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By Aida Vidan & Robert Niebuhr

Genre: Non-Fiction, Language, Language learning, Travel
Number of pages: 369
ISBN: 9780781814089
Format: Paperback (MP3 online audio)
Publication date: March 24th, 2020
Publisher: Hippocrene Books
Type: Book, language learning book, language learning textbook

*I received a free physical copy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given, and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Priti Gress and Hippocrene Books!*

Introduction

I’ve been a fan of Hippocrene Books for a few years now, following them on social media and craving their books. As a polyglot, their books, both language learning guides and cultural books, seemed to be of quality and they’re quite varied. They cover languages rarely tackled by other language publishers, such as Croatian, Romanian, and Icelandic. I’m always looking for new resources and tools to improve my own learning, and I love exploring. So, when I contacted them, they kindly agreed to send me a few, including Beginner’s Croatian with Online Audio. I wanted to learn Croatian since I was fourteen years old (I’m double years old now… shhhhh), so it’s exhilarating to review this book for them. Plus, finding good quality Croatian language learning materials is hard, even more so in physical format.

A huge thanks to Hippocrene Books for sharing Beginner’s Croatian with me and helping my learning process! I discovered a great new resource, and definitely fell in love with their products.

Let’s break down its several qualities and few flaws together, shall we?

That way you’ll get a better idea to enhance your own language learning!

Let’s go!

Blurb

An affordable and modern guide to learn Croatian as a beginner from Hippocrene Books. It is made up of fifteen amusing lessons with colloquial dialogues, grammatical units, vocabulary and verb lists, and audio files in MP3 format (downloadable on their website). It features a History overview of Croatia, a bilingual glossary, declension tables, exercises and answer keys.

The Positive Sides

I’ll start with one of the best points about this book: the audio is free! And downloadable! Yep. No CDs—you get the audio files as downloaded MP3s, which is highly modern and useful as you can listen to them on your computer, iPod, smartphone, tablet, name it! Kudos to them! After which comes the price, which is very affordable for all the knowledge contained within its pages. Speaking of its pages, this is a quality book; its layout and format is well done, always followed. The language is excellent as I found no typos or mistakes, except in the Audio Track List at the end where it says “Dialgoue” instead of “Dialogue” a few times.

The cover is gorgeous and inspiring (look at it!), it makes you want to jump into it, much like with the language itself.

Also, the table of contents is really clear and even mentions what types of grammar explorations each lesson introduces you to.

Moreover, the historical introduction is priceless. It really helps understand Croatia and how it came to be. It also makes you travel a bit and connect with that country on a more personal level. The grammatical sections are clear, precise, and informative, and their instructions are clear and easy to follow and grasp. I love that there is an English-Croatian/Croatian-English glossary with the most useful vocabulary, a verb list with indications as to whether it’s a Perfective or Imperfective verb (trust me, you’ll be grateful this was included!), as well as declension tables (thank God for these!!! They’re life-savers what with cases and how to mark declensions in words), and a prepositions table!!! This is all so useful. I looooove when there is “extra” content (note: grammatical content) in such books. It makes my inner nerd (… more like the whole of myself, but shhh) thrilled!

Back to the free audio! The location of the audio files is made clear at the beginning (in the TOC) and on a single page at the end of the book. Also, the audio is fantastic! It’s high quality, sharp, and I love how in the vocabulary the woman will say one letter and word, and then it’s the man’s turn. We can hear both sexes! The dialogues are great, too! I love how natural they talk. The way the dialogues are used in audio is amazing. First, on one track, you have the dialogue said at a natural pace, but the words and expressions used are very much natural, what you’d encounter in a normal conversation with natives (wonderful info!). Then, on the next track, you have the same dialogue with pauses so you can repeat each sentence for practice! It’s brilliant!

As for the exercises, they’re very interesting as I had barely a headache while doing those—when exercises are hard or displeasing I get a migraine. Plus, they have answer keys at the end of the book, which makes it even more practical and useful. I love how varied the exercises are! We go from blank phrases to translations (whole paragraphs) to marking genders and filling in with the correct verbs. It’s different from most learning guides where you only have blank phrases and filling-in exercises. It made me so giddy! I loved two exercises in particular: translation and categorization! Translation is always fun (sue me, I’m a translator!), though daunting. But damn does it help to think in Croatian. As for the categorization exercise, I wasn’t sure about its effectiveness but I was proven wrong: it sears the words in your mind and you can recognize them afterwards.

Overall, I meant to study a few lessons throughout the book for reviewing purposes, but I loved it so much I found myself to be actually doing them progressively… So, surprise! I am now even more into my Croatian learning than I was before reviewing this language learning guide! Win, win!

The Negative Sides

My first negative side isn’t so much a flaw to me, but more of an acknowledgment that this could be lacking something for other Croatian learners. So, despite the gorgeous, colourful cover, there are no images and no colours inside the book. It might be too academic for some readers for it reminds me of high school and university textbooks. As for me, I don’t mind it as I love such straightforward books. I just wanted to mention it in case you find this an important aspect of your learning.

Unfortunately, the vocabulary, verb and greetings lists aren’t included in the audio. I would have loved it as sometimes we’re not sure how to pronounce those either, mostly the vocabulary. And especially in the beginning of our learning.

Lastly, the instructions for some exercises are not clear and precise enough, such as blank logical answers with no prior “logic” nor hints.

These last two points are really what I think could be improved in future editions of this language learning guide in terms of learning: more audio files and clearer instructions for exercises.

In Conclusion

All in all, thanks to this wonderful language learning guide, Beginner’s Croatian with Online Audio, I can now identify specific words in the songs and videos I watch and already remember two handfuls after only two lessons! It’s an excellent teaching manual for self-taught language learners and all kinds of language learners. For these reasons, and for the sometimes unclear instructions, I give this beloved book a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. If you want to learn Croatian, I highly recommend this book. Don’t miss out on it or you’ll miss the opportunity to learn fast and well with pleasure!

If you want to learn more about Hippocrene Books, you can visit their Web site, you can also follow them on Instagram. You can learn more about the authors and their impressive credentials on Aida Vidan's official Harvard page and on Robert Niebuhr's official Arizona State University page. You can also add Beginner's Croatian with Online Audio to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

Extreme: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 18, 2020 Leave a comment

53483098

Extreme the Book Web Site

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Goodreads

By Joan Gelfand

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller, Romance

Pages: 282

ISBN: 9781421836515

ASIN: B08BX7RJQL

Format: Paperback, eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: 2020

Publisher: Blue Light Press

Type: Book, Novel

*I received a free paperback copy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Joan Gelfand and Blue Light Press!*

Introduction

When I was offered to review Extreme by Joan Gelfand (a paperback copy no less!), I couldn’t say no. I was intrigued about the techy and Silicon Valley aspects of this story right from the start. A startup? Seen from a woman’s perspective?

I had to read it.

If this sounds interesting to you as well, then let’s explore the story’s strengths and flaws together, shall we?

Blurb

Hope Ellson is from the wrong side of the tracks, but her genius transcends class. When Hope joins FearToShred, a Silicon Valley extreme gaming startup, Hope's mission is to groom the scrappy company for prime time. Enter Doug Wiser, her very married ex. While the two work in tandem, nefarious forces are at work behind the scenes. Adding to the excitement of this thriller are the stars and heroes of surfing and skateboarding. With a keen eye on women in tech, business ethics and dangerous stunts, "Extreme" will leave you breathless.

The Positive Sides

I’ll start with the ending because it struck me as a great way to write this book’s dénouement. Not only was the phrasing gold (you have to read it for yourself, it’s clever!), but there are still surprises to be discovered! Hope makes an important announcement to Doug, which has been hinted at throughout the book but comes off as a surprise in the end, really. I’m not used to seeing such big announcements at the end, they usually come about 3/4 of a novel or so.

But what about the characters? Well, I thought they were all an interesting bunch of -sometimes- conflicting points of views and motives. As for Hope herself, she underwent great character development. In my opinion, it was impressively well done. I thought she was very flawed from the get-go, which is rare in fiction for characters tend to be flawed but not enough, but I felt I walked beside her on her personal and professional quest. I had a blast learning about her world, her opinions and desires, and get an inside view at Silicon Valley! So many thrilling events took place in the story, and twists and turns and problems kept occurring—this made me very happy as it kept the reading experience fresh. It was one bad thing over the other, and kept me guessing about what would happen next.

As for the writing, I found I really enjoyed it. It is funny, sincere, true to real life (with exemples such as “matinees” at the cinema and the famous “WTF”). The author doesn’t back down from technological terminology and real life expressions and realities, which makes the story feel more grounded, more tangible, closer to us readers. Her vocabulary is both rich and familiar, which makes for an intriguing and odd combination. But it’s pleasant to read.

The Negative Sides

Well, this might come as a surprise, but the vocabulary itself made it both hard and pleasant to read. Let me explain: I said above that the vocabulary is rich and familiar at the same time, but that’s exactly what clashes in my mind as I read. I’m expecting familiar but I get rich vocabulary… Then, if I expect rich, I get familiar. It’s as though the combination of those two is odd and takes a while to become easy to read. It was still interesting and pleasant, but harder to read.

Lastly, what really bugged me was the adulterous relationship with Doug… this definitely didn’t please me. I despise those from being a child from a family broken by an adulterous relationship. I always try to avoid such reads because, I guess, it’s a trigger for me, or just something I really can’t stand either way (it’s not in my values). It wasn’t badly written, mind you, it’s just it’s not my cup of tea. However, I liked how it ended. It was responsible and mature both from Hope and Doug.

In Conclusion

Overall, this story is surprising, immersive, and friendly (I mean, I felt like I was Hope’s friend, going on her personal and professional development withher). Despite the vocabulary that makes it not confusing but harder to read, I enjoyed this inside look at a startup in Silicon Valley a great deal! I didn’t want to close the book and I found myself wondering about the characters and their situations even when I wasn’t reading. I call that a win! So, for all these reasons, I give Extreme by Joan Gelfand a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. I recommend this book to fans of contemporary fiction and those interested in everything technology. Also, as an upside, I’m not one for contemporary reads, but this one stood out. Another win!

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

Tavern: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 14, 2020 Leave a comment

43976358. sy475

Deston J. Munden's Web site

By Deston J. Munden

Genre: Epic fantasy, high fantasy, fantasy, swords and sorcery, adventure

Pages: 447

ISBN: 9781795562584

ASIN: B07PWTR89Q

Format: Paperback, Ebook (Kindle)

Publication date: March 2019

Publisher: Self-published

Type: Book, Novel, First in a series

*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 BookTasters and Deston J. Munden!*

Introduction:

I was kindly offered by BookTasters to review one of the books they had, and Tavern’s blurb stood out to me. It sounded so fantasy-like and magical… How could I resist? So, here I am, reviewing it with pleasure!

I hope many of you will find this read to their liking as I did.

Shall we go on a quest together and explore this book in more details?

Come, dear reader…

Blurb:

Information, Power. Respect.

Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.

When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.

He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.

The Positive Sides:

For starters, may I say this lad writes excellent descriptions of fights and action scenes? Because it’s true. They were so engrossing and immersive! Moreover, the whole reading experience was amusing and thrilling (despite the first confusing chapter, though). The quest Xelnath embarks on is fun and so are the other, smaller adventures in his path.

Another magnificent point is how really exotic the story and settings are! There is an orc for a main character, as well as other creatures and tribes. And magic! Did I talk about this one yet? Nope. Here goes: I love the nature-based magic system found in Tavern. All this variety gives me the feeling I am reading The Witcher, which is amazing as I love this series. (I’m even reading it in Polish! Yup, that’s a polyglot for you.)

I loved being on this reading adventure with Xelnath the orc and his motley crew. It reminded me of why I enjoy High and Epic fantasy (I’ve been falling out of touch with it lately, but now I want to resume The Witcher books—still in Polish—and go back to Lord of the Rings). I call this a win by this book and author!

The Negative Sides:

However, I found that the text was sometimes too telling and not showing enough—it was rather straightforward in multiple occasions, but I’m not sure whether it’s a fault or the author’s intention. Hmmm… Also, the first chapter was confusing as h.

It took me a while to get used to the whole situation, the world, and the orc main character! Everything was too vague, and while I understand the strategy to keep his MC’s nature a mystery at the beginning, it doesn’t help the confusion. I had a hard time immersing myself or believing the story at first. But then after the first chapter, I had a blast reading!

In Conclusion:

What can I say? It rekindled my flame for this genre. I’ve had a blast (except that damn first chapter) and I can’t wait to read the next one in this series! I will definitely follow this series and author (already doing so on his Amazon Author’s page, yup). All in all, I give Tavern by Deston J. Munden a rating of 4 stars out of 5! If you enjoy high or epic fantasy, a big and varied cast of characters, and an intricate story with amusing parts, this is the read for you!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit his Web site, you can also follow him on Goodreads and Twitter. You can also add Tavern to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Paris Model: A Book Review

Book Reviews October 12, 2020 Leave a comment

50496928

By Alexandra Joel

Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780063031968
ASIN: B083SN921G
ISBN (Audio): 9781799940357
Format: Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
Publication date: September 2020
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Type: Book, Novel, Historical

I received a free paperback copy in exchange for an honest review. No compensation has been given and I write this book review willingly. A big thanks to Harper Collins and Harper Collins Canada Frenzy!

Introduction:

When I was offered the opportunity to review a historical fiction book for Harper Collins via the Harper Collins Canada Frenzy program, The Paris Model’s cover and title caught my eye. “What is this beautiful, beautiful book about?” I wondered. As I read the blurb, I knew I couldn’t pass this one up. I’m a fashion lover and a huge France fan, so this was the book for me. I knew it! I was so psyched when my request was granted and I received this beauty of a galley in the mail. Huge thanks to Harper Collins and the author, Alexandra Joel, for this jewel!

Now, how about we explore this book together in more details? You’ll see, it’s full of elegance, twists, and travel. But mostly, it’s a humane story full of emotions that will leave you breathless but with a feeling of satisfaction.

Blurb:

Grace Woods, a hard-working woman raised on an Australian farm, moves to postwar Paris to work for Christian Dior as a model after her disastrous marriage. Left with more questions about her past and her parents, Grace tries to go on a normal life, putting the past behind her. As she does so, she meets with colourful characters such as Julia Child and Jackie Kennedy. Yet, she’s still on a quest to find answers, and a young man she meets, Philippe Boyer, will help her in this endeavour. But she’ll have to help him too, and all of France. Will she be up for the challenge?

The Positive Sides:

The first great thing that jumped at me when I opened the book was how the writing is lush, enchanting and elegant, just like the world of fashion and modelling seems like. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quote:

She was in a jurisdiction of her own. Her mind, her very being, was fixed upon a single resolution. No matter the hour, nor the exquisite agony, she would continue until her child was born—healthy, safe, whole.

At last, her body surrendered its possession. Only then did she experience a sweet release. Happiness was her narcotic; she felt intoxicated with pleasure and relief.

It’s from the beginning, which simply grabbed my heart and made me tear up. Also, let’s be honest here: what a gorgeous cover! All those deep colours, the look of the historical fiction, and the cursive fonts used. GOR.GE.OUS! I love the French quotes and words throughout the book; it’s not overwhelming, yet it gives you a taste of the language and culture while being understandable from the context and attitudes of the characters (I speak French, so I always enjoy finding my language in a book—it’s pleasant and makes it even more home to me). Another great point is how this book is divided: sections within chapters and chapters within books for one book. They’re all short too and smooth to read. It’s a breeze! So pleasant.

Speaking of the story itself, there were tense, gripping moments when she was young. I didn’t get why we saw her childhood, but the family relationships are important, and it makes sense as we get bits of the issue at hand through Grace’s eyes. Plus, I love how clothes are important even outside of the fashion storyline; they’re all described in accurate terminology, which is a feat in my opinion (hey, I work with terminology what with being a translator, and this perfect use of terminology makes me glow with happiness!) Personally, I love how Grace wishes to travel, dreams of a life untethered to some place/someone and out and about around the world. I relate so much despite the era! I can feel Grace’s ache to explore.

Something that hit me hard is how the awful realism of the married life before is well depicted along with how women had to shut up and only do “women’s work”. I was so upset I put the book down. It was hard to read, but so true. I applaud the author’s dare. The despicable and awful sex scenes hit my heart hard. So many women suffered that and against their will… and I have strong issues with sex, being asexual myself, and this was a nightmare described in words. Thanks for showing this old reality in women’s lives.
On a more cheerful note, I found so cute the serendipitous way Grace hears about the job and becomes a model! Lovely! Such things happen in real life, too. People’s reactions are realistic and true, so it is charming to read. Outbursts, false beliefs, happiness, dreams… I like how her quest to find Siddy is reinforced by a certain meeting and how the absence of action on Grace’s part is explained right when her motivation is renewed. It didn’t ignore the issue! Great! It’s fantastic to see models and beautiful women in action, to see them being intelligent and not stupid like most deem them just because they “show off” in expensive clothes. They’re women, they’re more than just that! Really loved it, this different perspective.

And if I may add: OH, THE EMOTIONS! The FEELS! I am so invested in Grace! Everything she feels, I feel. Ohhh, the ending got me crying like a poor fountain. I relate so much to Grace’s thoughts about a second set of parents. My grandparents were so close to me, they were and always will be my second parents.

In addition to those feelings, I love all the clever historical inserts and references such as the Duchess of Windsor, Vogue (which existed back then), the Viscountess de Noailles, and locations, and news in the paper like Dior’s clothes are “revolutionary” and old laws like how a woman can’t get a passport without her husband’s approval in Australia (what even is this? Yew!) I adore how celebrities of the time in all fields (Julia Child, imagine that!) make an appearance. Some play an even bigger role :). The author even goes all in with historical figures—she writes them closely and often, like a certain friend of Grace’s, Jacqueline. Have fun discovering who she is like I have!

This is genuinely the perfect read to be surrounded by fashion instead of reading only magazines and articles! So many references, allusions and oh, the ambiance.

I thought this was just a novel about fashion and possibly romance, but wow, it is so much more! And the best thing? It’s based on a true story!!

The Negative Sides:

There were a few things that I noticed. Oftentimes the transitions between paragraphs, time, and locations feel clunky or rushed. Alas, I was disappointed that Grace isn’t asexual because I swear she was every bit like me in the first half of the book… This could have been awesome representation, but of course, it ended with her just not being with the right man for her… What’s new? I’m left sour and disappointed after being so hopeful and despite how much I related with her sexuality at first. Also, it’s a bit too telling at some points throughout the book, almost preachy, but with good values and honesty. I can tell the author wants to make a point with good intentions, but sometimes it feels contrite or too much. Lastly, maybe the story is a bit too fairy tale-like in the end to my taste. But hey, it is sweet sometimes, isn’t it? Once in a while, a happy ending doesn’t hurt…

In Conclusion:

Despite its few flaws, and mostly thanks to the sheer engrossing read it became to me, I give this fantastic book, The Paris Model by Alexandra Joel a rating of 5 stars out of 5! I loved it so much I am going to purchase a final copy for my own “favorites” bookshelf at home. Trust me, this is a great and poignant read with lots of historical references and figures. It was delightful! And though it ended a bit soapy to me, we need happy endings from times top times, don’t we? Go ahead and make yourself a favour: read this book!

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Web site, you can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also add The Paris Model to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

The Sea: A Book Review

Book Reviews February 3, 2020 Leave a comment

Amazon.ca *

Amazon.com

Goodreads

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Dystopian

Pages: 75

ASIN: B082WQ21TT

Format: eBook (Kindle)

Publication date: February 7th, 2020

Publisher: Self-Published

Type: Novella

*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 Sophie Jupillat Posey and Book Sirens!*

Introduction:

As a new reviewer on Book Sirens, I was browsing the books available for review and this cover caught my eye. It looked grand and dangerous-two things I love in a book. Its title held my interest as a big fan of nature herself. So, why shouldn’t I pick it up? No reason, exactly!

I went through many states and emotions reading this novella, but I’d go through them again if I had to. Read on to find out why!

The Blurb:

Forty-year-old Amos Heinig avoids family, society, and emotional conflicts. People bring far too much drama, as if he doesn't have enough of his own. The ultra-realistic nightmares he's been having for as long as he can remember have made his isolationist existence nearly unbearable. After each bizarre, visionary dream in which the wild, untamed ocean rises up and destroys humanity, he wakes in his bed, drenched in seawater. All he wants is to forget the dreams and avoid the sea at all costs.

Surprising himself, he attends his nephew's birthday party and reconnects with his relatives. During the party, he learns that his sister not only knows about his strange visions, but that the gift runs in the family. In his worst nightmare, Amos discovers his own unique legacy as the lines between dream and reality become muddled. He alone recognizes the dire omens for humanity. Amos’s empathy is tested in the most terrifying way possible and a new, urgent purpose catapults him into action.

Can a force of nature, subject only to time and the tides, ever be patient, persuaded, let alone subdued? Or will Amos's efforts only delay the inevitable desolation and ruin of the entire human race?

The Positive Sides:

The main character, Amos, is entertaining. I like his apathy and fear, which makes him interesting to me. His sadness and depression are quite apparent in the way he speaks. I love it! We hear HIM. And he’s so cynical and snarky… Bad boy. Haha! I think the other characters were realistic and intriguing enough in their own right, mostly Tivana his sister), his nephew, and the sea (she talks to him and it’s amazing). I enjoyed Amos and Tivana’s relationship; it is hard, rocky, and toxic, even dark.

Speaking of the sea herself, she talks and communicates with Amos. It is beautiful and enchanting! It made me squeal with awe. Imagine if that happened! Also, this story has good morals for humans and a strong respect for nature-how could I not love it? The effects of climate change and how we mistreat water and the Earth in general are well informed. The author did her research as to how it would look in the future because of humans… One word: bad. There were really good surprises along the reading! And everything is connected to the sea and drowning in one way or another; it feels like a whole and it’s wonderful.

As for the writing, the descriptions and showing of emotions and sensations are great! I even admired the words she chose because I was all: “Yes, she’s so right, that’s how it feels!” Plus, this book has been well proofread. I couldn’t find a mistake, which made me so happy. It was damn right pleasant, okay?

Moreover, I enjoyed Amos’s nightmares; they were lush with descriptions and impending doom. Although I would have preferred them a bit scarier for full effect. And what about him waking up all wet with water pooling near his bed and smelling of salt?! I mean, this detail is very intriguing and original! Despite the slow first half of the story, it starts being thrilling halfway through. And the ending? OH MY GOD! SO WEIRD! To be honest, it’s the weirdest story I’ve ever read-I had goosebumps. BUT I loved it because of its weirdness. Sure, some people will be put off by this, but if you like oddities a bit, read this book! It won’t disappoint!

The Negative Sides:

However, the negative side is a bit too present not to notice it. There is too much exposition and telling which could be best used as flashbacks and other techniques, in my opinion. I took one star away from the rating because it was rather annoying and unfortunately didn’t help the story. May I suggest showing vs telling classes? (I am taking some myself, so this is a friendly suggestion)

In Conclusion:

I am grateful that The Sea is so inclined on respecting the sea and nature. It touches me. Plus, the weirdest ending just got under my skin (and I welcomed it). It was so intense. Sophie Jupillat Posey’s book might use telling too much, but it was overall a great experience. For all these reasons, I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

If you want to learn more about the author, you can visit her Website and Goodreads author page, you can also follow her on Twitter and like her Facebook page. You can also add The Sea to your bookshelves on Goodreads.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links indicated by a * next to them. If you purchase through my affiliate link, I receive a percentage of the sale, but it doesn't cost you anything more! Thank you.

Never Enough Time: A Review

Book Reviews June 30, 2019 Leave a comment

40178580

by R.T.W Lipkin

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Fiction, Magical Realism

Pages: 243

ISBN: 9780648056905

Format: Paperback, Kindle eBook

Publication date: June 7th, 2018

Type: Standalone novel

*I was given an ARC of Never Enough Time by Advance Read. Thank you!*

The Story:

What if your entire life passed by in just seven days? 16-year-old Delaney Archer’s mother is always complaining that there’s never enough time to get anything done. Delaney, on the other hand, always waits until the last moment to do everything. Nevertheless, she’s the top student in her class. She’s even about to graduate as valedictorian . . . . . . Until one morning, when she wakes up in a strange place. Suddenly, she finds herself in graduate school. Seven years of her life have disappeared without a trace since she went to bed last night . . . but how? It takes a while for Delaney to get used to things. But it’s not all bad, right? After all, she can drink alcohol now, and she’s almost finished school . . . Then she wakes up the next day . . . and another seven years have passed. Every day is another brand-new adventure for Delaney as she struggles to adjust. But no matter what she tries, she just can’t seem to break the cycle. Now she just has to figure out what’s happening . . . before time runs out . . .

The Introduction:

This book is my first ARC from Advance Read and it delivered. I had to take Never Enough Time; come on, time travel? Intriguing time travel? With a dangerous deadline? I couldn't pass this one up!

The Positive Sides:

The most wonderful thing about this book (besides the sheer idea for the story, which was expertly developed) is undoubtedly the teen talk. It's reminiscent of a teenager's voice and thoughts. I haven't been one for many years now, but I felt like fifteen years old again—or at least an insight into a teen's mind. Also, it was done without slang, which made it even more enjoyable and true. In the same line of thought, the tone of voice of Delaney Archer (the MC) is clear and sharp. Her humor is sometimes really funny. There are witty bits from all the characters and they've all got distinctive, lovable personalities. The chapters' endings are worth mentioning too! Most of the times, they leave you guessing for they're either quite tense or intriguing. Speaking of endings, the last pages of this book are beautiful, kick-ass and full of feels. It's so sweet—I didn't expect it. I thought it would end with a small bang, probably an ''ordinary'' (a.k.a boring) explanation. Good grief was I wrong! I LOVED it and will always remember how Never Enough Time broke all the barriers of expectations.

The Negative Sides:

One aspect of the characterization got on my nerves. Delaney is supposedly a smart girl with extraordinary grades (much like her scientific parents), yet throughout the book she sticks to stupid explanations for what happened. She never ceases to turn them over in her mind—it's frigging annoying! But the worst part is that she dismisses reasonable options such as amnesia or a psychotic episode. Or perhaps that was exactly the point… Yet it's not realistic unless the story stated beforehand that she was interested in the occult. There are way too many swear words to be okay. It took me half the book before I tolerated them. It was that bad. I understand the author meant to show the character's voice, but it just sounded as though she tried too hard. Several cussing in the dialogue would have been enough to grasp how foul-mouthed Delaney is—but was it truly necessary everywhere in the narration too? Speaking of exceeding numbers, I found there were too many italicized words. It becomes natural and breaks the ''special effect'' it's used for. It's the same thing with repetitions. Delaney repeats the same idea or sentence over and over again in very few pages, even in paragraphs. That is unpleasant to read. I think with it being mentioned once or twice would be enough to get the drift. Last, there's a friend of Delaney who's named ''Marie''. So far so good. But the issue here is that she's Latina… Her name sounds completely French to me (and I would know since it's my first language)—it's even written in the French way! To respect the Latino origins of this character, she should have been named ''Maria'' or something similar.

In Conclusion:

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. However, if I considered only the entertainment it offered me, I'd give it a 5, no kidding. But the excessive swearing and over-the-top voice took half the book to get used to, so I had to take a star out for it was driving me crazy. BUT just to tell you how much I liked it, I even subscribed to her newsletter on her Web site. Yup! I can't wait to hear more about her work. Quatre

If you want to learn more about R.T.W Lipkin, feel free to take a look at her Web site. Don't forget you can follow her author page on Amazon.com. Last, Lipkin was interviewed in June by Ellen from It's Write Now about Never Enough Time.

Ireland the Best: A Review

Book Reviews July 26, 2018 Leave a comment

irelandthebest

by John and Sally McKenna

Amazon.com (Released on September 1st, 2018)

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca

Indigo

B&N (Released on September 1st, 2018)

Goodreads

LibraryThing

WorldCat

Genre: Travel, Reference, Guidebooks, Travel guides

Pages: 424

ISBN: 9780008248819

Format: Paperback

Publication date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Type: Travel guide

*A special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

The Blurb:

Ireland the Best is a fully comprehensive and independent guide to Ireland which gives you only the very best recommendations, whatever your budget.

Brought to you by the McKennas, who have over 30 years’ experience writing and talking about Ireland’s amazing food, drink and hospitality. Following the format of Scotland the Best, Scotland’s bestselling guide for 25 years.

Local experts John and Sally McKenna are your personal guides to the very best of Ireland, from the streets of Belfast to the hills of Galway. They have visited, rated and remarked on every entry to help you get the most out of the Emerald Isle.

This book is the companion to the series originator Peter Irvine’s bestselling Scotland the Best, and utilises the same design template.

Introduction:

Ireland, O Ireland… You’re calling me.

I remember reading my first Irish author along with the country’s history when I was fourteen years old. I can also tell you I fell in love with the people’s accent, its landscapes and simply put: Ireland itself.

Hence there was no refusing picking up this guide about Ireland. I hoped to learn more about this country and explore it through gorgeous images and sceneries.

Whilst I liked the information, I was also disappointed. How could a guide about Ireland let me down?

The Positive Sides:

I always prefer to lay the positive points of a book first, which gives a better and kinder “image” of the work. I found this guide, Ireland the Best, to be quite informative. In the places and activities’ descriptions (often lengthy and detailed), they give us snippets of these places’ history and explanations as to why it came to be or how it was named the way it is. Moreover, the guide presents awesome, diverse and funny categories such as historical, ethnic restaurants, amusing pubs, libraries, and more of the sorts! This feature is what I loved best about this book because it dared go beyond the traditional formula for guides.

The authors wrote all the addresses, phone numbers and web links. Maps are also present and although the image referencing system is somewhat good, it’s a bit messy too. You need to do a lot of coming and going from the number associated to a certain map to the actual image in the last pages of the book.

The research put into this guide is undeniable! A wealth of information is in there for whoever’s willing to dig to find gold.

The Negative Sides:

Most of the times, I try to focus on the positive of a book, but the huge lack of pictures made this read almost impossible – or at least, unattractive and uninteresting. There are no visual references nor is it pleasant to gaze at despite how thoroughly researched and organised it is. It’s plain-looking, though practical without a doubt. Take your pick! One thing’s for sure: reading it all from cover to end is out of the question! This guide makes it way too boring; I know, I’ve tried and gave up when I noticed how awfully redundant this book was with no pictures.

In Conclusion:

Overall, good for quick info on locations, history bits and fun things to do when in Ireland, but the lack in visuals is extremely annoying and disappointing. So I give it a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars. I don’t see how a guide about a country, which contains such great and varied information, doesn’t have pictures here and there to make itself easy and pleasant on the eye. I’m not asking for a picture with every location or fact, but at least one for major attractions.

Although I don’t recommend this book, if you want a great source of reliable information and just need to look up locations and fun tidbits sometimes, then please, do have a go at it! I’m sure it will be useful to you. But as a discovery guide out of curiosity or even a guide you plan on actually guiding you through Ireland, it’s not doing the job it set out to do. Deux point cinq

If you want to learn more about the authors, the McKennas, you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @McKennasGuides. Their book is featured on the publisher’s Web site. You can also add Ireland the Best to your bookshelves on Goodreads and LibraryThing.

Never Enough Time: A Review

Book Reviews July 6, 2018 1 Comment

40178580

by R.T.W Lipkin

Genre: YA, Sci-fi, Fiction, Magical Realism

Pages: 243

ISBN: 9780648056905

Format: Paperback, Kindle eBook

Publication date: June 7th, 2018

Type: Standalone novel

*I was given an ARC of Never Enough Time by Advance Read. Thank you!*

The Story:

What if your entire life passed by in just seven days?

16-year-old Delaney Archer’s mother is always complaining that there’s never enough time to get anything done.

Delaney, on the other hand, always waits until the last moment to do everything.

Nevertheless, she’s the top student in her class. She’s even about to graduate as valedictorian . . .

. . . Until one morning, when she wakes up in a strange place.

Suddenly, she finds herself in graduate school. Seven years of her life have disappeared without a trace since she went to bed last night . . . but how?

It takes a while for Delaney to get used to things. But it’s not all bad, right? After all, she can drink alcohol now, and she’s almost finished school . . .

Then she wakes up the next day . . . and another seven years have passed.

Every day is another brand-new adventure for Delaney as she struggles to adjust. But no matter what she tries, she just can’t seem to break the cycle.

Now she just has to figure out what’s happening . . . before time runs out . . .

The Introduction:

This book is my first ARC from Advance Read and it delivered. I had to take Never Enough Time; come on, time travel? Intriguing time travel? With a dangerous deadline?

I couldn’t pass this one up!

The Positive Sides:

The most wonderful thing about this book (besides the sheer idea for the story, which was expertly developed) is undoubtedly the teen talk. It’s reminiscent of a teenager’s voice and thoughts. I haven’t been one for many years now, but I felt like fifteen years old again—or at least an insight into a teen’s mind. Also, it was done without slang, which made it even more enjoyable and true.

In the same line of thought, the tone of voice of Delaney Archer (the MC) is clear and sharp. Her humor is sometimes really funny. There are witty bits from all the characters and they’ve all got distinctive, lovable personalities.

The chapters’ endings are worth mentioning too! Most of the times, they leave you guessing for they’re either quite tense or intriguing. Speaking of endings, the last pages of this book are beautiful, kick-ass and full of feels. It’s so sweet—I didn’t expect it. I thought it would end with a small bang, probably an ”ordinary” (a.k.a boring) explanation. Good grief was I wrong! I LOVED it and will always remember how Never Enough Time broke all the barriers of expectations.

The Negative Sides:

There are way too many swear words to be okay. It took me half the book before I tolerated them. It was that bad. I understand the author meant to show the character’s voice, but it just sounded as though she tried too hard. Several cussing in the dialogue would have been enough to grasp how foul-mouthed Delaney is—but was it truly necessary everywhere in the narration too?

Speaking of exceeding numbers, I found there were too many italicized words. It becomes natural and breaks the ”special effect” it’s used for. It’s the same thing with repetitions. Delaney repeats the same idea or sentence over and over again in very few pages, even in paragraphs. That is unpleasant to read. I think with it being mentioned once or twice would be enough to get the drift.

Last, there’s a friend of Delaney who’s named ”Marie”. So far so good. But the issue here is that she’s Latina… Her name sounds completely French to me (and I would know since it’s my first language)—it’s even written in the French way! To respect the Latino origins of this character, she should have been named ”Maria” or something similar.

In Conclusion:

I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. However, if I considered only the entertainment it offered me, I’d give it a 5, no kidding. But the excessive swearing and over-the-top voice took half the book to get used to, so I had to take a star out for it was driving me crazy.

BUT just to tell you how much I liked it, I even subscribed to her newsletter on her Web site. Yup! I can’t wait to hear more about her work.

Quatre

If you want to learn more about R.T.W Lipkin, feel free to take a look at her Web site. Don’t forget you can follow her author page on Amazon.com. Last, Lipkin was interviewed in June by Ellen from It’s Write Now about Never Enough Time.

Breaking Order: A Review

Book Reviews May 6, 2018 Leave a comment

39027890

by Catherine Kopf

Genre: YA, Dystopian, Fantasy

Pages: 244

ISBN: 9781981781324

*I was given a free e-copy of Breaking Order by the author. Thank you!*

The Story:

Dreams, Creativity, and Magic are all gone under a single order.

Banned from the things that make you different, people must conform to a dull and practical lifestyle.

The daughter of The Regime’s Head Executioner is expected to follow in his footsteps, but fourteen-year-old Calista Knight is curious about creativity and dreams. It doesn’t help that she is isolated and bullied at school because of her asthma. When the new boy, Wes, encourages Calista to stop taking the medicine preventing dreams and introduces her to creativity, a new life opens up to her. Magic becomes very real, and with dreams and creativity intertwined, limits are endless.

But the Regime wants no one to dream.

Calista is a threat to the order, and she only has two options:

Overcome her own personal fears of dreaming…

…or end up just as compliant to the Regime as others around her.

The Introduction:

Read that summary? That’s what got me greatly interested in reading this book as well as the gorgeous cover! All about this book screams creativity and dystopia and I so wanted to see how it was dealt with. Also, you said magic? Here I am! I must say Breaking Order delivered. How about we review it together?

The Positive Points:

Let’s start with the positive sides. This story introduces us to a terrifying and very controlling dystopian reality in Fortress (that’s the city’s name. Lovely, isn’t it?) Creativity and ambition (a.k.a dreams) are outlawed and their penalty is death, no less. In other words, you mustn’t stand out in a crowd nor think much for yourself. What’s better is that Calista’s own father is the Head Executioner. Now that makes for drama! Also, I’ve got to say the villain in this story is quite vile and cruel, which makes them totally my style. I didn’t think they could go to such lengths but… Yes, and it was wonderful (in a gasping, shocked-sort of way).

Their dreaming confers the Dreamers, the radicals and rebels who dare to dream and be creative, powers from the likes found in fantasy stories. How interesting is that?!

As for the writing, it is smooth and the vocabulary quite developed, which is a delight. Moreover, a few foreshadowing moments are woven into the exact words the author chooses to describe the story. It shows Miss Kopf really thought it through and gave it the attention it deserves!

Honestly, I spent days either wanting to go back to reading this book or flipping through its pages, engrossed in the story! The reading is eased by the good writing and ongoing action and drama.

The Negative Points:

As for the bad points, there simply are two. A few mistakes and typos, but nothing too troublesome. Also, there’s the issue of fighting being way too easy for the children against trained adults. I know the kids have military training, but two of them (those who don’t have offensive powers) can take down several guards without batting an eye or at least much of it? That’s the only weakness of this story.

In Conclusion:

You’re probably expecting an excellent rating for this one and you’d be right. I give it a rating of 4.5 stars because it’s amazing but too easy for the teens’ gang. Besides that, I can assure you you’re in for an entertaining ride! The villain, the mysteries, and the sheer creativity of the story are worth it, in my opinion.

I recommend Breaking Order without hesitation and now I’m patiently waiting for the sequel, i. e. I want it. Right. Now!

…

Is it out yet?

If you want to learn more about the author, Catherine Kopf, and her books, please visit her Web site , Twitter and Wattpad accounts (where you can read the first draft of the sequel, yay!). You can also add Breaking Order to your Goodreads shelves and follow her Goodreads author page!

P.S.: You’ll notice on Web sites where there are no half points possible that I’ve given this book 5 stars. I think it deserves more a 5-star rating than the loss of a whole point. Thank you.

Lady Mechanika: La dama de la muerte: A Review

Book Reviews November 1, 2017 Leave a comment

35541317

Genre: Comics, Steampunk and Fantasy

Pages: 88

ISBN: 9780996603065

*I received an ARC of this book through Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review*

Lady Mechanika arrives into Santa Catrina, a small village, during the Día de los Muertos festival after suffering a loss. The Jinetes, horseback-riders from the world of the dead, come to the village to collect their offerings. Lady Mechanika then decides to act to save the villagers.

By Joe Benitez

What struck me first was how gorgeous all the artworks are! In fact, they are jaw-dropping with the flamboyant colours and numerous details in their clothes, build, bodies, and objects. I really enjoyed how all the acts’ titles (even the main title) are in Spanish—now that speaks of culture and experience! Because, if you don’t know, the Día de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico, where the people speak Spanish. Did I say acts? Yes, I did. Instead of chapters, acts divide the whole book, just like a play, a movie, or most stories for that matter (depending on the technique used, there can be from 3 to 6 or 7 of them in a novel).

Moreover, the characters’ clothes and makeup are sensational. Wow! They even serve the story which is doubly amazing. The panels are dynamic (sometimes we even get a glimpse from Lady Mechanika’s point of view under her big hat). Fun times, I’m telling you! Last note about the graphic aspect of Lady Mechanika is how the panels’ borders are made of pipes and gears which really make for a steampunk feel to it! The background has got scratches like used paper, which feels old too… A subtle but great touch!

Now, what about the story? The beginning is intriguing and jumps right into the subject. It doesn’t wait around. Instead, it sets the tone for the rest of the story and is creepy enough while being stunning. It also sets up the setting and the events quite early on and this comic does it quite nicely. You’d have to be blind to miss the information! The story itself is exciting and starts drastically, mixing folk tales with the Lady Mechanika’s invented story. The use of children as important characters in the story impressed me—it is rare but exquisite and fun when it happens! As for the other characters, they are all different and lovely in their own ways. But most noticeable, they all have their own agendas, stories, thoughts, and everything else that makes them unique. It is enjoyable to see them all mix and react to each other!

It’s hard to feel for Lady Mechanika, the main character, at the beginning, but the more I read the more lovable she became. After all, she’s courageous, a trait I respect. Moreover, we get to see a bit of her backstory, which helps us understand more about where she comes from and why she’s so different. Mostly for people who don’t read Lady Mechanika (like me) and thus don’t know her well over several comics.

On top of that, I found it to be culturally respectful of Mexico and El Día de los Muertos. The author and artist really made La dama de la muerte a pleasure to dive into. I felt like I was there, sucked into these magnificent pages and trying to do good alongside Lady Mechanika. It was insightful, that’s for sure. The emotions are well-portrayed. We can identify them without any problem. The action is thrilling and nice in terms of visual. I’m not one who likes fight scenes much in comics, but I can say those are entertaining.

The story is intriguing and sometimes misleading (a real treat!) as the plot unfolds. I admit it emotionally destroyed me (I cried, yes), but it was SO good! The ending… Awww, what can I say about the ending? I loved it! It’s such a surprise even I couldn’t see coming (and I usually detect all the major twists in a story).

There is only one negative point and I think it’s somewhat big. Let’s say the villagers’ reaction to the tragedy befalling them is… strange to say the least. I didn’t find it realistic, but it was cute and soothing—if not comforting.

I give this comic a rating of 5 out of 5 despite the negative point because I had such a wonderful time reading it. Seriously, it is well-done and impressive. I have fond memories of this book and I am certain I’ll keep them for a long, long time… Why? Because I will buy and read Lady Mechanika’s other comics! I am a fan now.

If you want to learn more about Joe Benitez, creator and artist of this gorgeous comic as well as the series Lady Mechanika, do head over to his Web site.