Caro's Book Reviews

  I read the first chapter of Snap by Belinda Bauer a year or so ago while I was preparing it for the library where I work, unfortunately I didn’t have the time then to read it, so I placed it out for circulation. However, that first chapter kept coming back to me, I had to find out what happened next. I finally borrowed it for myself so I could satisfy my curiosity. Snap begins when the car that 11-year-old Jack is travelling in breaks down, in the car with him is his pregnant mother and his two younger sisters. The story is set back in the mid-90s, so cellular phones are not so commonplace and needing to get assistance for the car, Jack’s mother decides to walk to the nearest emergency phone by herself, leaving Jack in charge of his sisters. This decision leads to a life-changing moment for Jack and his family and drives the rest of the plot forward. The story alternates between several different points-of-view, namely that of Jack, another pregnant woman called Catherine, and th...

  This is the third (and at the moment) last Lucy Foley book that I have read. The plot and story of The Paris Apartment are a break from the last two books The Guest List and The Hunting Party. Jess has arrived in Paris, eager to start a new life, and her brother Ben has offered to let her stay with him until she gets her feet under her. Except, he’s not home when she arrives and seems to have vanished into thin air despite leaving her a voicemail only a few hours earlier. The other residents of the apartment building are both hostile and mysterious, either they refuse to talk to her about Ben or seem to act clueless about their knowledge of him. Like Foley’s other novels, this story jumps through different points of view, each hinting to the mystery of what has happened to Ben. I found the story drawing me in as they mystery thickened. I enjoyed this book much more than the other two that I have ready by Lucy Foley. The characters seemed more real to me, and the twists an...

  This is the second Lucy Foley book that I have read. To be honest, The Hunting Party is the same plot of The Guest List but with a different story. This time it is a remote resort in the Scottish Highlands, cut off from outside assistance thanks to a convenient snowstorm, and there’s a dead body… A group of friends have gotten together for New Years as a tradition stemming back from their days at university. They are now in their 30s and beginning to realise that they don’t have much in common with each other anymore other than their past friendship. This doesn’t stop some of them from trying to create a jovial New Year’s party (and then getting upset because not everyone is having as much fun as they ought to be gosh darn it!) Much like The Guest List the plot is non-linear, it jumps between the staff of the resort in the present day as they find the body, and then cuts back to the friend’s different points of view in the days leading up to New Years. Again, I did not l...

  The first of three Lucy Foley books that I read in a row, and the first of her novels for me. A luxury wedding is set on a remote Irish island, a dead body is found during the celebration, and a storm has cut off access to the mainland. The Guest List by Lucy Foley hooks you in with the blurb before you start reading.   The story is non-linear and cuts between different characters in the days leading up to the wedding, and then to the present during the wedding reception where they are trying to find out what is going on regarding a body, in alternating chapters. To be honest, I almost stopped reading during the first chapter as it didn’t look like a story I would normally enjoy reading, but I decided to carry on to see how the rest of the story went. (The fact that I needed to read a thriller novel for work also might have had something to do with me pushing on). The twist at the end for me was more of who the killer was, than who the actual victim was. The charact...

  Look to the Lady by Margery Allingham is part of the Albert Campion series. Originally published in the early 1930s, it follows Campion as he attempts to thwart the theft of a chalice, a valuable family heirloom of the Gyrth family. He is aided in this attempt by his manservant Lugg, Val Gyrth and his sister Penny, and the Gyrth’s new neighbour Beth. There are several other supporting characters throughout the novel as well. To be honest, the story was a bit slow for me. I felt that it dragged a bit in places. Others might enjoy the slow burn of the pace though. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery novels. This is a review of a library book that I borrowed. 

  Sing Down the Stars by Nerine Dorman is a wonderful novel. The more I read, the harder I found to put it down. Nuri is a runner, working for a gang boss. One night after an eventful crime, she leaves to gather her thoughts not knowing that her life is about to be changed forever. Called by a mysterious song, Nuri soon finds herself a candidate to become the Avatar of a being that can traverse space. However, becoming the Avatar is a lot more difficult than just answering the psychic call. The story follows Nuri as she navigates her new life preparing in the hope to be chosen, dealing with other candidates who also wish to become the Avatar, and avoiding the machinations of others who do not want to see a low born have the possibility to become the Avatar The pace is strong and there is almost always something happening plot wise, not leaving any dull spots. The characters have their own opinions and are not cut and paste of one another. I absolutely fell in love with a side...

  T he Bones Beneath  is the 12th Tom Thorne novel by Mark Billingham and deals with a criminal first seen in the second novel; Scaredy Cat . As it is a series, The Bones Beneath  follows on from The Dying Hours  almost directly, so you do feel the need to read the previous novels in order to understand past events. It is a minor detail though and doesn’t detract from the main plot line. In this novel, Thorne is coerced into taking a murderer (Stuart Nicklin) he had arrested a few years back during the events of Scaredy Cat , to locate a body of another previously unknown about victim. Stuart Nicklin shows no remorse over his actions and enjoys tormenting others especially Thorne who he sees as his ideal rival. Thorne wishes to get the job over as soon as possible, so that he can return Nicklin to the prison cell he belongs. There is also a side plot happening in-between with unknown characters, who are revealed at the end. The plot is set in Wales, and mainly on an ...

  Do you like mystery? Do you like mythology? Then you might just enjoy Hostile Takeover by Christelle Comby. This novel blends the two genres, along with a healthy dose of supernatural, into a detective story. I did find it slow-going initially but found that the pace picked up further into the plot. This is the first novel of a series, and there is some backstory that is mentioned by never quite elaborated on for the protagonist Bellamy Vale that lends him an air of mystery on how he got caught up doing what he is doing. The plot is concluded nicely, not leaving any frustrating cliff-hangers, but also allows a follow-on string for possible future novels. It was an enjoyable read and I recommend it to those who like detective novels that take on a fantasy twist. This novel was given free to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Hidden King is the debut novel of author E.G Radcliff, and it is the first book in the series: The Coming of Áed. It is a fantasy young adult book that follows that story of a young man named Áed. He is stuck in a rundown city called Maze; a decrepit place that has no mercy for those who are weak, and those who are not careful do not last long within its walls.   A tragedy forces Áed to seek a way to escape Maze, a flight that teaches him secrets about himself that he never knew. Faced with dangers, Áed must discover who he is and who he can trust, in order to survive.   I found the story to be quite enjoyable, there are a few plot threads left hanging which hopefully will be tied off in the subsequent books in the series. The author uses Irish expressions throughout the novel, of which there is a handy glossary to help decode the meanings.   There is plenty of action and adventure, with a bit of LGBT romance as well. I would recomm...

  Half the World  is the second book in the Shattered Sea trilogy by Joe Abercrombie. The first book,  Half a King  introduced the reader to Yarvi; a displaced prince who swore an oath to avenge his father’s murder. Yarvi is back again in Half the World , this time as the minister to King Uthil. As Father Yarvi, he has taken a step back from being the main character. The protagonists for Half the World  are Thorn; a fiery teen girl who wishes to become a fierce warrior like her father was, and Brand; a teen boy just trying to do the right thing but unsure of how to go about it. Through a few misfortunes, the two of them find their plans for the future ruined and are left directionless. Thorn, in order to save her life, swears an oath to Yarvi and leaves to follow him on his mission to find more allies for King Uthil. Brand is soon swept up into Yarvi’s machinations as well. Half the World lives up to its title, showing the reader an expanded view of the...

A Dance with Demons is the first book in this series. In this book, the characters must face down an invading force, only for an even greater threat to be unleashed. I found it to be a long read, with long spates of no action inbetween the very short bits of action. Initially I did not like the characters, but the more I read the more they grew on me. Though, I must admit liking some of the secondary characters more than the primary characters. Being the first book, it does its job in setting up the plot and introducing the reader to the world that it is set in and the story. It does end on a cliffhanger, that made me want to get hold of the sequel in order to find out what happens next. Overall, despite being a bit flat in parts, I did enjoy reading this book and would recommend it to teen readers who enjoy fantasy and action. This E-ARC was provided to me for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the sequel to 13 Days of Midnight . Luke Manchett thought his troubles had been dealt with at the end of the first book, however he could not have been more wrong. A slow build as he and his sidekick girlfriend, Elza, struggle to figure out what is going on. They might not be facing the same problems as the first book, but the new trouble doesn’t seem any less dangerous. Together they must try and fix the latest supernatural occurrence affecting Luke, aided by Luke’s loyal and “brave” deerhound, Ham. This sequel introduces a new character, Ashley Smith, and Luke must work out if she is trustworthy or the cause of his latest problems. Prepare for feels as the characters carry out their adventure, I did tear up near the end. This is an enjoyable read, fans of the first book will be happy with its follow-up. It is also ideal for teens who like supernatural fiction. There is another book after this in the series for fans to look out for once they have finished this b...

Mitchell: A Young Warrior by E.J. Bownds is a fantasy novel. Honestly, I did not enjoy this book. The plot is solid, but the story written was not. There was no feeling of surprise or anticipation, it felt like everything happening to Mitchell was too easy. Problems were dealt with too quickly with not enough tension building up. To me, it was too much of ‘hero needs to do this, oh no a problem, yay solution conveniently lands in hero’s lap, move on to the next objective’. It also felt like there were too many fantasy clichés bundled up with each of the characters introduced. If the novel was longer with more descriptive detail, it might not have felt so jarring while reading. I would recommend this more to a middle school aged reader, rather than a young adult reader. This E-ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This was an awesome read. The plot draws you in, making you not want to put the book down – resulting in a few late nights. The story is full of mystery and intrigued, you never quite know which of the characters to trust until you reach the end. Each character is unique, as the story flows you get a feel for each one. The ending was delightfully twisty, one that I was not expecting at all. I just loved everything about this E-ARC; when the novel came up on one of the book buying lists at the library I work at, I pounced at the chance to add it to the library's stock collection. I would definitely recommend this to those who love mystery and detective novels, especially those that are set in a historical setting. This was a free E-ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I read this novella as the author was coming to the library I work at to give a talk. The Firebird is set on a humid island, ruled over by a warrior monk sect. The main character, Lada, deeply believes in their doctrine but as she comes face to face with the darkness of her past, doubts begin to niggle at her. Was it her fault or her brother's that caused the destruction of their family, this haunts Lada throughout the story as she tries to hold onto her beliefs and figure out the right course that she must take. The Firebird takes the reader for a wild and bumpy ride filled with betrayals and danger. This is a fantasy story that does not fit into the traditional mould. It is a short read, perfect for those who do not have much time to read but are looking for a good book.

I took this book out on a whim, and was not disappointed. Finished reading it in just about two days, it had the 'unputdownable' quality about it. Looking forward to going back to work to see if the sequel is available to take out. The world that Ink and Bone is built upon what would have happened if the Library of Alexandria had never been destroyed. In this world; knowledge rules and the Library rules knowledge. No one is allowed to own personal copies of books, which lead to a black market run by book smugglers who hide from the Library. Ink and Bone has its protagonist in the form of Jess Brightwell. To say that he has a complicated family life is putting it lightly. Jess's family are book smugglers, but he would rather read books than smuggle them. His father decides to send him to the Library, so that he can aid the family business from the inside as a spy. However, there is more to the Library, and Jess soon finds that becoming a member of the Library is ...

Lainey Styles is a high school student who pretty much has her life planned out. She wants nothing more than to be able to leave her small town life behind and explore the world around her. However, all her meticulous plans come crashing down around her when she discovers most of what she knows about herself is a lie. Thrust into a world of magic and the impossible, Lainey must learn how to navigate in this new world while facing enemies who are after her unique gift. Lainey is not alone, as she is aided by her best friend Maggie, and new-to-school Ty. Together, they try to help Lainey discover her family's history and her true self. Keeper is filled with magical creatures such as witches and werewolves. Lainey must learn who she can trust, and who is working for the enemy. Initially, I wasn't too enthused but as the story moved on and the pace quickened, I began to enjoy reading to find out what happens next to Lainey. The ending is a bit abrupt in my opinion,...

Road of the Lost , by Aiden Russell, is the first book of the Judges Cycle series and is set in the Land of Nod. Two young Templars looking for a missing champion, and an Elf with an inherited duty as a guardian, are thrown together as unlikely companions due to dark machinations of an ancient evil. Dark Elves, with brutish and hungry Ogres for minions, work for the ancient evil and constantly beset the heroes with attacks. Due to this, there is plenty of action with with all of the battles. The two Templars, Gratas and Jerah must learn to work together with the Elf, Reslo, in order for the three of them to survive the quest that they have been given. In the background, political truces are hanging by a precariously thin thread. Rival nations disagree over religion and gods, and there is bitterness remaining from a long ago war. The novel ends well, with threads leading towards a second book. There are also a few intriguing sub-plots that left me curious. Road of the...

Quick reads from last weekend: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J.K. Rowling (et al.). Quick review: not as good as the original series. Seemed cliche at times with father/son not understanding each other arguments. Script form, so not for those who prefer novels to scripts. “The Hostage” by James Patterson and Robert Gold. Quick review: quick read as intended, took about an hour to read with distractions in between. Little bit gory so not for those who are a bit squeamish. Ending was a bit unsatisfactory for me, but otherwise it was an ok read. Both books were library books, and reviewed for fun.

This is a collection of short stories that describes Simon Lewis's journey into becoming a Shadowhunter. It is set chronically between The Mortal Instruments and The Dark Artifices series. I had mistakenly read Lady Midnight of The Dark Artifices first and was slightly confused about how and when Simon became a Shadowhunter. Reading this book cleared up the confusion.    Each story is written by Cassandra Clare and another author, similar to the Bane Chronicles , there are also illustrations for each chapter depicting a scene from that chapter. Many characters from The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices make appearances throughout the book.    I really enjoyed the stories; there was right amounts of humour and drama mixed in, and a little bit of sadness as well. I won't lie, I did get a bit misty eyed during the last story.    I would recommend this to those who enjoy Clare's novels, and also to those who enjoy fantasy. Thos...