Review: Moving by Jenny Eclair

Moving by Jenny Eclair

My Rating:



I received a free copy of Moving from the publisher in return for an honest review.

It wasn't until I had finished reading this book that it suddenly clicked with me that it was by "The" Jenny Eclair. I am more familiar with Jenny the comedian/actor and had I realised this before picking up the book, I would probably have had a preconceived idea of what I would expect her writing style to be and it would have been very different from what I actually read.

I really enjoyed Moving. A house is such a personal space, we invest time and energy into making it our own, filling it with love, memories and personal items from our lives. The author does a wonderful job of expressing just how attached we become to our house and how our memories are intertwined with the different rooms and to the every day objects within.

Jenny creates some very realistic characters in this tale, ones that are not easily forgotten and that I feel I really got to know while reading. I have to admit though, Edwina has to be my fav character, it was very easy to get attached to her, she was real, complex and full of depth. I particularly liked the format that her part took, how her memories were being awakened room by room as she showed the estate agent through her house.

The plot is full of family secrets and betrayals that are all slowly revealed as the book progresses, the story told from three different points of view. I have to admit that when it switched from Edwina to another character I was rather disappointed. I wanted to stick with Edwina and I wasn't enjoying the switch at first but I was drawn in and before I knew it I was engrossed in the next characters tale.

The interaction between the characters and the history and personal stories behind their actions makes Moving a very enjoyable read. Things are not always what they seem and Moving takes you behind the scenes, giving you a glance at the deeper picture.

Highly recommended.

Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Review: Goblins by David Bernstein

Goblins by David Bernstein

My Rating:



I received a free copy of Goblins from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I couldn't get into this to start with, the whole baseball thing was off putting. I get that it was there to introduce the first character but it really didn't need all the detail. It felt very YA/coming-of-age rather than setting the scene for a good horror. Once I got past that part though I was really drawn into the story.

Goblins is full of monsters, violence, blood and gore. There was many a scene that had me flinching, the description of sounds at times turning my blood cold like nails on a blackboard would. The author pulls on your heart strings as well as playing on your fears and it creates a mix of emotions that has you on the edge of your seat, both wanting to turn the page but also apprehensive of what will happen next.

Goblins is the stuff of nightmares and is an easy and fast read for horror fans. There's no having to read between the lines, everything is there in great gory detail, it grabs you and takes you along for the ride.


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Review: The Devil's Detective: A Novel by Simon Kurt Unsworth

The Devil's Detective: A Novel by Simon Kurt Unsworth

My Rating:


I received a free copy of The Devil's Detective: A Novel from the publisher in return for an honest review.

This is a DNF for me, I just can't get into it at all. The Devil's Detective is a heavy and bleak read. The author paints an oppressive, dark and depressing picture and the world building is done extremely well, but the characterization is where it's dragging for me.

A huge part of what I enjoy in a book is being able to experience the story through the characters and that's not happening here. I can't connect with them and there is nothing about them that makes me care what's happening to them or for their outcome.

For me this book is too much about the world building and the visuals and is lacking in characterisation. I feel like I'm just reading words rather than immersing myself and experiencing the story.


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Review: Moon Bayou by J.R. Rain, Rod Kierkegaard Jr

Moon Bayou by J.R. Rain, Rod Kierkegaard Jr

My Rating:


I received a free copy of Moon Bayou from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Having previously read many of the Vampire for Hire series I was looking forwards to reading more about Samantha Moon in Moon Bayou. Moon Bayou looks to be a spin off series from the Vampire for Hire books and I have to say that picking up Moon Bayou without having read the Vampire for Hire ones, especially as it references many of the stories/characters from the series, could get it bit confusing.

I found this to be a quick and easy read but there was nothing about it that stood out for me. The characters felt a little shallow and unintimidating, especially considering they are vampires, werewolves, voodoo practitioners etc. There was also parts of the story that felt rather repetitive. One example being Samantha's rings... I know she has the rings and I get what they do but the author felt the need to keep reminding me of this fact way too often, so often that it actually started to irritate me.

I'm not a fan of cliffhangers, though if done right I can overlook them. Moon Bayou however ended way too soon. The ending felt abrupt, it left me feeling like I only had half the book and the second half had somehow not been downloaded. Instead of rounding the story off and leaving an avenue open for more to come, it just stops mid story. It feels like I'm being forced to have to get the next book in order to just finish this one and if I am honest that just makes me not want to read more.


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Radio is killing my reading time.

 

I have recently discovered a BBC Radio 4 series called The Infinite Monkey Cage  It's a series talking all about science presented by particle physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince, it covers everything from quantum physics, to extraterrestrial life, cosmology, space exploration, evolution versus religion etc. The list is endless.

 

Little did I know that it's been running for 12 series and every episode is online to listen to.  As a result I haven't had much time to read and instead I'm being bombarded with science and lots and lots of discussions about the different topics covered in the show.

Review: A Debt to be Paid by Patrick Lacey

A Debt to be Paid by Patrick Lacey

My Rating:


I received a free copy of A Debt to be Paid from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Although this was an enjoyable story I feel that it suffered a bit because of the length. The author creates a chilling tale with few characters and it builds really nicely as the story progresses but I feel it ended just as the truth of what was going on was finally being revealed. The ending didn't give me closure, it didn't explain things the way I wanted it to in order to understand the who and why.

There are only a few characters in the story and for the most part they are all well written and fleshed out. The author portrays the fear and helplessness of the main character very well and I could easily picture myself in her shoes. Brian's character I had trouble with, he jumped into it all way too easily and the romance felt superficial and underdeveloped.

All in all I enjoyed the book, the pacing was nice and it held my interest but I was left thinking... But why?



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Review: One By One: Before (Part One) by Simon Kernick

 One By One: Before (Part One) by Simon Kernick

 My Rating:

I received a free copy of One By One from the publisher in return for an honest review.

One By One is part one of a three part thriller story released as digital shorts. After reading part one I'm not sure I like that idea.

At just 36 pages you don't get much of a story, in fact it's more an introduction to each character with a bit of history surrounding an event that happened in the past to the members of the group. The history part being told to us in an info dump by one of the characters, which I didn't like at all.

I realise because it's short that it's hard to build some tension but as it is now I don't feel like it hooked me enough to want to continue. Had it been a novella I would have read on and finished the complete story but in this format it hasn't piqued my curiosity and I find it very easy just to move onto something else instead.

I'm a huge Simon Kernick fan, I love the tension, thrills and mystery he creates but I'm not sure that works in this format at all.

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Review: Pennies for the Damned by Edward Lorn

 Pennies for the Damned by Edward Lorn

 My Rating:

I received a free copy of Pennies for the Damned from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I jumped right into Pennies for the Damned after finishing the first book as I was eager to know what happened next. I was not disappointed. Following on from the first book this book is every bit as dark, humorous, violent and engrossing as the first. I ended up reading it in one sitting.

The characterisation in Lorns writing really stands out and is a huge part of what I love about his books. The plot and pacing gripped me right from the start and I eagerly followed Larry on his journey through hurt, despair, vengeance and hope. There were plenty twists and turns to keep me on my feet and some new characters that I would love to see more of in future. So if you're reading this Mr Lorn... More!

Highly recommended.


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Review: PROTECTION by Kyle M. Scott

 PROTECTION by Kyle M. Scott

 My Rating:

I received a free copy of PROTECTION in return for an honest review.

Kyle Scott is one of my favourite authors, he writes the kind of horror that I grew up reading and that I still look for in every horror book that I pick up even now. He's one of the few authors who's books automatically go straight onto my to read pile without question.

I loved everything about this book. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and the temptation to peek further down the page at times was almost too much to resist. I kept putting the book down as I saw the read percentage creep up, I didn't want it to finish but I was picking it back up right away.

The twists frustrated the hell out of me, in a good way. Each time I thought I knew what was going on, the author about turned and threw it all back in my face. Everything I thought I believed about the characters and all the feelings I had come to associate with that belief were all turned upside down. There was one scene in the book that actually made me want to lift my feet up from the floor away from the space under the couch. I'm not going to give any spoilers and describe the scene, you'll have to find out for yourself!

I didn't see that ending coming. I was so engrossed in the story that if there were any hints given of what was ahead, I didn't see them. They could have jumped out of the pages and slapped me in the face and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. The author did such a wonderful job playing on my fears and emotions and grabbing all my attention, that I was left feeling rather emotionally traumatised at how the story ended.

Highly recommended.


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Review: Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs.

 Fire Girl by Matt Ralphs.

 My Rating:

I received a free copy of Fire Girl from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Hazel who has been living in a beautiful magic glade has never ventured out into the real world but when her mother gets kidnapped that's exactly what she has to do. On her journey she comes across many scary people and demons and finds herself in some dangerous situations, but with her grumpy familiar by her side and a few friends she makes along the way, she's determined to save her mother.

I had a lot of fun with this book. The interaction between Hazel and Bramley, her grumpy sarcastic little dormouse familiar, brought a smile to my face every time. The author creates a wonderful easily visualised world full of witches and demons, that has both a dark and sinister side to it but at the same time is full of adventure, love and promise. The characters came alive in my mind while I was reading, I can easily imagine a child being completely captivated by this story.

Fire Girls is Matt Ralphs debut novel and I have a feeling kids everywhere are going to love this book. I'm always on the look out for good childrens books and this is one that's going right onto my to recommend list.

My immediate thought on finishing this book was that I hope there is going to be a sequel and I'm so pleased to see there will be. I also now want a grumpy little dormouse all of my own!

I'm looking forwards to continuing with this story.


Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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