Book Review: The Last Wish (The Witcher #0.5) by Andrzej Sapkowski

August 14, 2020April 2, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆
Audience: Fantasy [Short-stories]
Length: 359 pages
Author: Andrzej Sapkowski [Translator: Danusia Stok]
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: January 31st, 1993 (This edition: May 1st, 2008)
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Geralt of Rivia is a witcher. A cunning sorcerer. A merciless assassin. And a cold-blooded killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good… and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.

THE LAST WISH
The International hit that inspired the video game THE WITCHER.

NOT A GREAT START.

Ooomph. Not at all.

I’ve been really excited to try out this series and see what all the hoopla is about it. There’s a lot of people talking about these books! After figuring out this was the book I should start with I snatched it at the library and dove in.

And was blindsided. Nothing was quite as I expected. First of all, I was completely thrown into the trenches without any explanations to where I was and who was what. I kept reading hoping things were going to make more sense, but they never did. I got about 150 pages in and turned on the TV show to see if that would help. And honestly, it did. I felt I had a better frame of mind as to who was who and the scattered timelines throughout the book. So, if things are confusing, try that!

While all of that was helpful, I still didn’t get the point of telling short stories to introduce The Witcher. Some parts of stories were interesting and held my attention, but otherwise, this was a book I mostly skimmed. I still want to read the official first book to see if a real story changes my mind about the series.

I enjoyed Geralt as a character and liked his wit and humor. The messes he and Dandelion would get caught up in were fun. Some of the monsters were interesting and gruesome. I can totally see how this would function as a video game.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy short-stories
Language: some
Violence: battles with creepy creatures, physical, swords

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Book Review: A Temporary Marriage: The Fake Love Series by Summer Dowell

August 13, 2020March 31, 2020 GoodeyReads1 Comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 171 pages
Author: Summer Dowell
Publisher: Self-published
Expected Release Date: January 21st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

“Kylee, will you marry me?”
If she hadn’t still been breathing, she would’ve checked for a pulse.
“M-marry you?”
“Not for real, of course!”

Struggling graphic designer Kylee Morgan would do just about anything to help Ryan Hudson, her very attractive friend she’s been harboring feelings for for way too long. But, marry him? That might be taking things a little too far even for her.

Ryan is on the cusp of success with his new product line when things come to a crashing halt. He needs cash fast and his grandparent’s trust fund is the perfect solution. However, there’s one small requirement to get the money, he has to be married.

Will Kylee and Ryan play a convincing married couple? Or will things fall apart when Ryan’s family gets involved?

Don’t miss A Temporary Marriage, the first of The Fake Love series by Summer Dowell. If you like fake relationships and swoon worthy moments, than this clean romantic comedy will have you turning pages!

QUICK AND CUTE.

This is the second book I’ve read by Summer Dowell and I gotta say, this was much better than the first one I tried. I really enjoyed this light, quick read. Made me smile and all the happy feelings. It reminded me of the movie, The Proposal (with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds).

I love the relationship between Kylee and Ryan. I thought they clearly had chemistry and were both clearly fighting feelings for one another. Each time they got to hang out or needed to show some PDA had me excited for them. I thought the story line was written well and I liked the plot as a whole. The ending was tooootally cliche and Hallmark movie status, and I had no problem with that. Sometimes those are the best endings! I wanted all the mushy-cheesiness because this book called for it.

I thought the writing was significantly better than Love is an Art. There was a lot less telling and more showing through characters actions and words what was happening. I didn’t get as much unnecessary information and was able to really relax into the story. Occasionally the inner monologues of Ryan and Kylee would seem a bit repetitive (we get it, y’all like each other, but won’t admit it), but other than that I had no major complaints.

This would be a great full fledged story. With more background and lead-up to Ryan and Kylee getting together. Things ran pretty quickly and I found myself wanting more from them. At least this was cute. Really cute. And I’m satisfied with that.

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary romance
Language: none
Romance: some kisses

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Book Review: Dreamland by Sarah Dessen

August 12, 2020March 30, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult contemporary
Length: 250 pages
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak
Release Date: September 1st, 2000
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Wake up, Caitlin

Ever since she started going out with Rogerson Biscoe, Caitlin seems to have fallen into a semiconscious dreamland where nothing is quite real. Rogerson is different from anyone Caitlin has ever known. He’s magnetic. He’s compelling. He’s dangerous. Being with him makes Caitlin forget about everything else–her missing sister, her withdrawn mother, her lackluster life. But what happens when being with Rogerson becomes a larger problem than being without him?

BROKE ME.

First reason I picked up this book? Someone commented on one of my Instagram photos telling me about it. Second reason I picked up this book? I have the same name as the MC and have NEVERRRRR gotten to read a book with that fun fact.

And if you’re not one for reading synopsis (I’m not, I usually read it initially then by the time I get to read the book I’ve forgotten it and don’t look at it), let me say, this is not a fluffy Dessen novel. It’s the most mature and serious one I’ve ever read of hers.

Initially, I felt like this book was all about Caitlin’s sister, Cassandra, than it was about Caitlin. This changed. And it changed hard. I was practically in tears listening to this (audio book was good!) because of how much it hurt me listening to what was happening to Caitlin [trigger warning: physically abuse relationship – more details in Overall audience notes].

I felt in physical pain myself because of how Rogerson was treating Caitlin. It was unfathomable and I was upset on so many levels for her. While a very hard hitting novel, it also approached hope and recovery in the last few chapters. I anxiously listened waiting until she was broken free of her bonds to him and had a chance to grieve. The aftermath felt more realistic as well. It wasn’t this immediate, I’m happy again!, it was a process that took months and I loved that it showed that side of therapy.

It’s a very quick and short book that packs a lot in. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone and would caution to please look into the triggers before reading. The pain explored and expressed had me clutching my heart. This was good, raw, and important.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult contemporary
Language: some strong
Romance: kisses/make-outs; quick mention of them sleeping together, but no details
Violence: see trigger warnings below
Trigger warnings: drug abuse, underage drug use, toxic/abusive relationship [physical] with multiple scenes of the main character being harmed, domestic abuse, underage smoking

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Book Review: The Creeping Shadow (Lockwood & Co. #4) by Jonathan Stroud

August 10, 2020March 30, 2020 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Young adult fantasy / horror / mystery
Length: 445 pages
Author: Jonathan Stroud
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: September 13th, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them–and only them–to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal. They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along.

I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU.

Droppin’ the FRIENDS theme song for you today because it’s my favorite and highly applicable to my thoughts on The Creeping Shadow.

I loooove this friend group. Lockwood, Lucy, George and Holly. I like their banter, the way they care about each other, the relentless support, all of it. This is my go-to friend group in books I’ve read recently. They’re what make this book. Honestly though, I’m really hear for Lockwood and Lucy. I love them (they better love each other) and I’m secretly hoping for some kind of extra connection come the finale – a girl can dream!

This is my kind of horror. Substantially creepy, but still within bounds that I can handle. This definitely stepped it up a notch. The amount of ghosts, descriptions of murders and more really amped up the scene. I love that I even got to see a bit of the other side. I’m curious how that will affect them going on.

Talk about some bombs being dropped. Those last few scenes really dropped my jaw. I know I must get this last book to get answers. I’m excited for how everything set up and love that each case throughout the series have led them here. Things weren’t all for willy-nilly and that’s what keeps me going back for more.

Overall audience notes: