Sunday 26 May 2013

What I've been reading (mini reviews)



It's time to put up a book review, but I thought I'd put up a bunch of little reviews instead of one big one. So, these are some books I've read lately:


Species Imperative trilogy - Julie E. Czerneda

  • Loved this sci-fi series, not only the fascinating world-building but the characters. Mac is a fabulous main character and the series had everything I personally require in a story - action, adventure, heartache, romance, laughs, and...near-apocalypse! (okay, I don't always need a near-apocalypse...)

The Host (The Host, #1) - Stephenie Meyer

  • I knew that this wouldn't be another Twilight, but to be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. In the end, what I got was something I prefer to vampires - aliens! I was also compelled by the at-times-unhealthy romance element.


Imaginary Girls - Nova Ren Suma

  • I thought this was beautifully written, even if I really disliked Ruby for most of the story. I found her decision at the end of the story to be quite moving, and redeeming. All in all, this isn't a happy, chirpy story.

The Beggar's Opera - Peggy Blair

  • This was a fairly entertaining read that kept me interested, but quite often I was confused as to who I was meant to be siding with. I guess it's good to have your assumptions and loyalties challenged in that way, though. ;)

I've also read these:


  • The Mermaid's Mirror - L.K. Madigan
  • How To Rock Braces and Glasses - Meg Haston
  • What a Boy Wants (What a Boy Wants, #1) - Nyrae Dawn
  • The Witches of Santa Anna (The Witches of Santa Anna, #1-7) - Lauren Barnholdt

What have you read lately?

19 comments:

  1. Thanks for mentioning my book! I wanted the reader not to be sure who to side with, as you put it, until the very end :-) -- people are complex and I wanted to created complicated characters who weren't black and white. Glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. * create *
      (I need an editor!)

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    2. Maybe I need a reader as I didn't notice your typo till you pointed it out! hehe. Your books are perfectly edited so no worries there. LOL.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I've been curious about The Host -- figured I should read it before I see the movie. IF I see the movie...
    In Medias Res

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    1. It's not too bad, but people do have criticism for it, and with good reason. Still, I prefer it to Meyer's other work.

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  3. Wow, you burn through books pretty quickly! I think it is fun to have one's sense of allegiance challenge. In general, I think plot lines should be tidy but interesting characters usually are not.

    PS Thanks for the note on my Nadal pic. I've got another one up now that will hopefully work better. Too bad. I really liked the first one.

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    1. Thanks for that, I'll go check it out :) Yeah, I guess I read quick-ish, but I am not really one of the quicker readers out there. I should be reading more ebooks now that I finally got an e-reader! But I'll post about that later. ;)

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    2. Well, then... I have some e-comics to recommend. Double Barrel is a web comic written and drawn by some college friends of mine. They're cheap, too: back issues only 0.99 cents (US) each.

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  4. Typical librarian- always a stack of books by the bed to be read and another in the bag to be taken back! lol. Hey, I know you mentioned you Top counters was buggy but I do believe that I have commented well above 33 times- so it must be!

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    1. I wonder if it has anything to do with how I moved to a new blog URL?? That just occurred to me...

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  5. Hi Trish. The only one I'd heard of was The Host which I was told not to bother with. But I will read it now, especially since it's being made into a film. I've been reading tons of books, trying to finish some blogger friend's books so I can review them. Enjoyed Make Believe, the fantasy anthology with Lynda Young in it, and Laughing Hawk by LInda Katmarian. Both very good e books.

    (I hope you don't mind my email. It's getting very lonely at my blog, lol!)

    Denise

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    1. Denise, I really have no idea what's going on with YOUR blog in particular. My other blog roll blogs seem to be updating okay, but yours not so much. Sucks when bloggers have this kind of trouble :(

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  6. I saw The Host at the theater so I probably won't read it. I did really enjoy the movie though. Imaginary Girls has been on my list for some time now. I recently read Stephanie Parent's Defy the Stars. It's a modern day retelling of Romeo & Juliet and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Thanks for these mini reviews =)

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  7. Aliens are often preferable to vampires. :)
    I've been reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, and just finished The Great Hunt. Very nice.

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    1. Ohh, very nice! That is one of my favourite series and in fact one that has changed my life drastically in many ways :) You are in for a very long haul though, I have to say. :D

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  8. I'm waiting for Lullaby by Amanda Hocking to arrive in my mail box but I've read an e-galley, Breathless By Brigid Kemmer. Those were some nice reviews.

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  9. Reading my way through Cinder. I actually met Marissa Mayer when she did a reading and book signing, and she was very friendly.

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  10. Hey Trisha,
    I got you fixed on my blog roll. I thought I had fixed it a while back. Surprise - I messed up on the computer. Now who would have seen THAT one coming. ;)

    I really enjoyed the Host.

    Right now I'm caught up in The Game of Thrones. I was only going to read the book they are currently showing on HBO - but that wasn't to be. Probably OCD on my part, but once I started reading I have to finish.

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  11. I've been reading some soon-to-be-published manuscripts for other authors. I intend to just sit back and be a plain beta reader, but my editing claws come out.

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!