Fall always evokes a desperation in me for cozy mysteries, and while the cozy aspect is more in the food related aspects of the story, this fit the biFall always evokes a desperation in me for cozy mysteries, and while the cozy aspect is more in the food related aspects of the story, this fit the bill pretty well. I had a blast buddy reading this with Carmen from @Tomesandtextiles, because she has firsthand experience with the Miami Cuban culture and I was able to ask all kinds of questions and learn new things along the way.
Miriam was a fun character to follow, and I fell in love with her portrayal of food as a love language. The murderer was pretty easy to spot, and I wasn't a fan of the side plot involving the miscommunication trope (as many before me have stated), but the atmosphere and overall vibe was enough to leave me wanting to purchase the next book instantly, while also intriguing me to try and make some of the recipes included at the end of the story.
A solid debut, and I'm looking forward to more character building with Miriam, her family, and her friends in Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking....more
Alright, look: if you can suspend your disbelief and are okay with over the top wild plot lines, this one is a home run. If you can, I recommend goingAlright, look: if you can suspend your disbelief and are okay with over the top wild plot lines, this one is a home run. If you can, I recommend going in blind and reading no reviews, including this one. Alas, I did not realize that this was going to be outside of the usual, normal realm (trying to be careful with my words and avoid spoilers), so once I caught on in the first few chapters, I adjusted my expectations accordingly. An interesting take on this trope, with twists and turns galore. A YA popcorn thriller from one of my favorite authors of our time, it wasn’t my favorite Kelley Armstrong novel, but still a worthy, quick read.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
I'm not sure how to review this, as I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. While this does classify as horror per se, it really fits more acI'm not sure how to review this, as I'm still trying to figure out what I just read. While this does classify as horror per se, it really fits more accurately under the fantasy umbrella. The idea behind this book is intriguing; an illustrator who can bring to life the drawings she creates? A small town full of dark secrets? The problem is there is very little world building along the way, and a major plot hole that I couldn't really get past with zero explanation. By the time I reached the ending, I felt like there wasn't enough closure or explanation to process what I had just consumed, but I'm wondering if this will be turned into a series based on my e-galley having a section titled SERIES: TBD in it? Either way, an entertaining story with some flaws, but would love to see more dark reads from this author.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
DNF @ page 56. I absolutely loved the author's previous novel, Shiver, as it was one of my top reads of last year, but I just cannot push myself any fDNF @ page 56. I absolutely loved the author's previous novel, Shiver, as it was one of my top reads of last year, but I just cannot push myself any further through this one. I'm not engaging with the characters this time around, and the beginning doesn't feel as suspenseful in this one, so maybe I just wasn't hooked initially like I was hoping? I'll definitely be checking out the author's next book though, as I'm hoping it's just a one off for me.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
This book was fine. Fine is what this book was. Book, meet fine; fine, meet book. It was ok, but not great. It was not great, but it was ok. -me, tryiThis book was fine. Fine is what this book was. Book, meet fine; fine, meet book. It was ok, but not great. It was not great, but it was ok. -me, trying to reach a decent word count reviewing this book with no memorable characters or world building aspects, AKA a middle school book report.
Honestly, this is a very standard, straight forward YA fantasy that you may feel like you’ve read before. You know the one, with an ethereal atmosphere, secrets, and forbidden love? Trouble is, I had a hard time getting invested and caring about anyone I was introduced to because it felt like there was nothing special or gripping about the world I was introduced to. This is a hard ask because most of the books have already “been there” and “done that”, but I like to find at least some small portion of a story that feels unique to it alone. The writing, characters, and setting were all very fine, but each time I took a break from reading, I never really felt compelled to jump back into the story.
I don’t even know how to sign off from this review because I’ve already forgotten the characters names and what happened in the book, so Happy New Year!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy....more
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