Book Review: Waylaid by Kim Harrison

Pocket Star
To Be Published April 4, 2016

This is a novella featuring two characters from the Hollows and the Peri Reed Chronicles.

The magic of the Hollows runs full force into the technological sophistication of The Drafter when a device capable of carrying a city’s data stream pulls Rachel, the bounty hunter witch of the Hollows, between realities, marooning her in a world where the supernatural holds no sway. To get Rachel and Jenks home, Peri, the dangerous renegade of 2030, must decide what will chart her future: her blind trust in those who grant her power, or her intuition telling her to believe. -Goodreads

*Short Review

I picked this book up because it was a short read and I don’t recall ever reading anything by Kim Harrison. So this was an introduction and to say the least I wasn’t impress. To put it bluntly, I didn’t like this book.

There could be several reasons why I didn’t like this book and the biggest one is probably because I do not know anything about the stories: Hollows and the Peri Reed Chronicles.  So I am guessing there is some strong disconnect there. But I don’t feel that it is my problem. Why? Because it is the author’s job to make me feel familiar with the plot and the characters.

I couldn’t grasp the story; not only because I felt displaced but also because it felt like a rush job. Do not get me wrong, I thought in the short amount of pages, the author was able to develop a story but it felt slightly all over the place and it felt like the author was trying too hard. Also to be perfectly honest I just didn’t like it.

Will I let this be a deciding factor as to will I read any of Kim Harrison’s books? Probably not. But I know I won’t be in a rush to read them.

 

1 Pickle

 

 

Graphic Novel Review (Spoilers): Alex + Ada, Vol. 1 (Alex + Ada #1-5) by Jonathan Luna, Sarah Vaughn

Image Comics
Published July 16, 2014
128 Pages

In the near future, robots are a real thing. But the last thing Alex wants is an X5 as an companion. When Ada arrives at his door, Alex realizes that his outlook may not be as accurate as he thought.

Let’s cut right to the chase. This graphic novel is predictable but it is one of those I know what is going to happen but I like reading it anyway.

As stated the story-line was predictable and I really didn’t like Alex. The whole concept is he went through a bad break up and is lonely, so he receives the X5 as a gift from his grandmother, He doesn’t like the fact that Ada is a robot, so he gets her hacked to be a human.

I think that is ridiculously because you want a human girl but you don’t want to put in the work to be with a human girl, so you use a robot and make her more human.  -_-

The story moves really fast and Ada falls into a fast stereotype of over-reacting female faster than any none human can.  But what I liked about this series despite the character flaws was how it showed that given the opportunity humans may not act so human at all. Granted this is not a new concept but it still was not horrible to read. It showed how jealous and petty people can really be when they don’t get what they want.

I enjoyed the artwork very much. It was bright and detailed not cliche in the least. It wasn’t sloppy and other than Alex being stale face most of the time, other characters displayed emotion in a realistic way.

As stated before this series is very basic but there something like-able about that you just keep reading it. This a I happen to see it read not I need to buy it read. So much more could have been done.

 

3 Pickles

Book Review: A Reaper of Stone (A Reaper of Stone #1) by Mark Gelineau and Joe King

Gelineau and King
Published Sept. 8, 2015
90 Pages

As a Reaper, Elinor’s job is to help the King reclaim land no longer owned and destroy all of the past work and bring the land and its people up to date with the new. 

But Elinor is struggling to find her place in this world and with a lady dead and her noble line ended, Elinor’s sense of duty is overpowered by her dreams of being a hero.

*Short Review*

I know this summary doesn’t give much away and that is because the story itself isn’t much but a tiny and I mean tiny snippet of who or what Elinor is and what she has to endure.

This is a novella, which explains why it is short. However, just because it is short doesn’t mean it gets a pass. There should have been more backstory in order for to actually feel something for Elinor. I felt that there was things missing in order for me to completely to believe that Elinor made the decision that she made simply because she believes in doing right.

But despite this I did like the story and am really interested in what happens next because there was a decent story here. It showed promise of Elinor becoming a badass with an extremely complicated future as well as past. The pace was smooth but I assume as much because the story itself is not really difficult or hard to follow. I was hoping for more fantasy and stronger passion within the characters and words.

Again, I completely understand this is a novella and I may be asking too much of it but still *shrugs*

Overall, this book has done its job and caught my attention and I want to read book two.

3 Pickles

NetGalley Review: Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Self Published
Published Dec. 19, 2013
297 Pages

Kricket Hollowell is hiding from social services in Chicago. Only a few months away from her 18th birthay, Kricket is blending in until she can legally claim her independence.

All that changes when Trey Allairis discovers Kricket’s whereabouts and takes her (against her will) to her true home.

Kricket’s once quiet existence comes to complete halt and she needs to adapt in order to get back to the home she has always known.

This is listed under pretty covers. It is just gorgeous.

However, the story wasn’t as great as the cover. It was okay. Kricket is annoying. Not whining annoying but I just need to be a sarcastic ass every time someone says something to me annoying.  For a while she didn’t have an off switch it wasn’t until she falls for Try that the switch was permanently off.

I wasn’t too upset with the romance in this novel. It was obvious but it wasn’t terrible. I felt that Trey was too typical for me to fall in love with him and Kricket didn’t enough personality for me to love her.

The plot was interesting enough to keep me wanting to go through it. But I didn’t like the fact that Kricket accepted sexist comments and allowed those comments to almost kill her because she wanted to prideful and prove a point. How can that point be proven if you’re dead? -.-

I felt that this story had a good concept but it felt like the author wanted to give readers what they know instead of something more passionate and original.  Will I read the second book? Maybe. More out of curiosity to see if the author does something different.

2 Pickles.

Graphic Novel Review: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer), Fiona Staples (Artist)

Image Comics
Published Oct. 23, 2012
160 Pages

 

Two soldiers on the opposite side of a never ending war fall in love. And by bringing new life into the war filled world, danger is at their every turn.

Where have I been that I completely missed this graphic novel for the past two years?

Take a look at this cover. The details, the realism (minus the horns an the wings) and most importantly the intensity. The artwork throughout this entire book is intense and pulls as much emotion out of you as the story does.

It is a extremely brilliant and you can really see the care the artist and the author took when creating this.

The plot was interesting and at first I didn’t think I would enjoy it but the author reeled me in with curiosity. Marko and Alana have a strange chemistry that seems like love hate but it really isn’t as you get deeper in the novel.

I love the complexities of each character even though you find out more about their past in the second book. I also cannot get over the fact of how human they are. They are more human than most human characters I read. It is a beautiful display of emotions

Overall, I am only on book 3 of the series and it is one of the most captivating graphic novels I have read in a long time.

5 Pickles.

 

Manga Review: Ajin (Vol 1.) by Gamon Sakurai

Vertical
To Be Published Oct. 14, 2014
228 Pages

 

Kei Nagai is hit by a truck when he discovers that he is a ajin, an immortal that has supernatural abilities.  Becoming an instant target by the government and those looking to make a profit, Kei goes on the run, becoming a turning point in a war against ajins and humans. 

I love the creepiness of this cover. That is what drew me to it.  It is the perfect blend of what the heck and ghost like creepy.

The story itself was interesting and a bit hard to understand. There is a lot going on once Kei has been “discovered.” There is also a lot of disgusting emotions that occur within Kei’s peers and his own family.

I can’t really say I liked the story because it was confusing and it didn’t feed the need of knowledge known. There is a lot of back-story that the author gives  very little of. Even in volume two ( yes, I read it) there is still so many whys that I am not sure volume three will answer them.

I didn’t quite understand nor like Kei. He is cold, very calculated but then the next page he is emotional and is fighting for the greater good. I also didn’t understand the relationship with his sister and why she hates him and where it came from. The author again tries to explain it but it isn’t clear at all.

I was intrigued by the story, so I kept reading ( Volumes 2 & 3) but I am still just as lost as I was in the first book.

Overall, this is a hit or miss. The art work was great; creepy, graphic, detailed, not cliché, exactly what to be expected. But the story got lost.

2 Pickles.

Book Review: For the Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Balzer + Bray
Published June 12, 2012
420 Pages

It’s been years since a genetic experiment went wrong and caused the Reduction and the rise to the Luddite; people who banished most if not all technology.

Elliot North is a Luddite; Four years before she decided not to runway with her childhood love, a servant Kai and since then things have changed.  Choosing to run the family estate, Elliot is forced to allow a group of shipbuilders to rent the land and on that ship is Kai.

While Kai is determined to show Elliot what she lost, Elliot believes this is a second chance at love. But Kai and Elliot both hold secrets they are determined not to share.

Firstly, the book is formatted in two ways; letters from the past between Kai and Elliot and basic novel format. This did add character to the story because you read first hand the relationship between Kai and Elliot. You see the innocence and the growth and in any romance novel that is appreciated.

I was bored. The story, although kept me interested, didn’t keep me fidgeting in my seat. The relationship (because that is a pretty big focus) goes back and forth. It was horrible at one point and I wasn’t sure I could bear HOWEVER, Elliot has a lot of family issues as well as the Kai’s shipmates, so that kept the story going pretty well.

I didn’t like Elliot too much. The author tried to make her plain with a large heart . . . different from the other Luddites. It was a great effort but Elliot seemed too perfect and her biggest flaw was being a Luddite.

Overall I did really enjoy this book and was surprised that book two has nothing to do with book one. Hmm don’t know what that is about. This book gets 8 out of 10.

 

Love, Pickles

Book Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

This book has to begin in like year 3045.

Dutton Adult
Published June 4, 2013
448 Pages

Justin March has been living in exile after not completing his job as an investigator of religious groups. His job is “important” because the world has been pretty much destroyed due to religious extremists. But anyway, March is able to come back home when Mae Koskinen, a military elite, brings him back to the Republic of United North America.

Mae’s job is to protect March as he investigates ritualistic murders. But her job becomes a bit more complicated when feels become involved.

This was a decent read; different, slow but a bit unexpected.

Firstly, I didn’t appreciate the relationship between March and Mae. Things moved too fast and considering how Mae was called cold within the first 6 pages of the book, I felt her opening even for that moment was fake. I understand what the author was trying to do; surprise the readers with a “big” twist but it seemed pointless especially as the book dragged along.

However, I did like March as a character. Although it was noted that

he was an attractive man you really couldn’t see that through the book. He was annoying in a charming sort of way which made me believe his character. Mae just didn’t fit. Her willingness to be with or attracted to March was too easy for a military elite and also she had just lost someone she really cared about.

I liked the story and where the author was going with it despite character flaw. Yes, it was a slow read and but I didn’t mind the science fiction aspect of the book because it wasn’t over done.

I have never read Mead’s Vampire Academy series which I heard as amazing. With that being said as my first book by this author I didn’t think it was too bad. Should have been more action at the same time the homework was being done. Will I read book two? Probably not. Overall this book gets 7 out of 10.

Love, Pickles

Book Review: Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay

Delacorte Press
Published July 23, 2013
391 Pages

Princess Ira is blind and lives in Yuna, a city under a dome. Ira is considered a Smooth Skin, and is raised to be a human sacrifice to protect her people. Outside of Yuna, Gem, a mutant enters the dome in order to find food or something to save his people. However, Gem isn’t expecting to see Ira in her rose garden and taken by surprise he is captured.

Ira is fascinated by Gem and although she was taught to hate him she begins to care and the same is for Gem. As always things get complicated and feelings bloom between the two.

This story is Beauty and the Beast mixed with Rapunzel. Ira is locked in the tower pretty much her entire life . . . even when she becomes Queen she is still in the tower. Although this is a minor detail most people would miss I felt it was bold of the author to do that she silently slipped in. If you are expecting the same Beauty and the Beast story then this is actually not the book for you. The Beauty captures the Beast and the Beauty is completely in denial and reluctant throughout the entire book. It got annoying and it got annoying fast.

But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and the creativity the author put into this book. It is sci-fi, forbidden love and a corrupt kingdom. Seriously the near-perfect retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I say near perfect because maybe I am a bit bias but Sci-Fi stories need to have more actions, more movement for me to love it. With that being said the book stalled for me. It wasn’t too bad but it was enough for me to put the book down and get a couple runs in Call of Duty.

That is strictly just me. I am on the fence about Sci-Fi therefor it takes a lot to move me. Overall, I give this book, this fairy tale retelling a 9 out of 10. I can’t knock the creativity and the passion I felt in this book.