Original review from Little Book OwlThe ShortCloudworld is set in a fascinating and vivid world, filled with mysterious characters and a quest that is nail-biting and leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat. It is highly enjoyableThe LongThe concept of this story was so unique, the idea of a world up in the clouds! The constant sunshine, endless see of white clouds. I like the sound of that. The unknown, what lies beneath the clouds, and all of the customs and lore associated with it. That part was especially interesting to discover.For the most part, the descriptions were very effective and helped illustrate the gorgeous cloudscape. At some points the descriptive language slowed down the pace a little, but it didn't exceed a level of over-description which was nice.Marcus was a great main character. He was brave, intelligent and very empathetic to the people in his kingdom. I like seeing characters in powerful (well soon to be since he is the heir) positions, who aren't solely seeking power and glory. He certainly developed and grew throughout the story. I loved seeing how much he worked towards changing how the people around him see him - acknowledging his personality and who he truly is, rather than the prince. I liked him as a character, but I always have a little trouble connecting with main characters in stories written in third person. Personally, I prefer first person for this reason - I like being able to witness every emotion and reaction and thought.The other characters were very interesting indeed. Some of the characters are not who you think they are, which was shocking to find out. Certainly did not expect that! Then Marcus' companions on his expedition - it was great to see how close everyone got due to their situation and circumstances. Overall, those involved were amazing, with so much bravery and selflessness.The ending leaves you satisfied with how things turned out for the characters, yet there is still so much to be explored and resolved. I am eager to continue on and read the sequel.The Good Vivid world-building, great character development, shocks and twists!The BadNot a strong connection with the main character.
Insurgent (Divergent Series #2)
Original review from Little Book OwlFull video review found here: YoutubeThe ShortInsurgent was AMAZING. I thought it was incredible, but it certainly differed to Divergent in a few areas. There was a darker undertone to Insurgent, as Tris struggled to come to terms with her previous losses and actions. Understandably, some people may not be as interested in this, however I loved the realism of it and furthermore, Tris' character development.And of course, Tris and Four's relationship. It was a little rocky, but their bond continues to grow deeper and stronger.*sidenote* Four is as sexy as ever.The LongLong review done by video: VIDEO REVIEWThe GoodAction-packed, more exploration of the city and factions, great character development, realistic romance progression, FOUR <3.The Bad... haha
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Original review from Little Book OwlIn the Shadow of Vesuvius takes you back to a horrific event from history through the intriguing adventure of a young slave. The story is fast-paced and keeps you wanting to know who survives.The story flows at a quick pace and although the plot is pretty intense, it doesn't linger on some of the devastating moments. Liz Carmichael executes this in such a way that Mira doesn't appear dismissive, rather she is deeply compelled to protect the child in her care. She looks out for his needs first, telling herself not to waste time thinking about things that she cannot control. She is a very strong and determined character.Furthermore, it is highly engaging. The suspense of wanting to know what happens to Mira and her little entourage keeps you reading. As a historical event, we know how things end at Mount Vesuvius, making this story all the more engrossing - does Mira share the same fate as so many others? Or does she manage to escape?In the Shadow of Vesuvius is a wonderful and enjoyable read. It is easy to whizz through and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. I recommend giving it a try!Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlLies Beneath was the first mermaid novel I had ever read. And it was awesome (to put it simply). I went into this book not knowing what to expect. At all. I was pleased to find that, 1. There were KILLER MERMAIDS! 2. Calder's sisters were just so very evil 3. It was dark and mysteriousLet's just say that I like darker stories.There were some twists and turns that I certainly did not see coming. Now that I think about it, they seemed a little obvious so I'm not certain if that is just due to my ignorance or not. Either way, the story was very intriguing and kept me hooked. The story is from the perspective of Calder, a merman. It is always refreshing to read from a males point of view, and this was no different. But I will admit that I certainly wasn't expecting it, considering the cover which hints towards a more feminine approach to the story. It was interesting to see the contrast between Calder and his sisters, particularly on their mission to take revenge for their mothers death.Calder personally, was an interesting character. I liked him more by the end of the story, because he was just a little creepy to start out. He was very charismatic, but sometimes a little too much, coming off very cocky on some occasions. He was extremely determined and strong-willed. I can understand why he did what he did with predatory motives, but they were still very stalker-ish. His initial interactions with Lily made me cringe. And she in turn reacted in an appropriate way.Lily wasn't completely compelled by Calder straight away, rather she tried to avoid him as much as possible. She was intelligent and wasn't afraid to tell him to back off (even though he didn't listen). Their relationship developed and grew at a more gradual pace throughout the entirety of the story, however the shift between "AHH GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU CREEP" and "Actually, he's not so bad.." was a little quicker than I would have thought.This book has opened me up to the world of mermaid in an unexpectedly good way. I wasn't aware that there was a sequel to Lies Beneath when I started reading it, but I am interested to see how things will resolve.Review copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlFull video review found here: YoutubeThe ShortCinder is a fresh and exciting re-imagining of the fairytale, Cinderella. The story completely draws you in and implants itself in your mind. When I finished, it was honestly the only thing I thought about for days.This book has jumped up to one of my favourite books of all time. Get it and read it now!The LongLong review done by video: VIDEO REVIEWThe GoodBrilliantly illustrated cast of characters, incredible futuristic world, twists and turns, CYBORGS!The BadThe sequel isn't coming out soon enough!
I have already read and reviewed this book, but I will be posting a video review of my thoughts on re-reading the book.
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Original review from Little Book OwlFull video review found here: YoutubeGoddess Interrupted was a fast paced, adventurous installment to the series. The stakes were so much higher, giving way to drama and action. We delved deeper into the Greek mythology, taking a look at the Gods, the Titans and exploring the Underworld.Calliope's character development was a strong point in the story; she has become a great villain. Her hatred for Kate is understandable, yet she goes to the extremes in her revenge. It is interesting to see how things pan out.Kate, Henry and their romance weren't as strong as in The Goddess Test. Kate constantly questioned Henry's love for her, yet everyone reassured her time and time again. Although she thought too much about this, which could get a little frustrating at times, she was still as strong a character.Henry is a little distant again. I am still a little unsure on how I feel about him.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Goddess Interrupted. The plot has picked up, and although some of the character traits and the romance were sometimes not as great, I had fun learning more about them. If you didn't like The Goddess Test so much, I would recommend you try the sequel!Review copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlFull video review found here: YoutubeStarters was a fantastic, original story full of mystery and surprising twists. The world was disturbing, yet fascinating, with so many secrets that have yet to be uncovered. Lissa Price wrote a really captivating story, that keeps you wanting to know more. The pacing was a bit slow at the start, but it definitely picked up with plenty going on by the end.Callie was a strong female protagonist. She was selfless, loving and extremely caring for her younger brother, which I really admired. The side characters weren't explored in too much depth, though.The romance didn't take over the already complex story, which was good, however it felt a little underwhelming. The love interest/s weren't anything special, and it would have been nice to see a little more from the romance.Hopefully Enders, the sequel, with cover more about how society got to that state, or at least why Prime Destinations began their business anyway. I would also love to find out more about the side characters.Review copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlFull video review found here: YoutubeThe Goddess Test is a unique take on the Persephone and Hades myth. The plot was very intriguing, keeping you in the dark about several mysteries throughout the entire story.The writing style was quite nice, simple. However there are a couple of questions that still have me a little confused.I loved Kate. She was a very strong main character with a moral and compassionate attitude. She was selfless, putting her life and future on the line for others.Not so sure what to make of Henry. He was very disconnected and distant from Kate, even in the intimate moments. This left the romance feeling a little lacking in depth and character.The side characters were great. I loved James, he was very funny and cute. Would have liked to have seen a little more of him, but his disappearance was understandable due to later twists.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I love the Greek mythology, and would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Original review from Little Book OwlThis was a very hard review to write - I feel very conflicted. The Earthquake Machine was a good book, and I see why others would enjoy it but for me personally... It just wasn't my kind of book.I have always been a little turned off by books that are heavily influenced by religion - I have no issues with any religion and I have nothing against it, but it’s the atmosphere and context of the book which just doesn't entertain me as much as some other books.The writing style was very different. I had trouble understanding some scenes, particularly towards the start of the book, and got easily confused. Aside from that, however, the writing style was interesting, descriptive and unique. It was so raw and honest, and very confrontational. The themes in this book are very heavy and dark and the scenes that address these issues are very descriptive and in some cases gruesome. This can be a little off-putting, but it contributes to the serious tone of the book. The dialogue got a little confusing as well, with so many Spanish phrases. I don't speak any Spanish so I often had to look up the translations if I couldn't guess what it meant.Rhonda was a very strong character with a lot of courage. She is very admirable, in being brave enough to confront her conflicted feelings with herself and her body head on, and make sacrifices and changes in order to achieve happiness. The journey she embarks on is very spontaneous and risky, yet I completely understand her reasoning. Her life back home was no where near happy or pleasant.I really respect Mary Pauline Lowry and her writing on the serious topics of sexual awakening alongside so much tragedy and pain. Although this book didn't quite work with me, I definitely think everyone should give it a try.Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
The Girl in the Park
Original review from Little Book OwlThe Girl in the Park was not an overly complex story, but the mystery was not easily predictable for me and managed to keep me guessing as it unfolded. My assumptions for who Wendy's killer was, were proved very wrong. The beginning was pretty slow. It took a few chapters to really get into what the story was actually about and start delving into the mystery. There was just way too much backstory right at the start. It did eventually pick up a few chapters in a got really into the mystery around the middle of the book. Towards the end, I found my heart racing as the truth is revealed and I was anxious to see how things panned out. That being said, I was expecting a much more dramatic scene when the killer is confronted.Rain was a very unique and interesting main character. She has a cleft pallet and as a result is understandable shy and insecure. She avoided a of human interaction with her judgmental and teasing peers. There is some character development as the story progresses. She is very determined and starts coming out of her shell and standing up for her deceased friend.All of the characters were very believable and pretty well drawn out, but unfortunately I felt very disconnected from them all, and even Rain. Review copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlNew Girl is a dark, chilling read that drags you in to the story and keeps you guessing the entire way through. What happened to Becca?I thought it was really interesting how the point of view changed every few chapters between the 'New Girl', where she told her story of moving to Manderley in first person, and then Rebecca, whose story was told in third person, but from the year prior. It created a greater contrast between the two characters and their personalities. The 'New Girl' is a much more likeable character than Rebecca (Becca), who was overly confident, manipulative and a chronic liar. Even still, both of the girls characterisations were done very well. The new girl was a strong character, who continued to stand up for herself throughout her year at Manderley, even with the constant harassment for her peers. And just a side note, it took me a little while until I realised that the 'New Girl's name had not been given. I thought this was quite interesting, actually.I wasn't a fan of the love interests. I really didn't like Max. At all. And I thought it was a shame that both Becca and 'New Girl' were involved with him. By the end, he had sort of redeemed himself. Sort ofThe pacing was perfect. It didn't drag and yet it wasn't overflowing with action. It moved along nicely and kept me wanting to see what was going on. The writing kept me hooked the entire way through, anticipating the mystery of Rebecca's disappearance to finally be unveiled. I was left constantly guessing - Did she leave? Was she killed? Was she alive? Was she dead? You don't really known until the very end.I was a little disappointed with both the beginning and end of the story. Firstly, it started out with an unrealistic premise - her love for Harry Potter in the 8th grade resulted in wanting to go off to boarding school. However, this dream did not continue throughout the four years since, yet her parents fail to realise this. I was a little frustrated with the last 20 or so pages. It could have ended closer to the climax. Don't get me wrong, I loved the execution of the climax, when you finally find out what happened to Becca. It is the pages that followed that left me a little bored. 'New Girl' goes on a bit of a rant which I thought was a little unnecessary. Review copy provided by publisher vie Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Original review from Little Book OwlIn the mood for plenty of laughs? Keen to pick up a really entertaining book? Then Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters is PERFECT for you!Meredith Zeitlin's debut novel for 2012 is a fun, entertaining read that keeps you simultaneously giggling and cringing throughout. There sure are plenty of disasters, alright, a continuous string of amusing situations that Kelsey finds herself in.The pacing of the book was pretty good - a very easy, quick read. The pacing at the end, however, was a little too fast for me. I felt that it ended really abruptly and seemed a little rushed. It is a shame because I would have liked to have more of a chance to savour the events that occurred in the last chapter.Kelsey is your average teenage girl who manages to find herself in so many torturous and embarrassing situations. Everythingbad that could possibly happen, happened. I felt so bad for Kelsey! Yet, she manages to handle them humorously without losing a sense of who she is. She is a very realistic and relatable character - wanting to make a name for herself in high school, but unfortunately manages to do so in the worst ways possible.At the start I was a little confused between Kelsey's three best friends, JoJo, Cass and Em. Eventually as their personalities and characteristics are unveiled, I was able to easily distinguish between them all. They are all very different characters, and each cause their fair share of drama and/or entertainment.Review copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review
