, 2018
Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services (Self-Published)
Type: Novella

I received a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Charletta Barksdale and BookTasters!

Introduction:

Coma? Dreams? And a young woman who’s taking care of said guy in a coma? Sign me up to read this book!

Seriously, when I read the blurb, I was so hooked and intent on reading this story. I love any idea that explores such topics, and there aren’t enough of those. I would not pass this opportunity up, and thankfully the author sent me a free ecopy through BookTasters reviewing program. I was pacing all over the room with excitation!

On with the review, then!

The Blurb:

Serenity is a young woman living alone in Edinburgh, Scotland, and working as a nurse in the coma ward of a hospital. She has been dreaming of a mysterious man—and since she can interpret and control her dreams, her gifts make her dreams that much more intense. During her day job, she focuses on her favorite patient, Mr. Thomas, who has been in a coma for five years. Trance lives in a world that allows him to control the emotions and thoughts of others while they are sleeping, a task he accomplishes under the watchful eye on his recruiter, Impedes. Unaware that he is actually in a coma, he is stuck between two worlds, unable to determine which is real. But when he meets Serenity in her dreams, those worlds collide, sending both of them on a path of loss and love. In this novella, a young nurse and a man in a coma meet in their dreams and soon discover there is more to the world than they ever imagined.

The Positive Sides:

Let’s go over the characters first, okay? I’ve got a lot to say about them and they are quite interesting. The main character, Serenity, is charming, and it’s easy to understand how she feels and thinks. I love her passionate love of things and people in her life. Plus, I like how clever she is and how quickly she understands things and situations, and that she goes to the library for more information (that’s a good one!). She is also bold and tries several techniques to meet with Trance again and help him!

But what about her relationships with others? She’s got a good and loving relationship with her sweet mother, although Serenity’s adult life is beginning with her moving out and living on her own. The setup is amazingly precise and sweet. Also, her kind and lovely friendships with other women. She is caring. But let’s be honest here, the sheer kindness of most of her characters is refreshing, heart-warming and adorable! And Thomas? Serenity is so lovely and caring with her patient, Thomas. It is beautiful and I love the genuine kindness of Serenity and the help she provides. As for Trance and Serenity’s relationship, their fascination with each other is amusing and intriguing. How will they meet and what will happen with those dream visits and appearances?! Lastly, the villain is a bastard. I enjoy hating him, though I’d have loved to see more of him.

Furthermore, the fact we get to see other POVs such as Trance, the guy Serenity sees appear and disappear in her bedroom blew me away! I wasn’t expecting this and it’s fantastic (he’s so mysterious). Also, you’re telling me he’s a drifter? Possibly not human? In love with Serenity? Not supposed to appear in her world physically? Wow, you got me intrigued! I greatly enjoy all the weird things that happen with them both, including their prodigious meeting which is so faithful to the weird side of this story. I am in love! There is also the importance of all matters of heart, like the wish that touched Trance… Magnificent and poignant, you have to read it yourself! Seriously, this story even made me tear up—it’s so beautifully emotional.

Speaking of weird things, there are a lot of surprises and twists in this book, which I love! For example, the book Serenity finds at the library about dream shifters, so cool! And the twist with her mother’s gift is awesome and explains a lot (based on what we know so far)! Plus, I didn’t expect the elders to be what they are. It’s both fitting and surprising!

Besides all these characters, relationships, and surprises, there are the amazing rules of the coma and sleep states as well as dream shifters! I personally love that there is lucid dreaming in this story, because I do that since I am a wee child thanks to my mom who trained me to at a very young age. She always told me they were my dreams and I could control them, not reverse. And you know what? She was damn right! So it’s a big pleasure to read about lucid dreaming in a fiction book. Kudos to the author!

Lastly, I just want to say I love this story and what happens to souls in coma. I’ve always wondered what was up with them and we get to see one possible explanation for it. A fun ride, I’m telling you! Moreover, the soul’s transition is just plain beautiful—I got shivers when I read that passage! As for the ending, it is great and a really awesome setup for the next book!

The Negative Sides:

Unfortunately, there are negative sides most of the times no matter how hard we try. I’ve noticed two major ones in this book. The biggest one is there is too much telling (mostly in dialogue), which makes it awkward to read and a bit hard to believe. For example, Serenity talks a lot aloud to herself, even personal things that would be better suited as thoughts. And their discussions just describe everything they’re feeling and intend to do. I strongly suggest to the author to read more about the infamous “showing vs telling” problem and perhaps take a class. Because her book and ideas are fantastic, but this is holding back her story as we get annoyed.

The other point is her writing is simple. Her vocabulary isn’t enhanced. Now, this might just be perfect for some people, but I prefer a diversified writing with some big or odd words here and there and generally enhanced vocabulary. This one I’m not taking any stars out of the rating because it’s not bad, it’s just not my style, I guess. But it’s still worth mentioning.

In Conclusion:

While the major negative point is prominent, I still had a blast and a whole lot of emotions reading Desire of Whimsy by Charletta Barksdale! So, for the sheer magical ideas contained in this book and the lovely characters that populate it, I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I still encourage the author to work on the “showing vs telling” issue, but other than that, I’m going to be here for the second book because yes, there will be 5 of them according to the author! Amazing!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Twitter, and on Goodreads. You can also add Desire of Whimsy to your bookshelves on Goodreads.