Review - From a Certain Point of View: a Star Wars Anthology

Title: From a Certain Point of View

Pages: 496

Publisher: Del Rey

Release Date: 3rd October 2017

Blurb From Goodreads: 

Forty years. Forty stories.

In honor of the fortieth anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, this collection features Star Wars stories by bestselling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from Star Wars literary history. More than forty authors have lent their unique vision to forty “scenes,” each retelling a different moment from the original Star Wars film, but with a twist: Every scene is told from the point of view of a background character. Whether it’s the X-wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star or the stormtroopers who never quite could find the droids they were looking for, Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View places the classic movie in a whole new perspective, and celebrates the influence and legacy of the unparalleled cultural phenomenon, Star Wars.

 Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone, and NetGalley*

From a Certain Point of View is an anthology with forty short stories to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of A New Hope.

Each story is told from the perspective of a background character during the film.

As a Star Wars fan, I was really excited to read this anthology, so you can imagine my disappointment when I came across numerous stories that I didn't like. There were some stories that I enjoyed, but I could probably count them on one hand. There were a lot of the stories that I thought were a bit pointless - I really didn't need to know the background of the creature in the trash compactor - and there were some stories where I didn't know who the characters even were.

The writing styles also didn't help at times and there were a few of the short stories that I skimmed or skipped because I was struggling so much with them.

Overall, this was a disappointing read.

Review - The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

Title: The Wicked Cometh

Author: Laura Carlin

Pages: 352

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 1st February 2018

Blurb from Goodreads: 

The year is 1831. Down the murky alleyways of London, acts of unspeakable wickedness are taking place and no one is willing to speak out on behalf of the city's vulnerable poor as they disappear from the streets.

Out of these shadows comes Hester White, a bright young woman who is desperate to escape the slums by any means possible.

When Hester is thrust into the world of the aristocratic Brock family, she leaps at the chance to improve her station in life under the tutelage of the fiercely intelligent and mysterious Rebekah Brock. But whispers from her past slowly begin to poison her new life and both she and Rebekah are lured into the most sinister of investigations.

Hester and Rebekah find themselves crossing every boundary they've ever known in pursuit of truth, redemption and passion. But their trust in each other will be tested as a web of deceit begins to unspool, dragging them into the blackest heart of a city where something more depraved than either of them could ever imagine is lurking . . .

 Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

Living in 1831 isn't easy for Hester White whose change in circumstances has led to her living in poverty in London.

Then Hester finds herself with the chance to improve her life with help from the Brock family.

As Hester grows closer to Rebekah Brock, she also finds herself investigating events that may lead her into danger.

Why are so many people going missing?

Will Hester or Rebekah be next?

I love the cover for The Wicked Cometh and along with the intriguing blurb, I was excited to read this.

Unfortunately, this is another book that missed the mark for me.

Given the size of The Wicked Cometh not that much happened plot-wise, and what did happen failed to hold my attention - this was mainly because of the writing style which I couldn't get on with.

Hester was an okay character, and while I felt sorry for her I didn't like her all that much.

The romance was sweet but the age difference surprised me.

I debated DNFing this and part of me wishes that I had.

Overall this was a disappointing, okay read.

Review - Book of Fire by Michelle Kenney

Title: Book of Fire

Author: Michelle Kenney

Pages: 384

Publisher: HQ Digital

Release Date: 25th August 2017

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Life outside the domes is not possible. At least that’s what Insiders are told. 

Twins Eli and Talia shouldn’t exist. They’re Outsiders.

Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret. 

An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred Book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.

She’ll stop at nothing to save her family but will she sacrifice her heart in the process?

 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley*

Talia and her twin brother Eli live in a forest community in a future England that has been affected by nuclear war.

They live in fear of their home being discovered by the dome-dwelling Insiders who have been led to believe that life outside the domes is impossible.

When some of Talia's family are taken by the Insiders, she will do anything to get them back. Even if it means going into the domes.

Why does the leader of the Insiders want the Book of Arafel - a book that has been given to Talia to keep safe by her grandfather - so much?

Will Talia make it out of the domes alive?

I was intrigued by the blurb for Book of Fire, but, unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.

From the very beginning, I struggled with the writing style. I found a lot of the sentences clunky and thought they could have flowed easier.

The characters and plot were okay but I lost interest several times.

I liked the Roman and mythological creature themes, but I wasn't a fan of the romance.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy Book of Fire as much as I hoped.

Overall this was an okay read.

 

 

Review - A Beautiful Poison by Lydia Kang

Title: A Beautiful Poison

Author: Lydia Kang

Pages: 350

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: 1st August 2017

Blurb from Goodreads: 

Just beyond the Gilded Age, in the mist-covered streets of New York, the deadly Spanish influenza ripples through the city. But with so many victims in her close circle, young socialite Allene questions if the flu is really to blame. All appear to have been poisoned—and every death was accompanied by a mysterious note.

Desperate for answers and dreading her own engagement to a wealthy gentleman, Allene returns to her passion for scientific discovery and recruits her long-lost friends, Jasper and Birdie, for help. The investigation brings her closer to Jasper, an apprentice medical examiner at Bellevue Hospital who still holds her heart, and offers the delicate Birdie a last-ditch chance to find a safe haven before her fragile health fails.

As more of their friends and family die, alliances shift, lives become entangled, and the three begin to suspect everyone—even each other. As they race to find the culprit, Allene, Birdie, and Jasper must once again trust each other, before one of them becomes the next victim.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US









My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley*

America is at war and Spanish Influenza terrorises the city, but the lives of Allene, Jasper and Birdy are changed when a young woman dies at Allene's engagement party. Florence's death appears to be an accident, but the trio think she has been murdered.

Then more people connected to Allene, Jasper and Birdy start to die in strange circumstances.

Who is the murderer?

Will Allene, Jasper and Birdy be next?

I was REALLY looking forward to reading A Beautiful Poison - a historical murder mystery novel with a gorgeous cover? Yes please! But I am so disappointed!

Where to begin...

From the very start I found parts of the writing stilted and as they didn't flow easily it made it hard to get into the story.

I didn't like any of the main characters. Some of their reactions and some of the things they said were odd. I also didn't think that any of them were particularly nice, but of course them not being perfect does make them realistic characters. Lucy and Ernie were likeable and I felt sorry for them.

The plot was okay but I guessed something at the beginning that ended up being right.

I lost interest a few times and nearly DNF'd at one point.

I liked that Allene was really into chemistry (as a former chemistry university student it was interesting to see it in a book).

Overall this was an okay but disappointing read.

Review - The Dark Intercept (The Dark Intercept, #1) by Julia Keller

Title: The Dark Intercept (The Dark Intercept, #1)

Author: Julia Keller

Pages: 320

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: 31st October 2017

Blurb from Goodreads: 

When the state controls your emotions, how hard will you fight to feel free?

In a radiant world of endless summer, the Intercept keeps the peace. Violet Crowley, the sixteen-year-old daughter of New Earth’s Founding Father, has spent her life in comfort and safety. Her days are easy thanks to the Intercept, a crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew, gets into a dangerous altercation on Old Earth, Violet launches a secret investigation to find out what he's hiding. An investigation that will lead her to question everything she's ever known about Danny, her father, and the power of the Intercept.

Much like the device itself, The Dark Intercept might get under your skin.

 

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley*

 Violet Crowley lives on New Earth which was founded by her father.

Everyone on New Earth, as well as those unlucky enough to be living on the ravaged Old Earth, have an Intercept chip implanted at their elbows. The Intercept uses emotional memories to prevent crime, something not everyone agrees with.

Violet knows that Danny Mayhew, her friend and the boy she loves, has a secret. He keeps travelling to Old Earth and Violet has to know why.

What is Danny hiding?

When I read the premise for The Dark Intercept I was really excited to see where it would go. However, I ended up disappointed.

Violet was an okay character but I didn't like how obsessed she was with finding out Danny's secret. He told Violet to trust him, but she had to go and invade Danny's privacy and stick her nose into his business. I found her reason for deciding to finally do some snooping a bit weak - she was fed up of waiting and just HAD to find out. It would have made more sense if Violet hadn't known about Danny's not-so-secret trips to Old Earth, and then discovering them she decides to find out what he's doing.

The writing style was alright but I lost interest several times.

The plot was okay. If it wasn't for the twists I didn't see coming then I would be giving this a lower rating.

Overall this was an okay, disappointing read.