Category Archives: Reviews

2015, ARC review, Book Review

[Review] Dream Things True – Marie Marquardt

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Book Title              Dream Things True
Author:                    Marie Marquardt 
Number of pages:   352

Synopsis:

dream things true - marie marquardt - book cover Evan, a soccer star and the nephew of a conservative Southern Senator, has never wanted for much — except a functional family. Alma has lived in Georgia since she was two-years-old, excels in school, and has a large, warm Mexican family. Never mind their differences, the two fall in love, and they fall hard. But when ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) begins raids on their town, Alma knows that she needs to tell Evan her secret. There’s too much at stake. But how to tell her country-club boyfriend that she’s an undocumented immigrant? That her whole family and most of her friends live in the country without permission. What follows is a beautiful, nuanced, well-paced exploration of the complications of immigration, young love, defying one’s family, and facing a tangled bureaucracy that threatens to completely upend two young lives.

(re: Goodreads @ Dream Things True – Marie Marquardt)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr review:

— Set in Georgia (USA) and encompasses POC (Mexican) families, undocumented immigrants, race and discrimination, power and privilege, drugs, rape, and exoticism, among others
— Narrative is told in sporadic alternating perspectives between both MCs; writing integrates Spanish dialogue
— The romance jumps the gun; a bit instalust-y after a few chapters
— If you’ve seen “The Proposal” (with Bullock/Reynolds), it feels like a toned down YA version of that
— An important diverse read with revelations that seem a bit easy but speaks to the concern of white privilege; it’s a bit of a toss-up in terms of enjoyment

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Initial Thoughts

Dream Things True is a very difficult book to review.

Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of Dream Things True through Netgalley for an honest review. I extend thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with the opportunity to review this book.

Continue reading [Review] Dream Things True – Marie Marquardt →

2015, Book Review

[Review] Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard

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Book Title:                  Red Queen (Red Queen, #01)
Author:                         Victoria Aveyard
Number of pages:   383

Synopsis:

red queen - victoria aveyard coverThe poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

(re: Goodreads @ Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:

— Takes the memorable of other [dystopian] worlds and mashes it all up into a new story
— World building is superficially superb but lacks context to really bring the grit of caste societies full circle and feel urgency toward
— Though it is High Fantasy, it feels as though Romance eclipses all other genres. Fundamentally a love-triangle/V but can be seen as a love-pyramid (there are that many suitors…)
— Blends engaging action sequences with morally ambiguous conflicts seen through characters who stand taller by themselves. Developmental-wise, it’s a solid showing for a first installment
— Rating: 2/5

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Initial Thoughts:

After months of promising that I would read this…you have all been gifted with a stream of vomit under the cut.

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers inherent to this review from here onward.

Continue reading [Review] Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard →

2015, Book Review

[Review] Less Than Hero — S.G. Browne

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Book Title:                  Less Than Hero (Standalone)
Author:                         S.G. Browne
Number of pages:   368

Synopsis:

less than hero - s.g. browne - book coverFaster than a spreading rash! More powerful than dry heaves! Able to put villains to sleep with a single yawn!

Convulsions. Nausea. Headaches. Sudden weight gain. For the pharmaceutical soldiers on the front lines of medical science—volunteers who test experimental drugs for cash—these common side effects are a small price to pay to defend your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of antidepressants.

Lloyd Prescott, thirty-year-old professional guinea pig and victim of his own inertia, is the first to notice the bizarre, seemingly implausible consequences of years of testing not-quite-legal drugs: his lips go numb, he becomes overwhelmed with exhaustion, and instantly a stranger crumples into a slumbering heap before him. Under cover of night, Lloyd and his guinea pig friends band together to project their debilitating side effects onto petty criminals who prey upon the innocent. When a horrible menace with powers eerily similar to their own threatens the city, only one force can stop this evil: the handful of brave men who routinely undergo clinical trials.

(re: Goodreads @ Less Than Hero – S.G. Browne)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:

— Features the everyday apathetic hero fueled by ridiculous abilities (i.e. makes people vomit on will)
— Narrative follows a first-person POV, character vignettes, and snippets of news articles
— Socioeconomic diversity in characterization albeit non-descript nature of a [mostly] male cast
— Well paced, dialogue-driven page turner that can often find itself struggling with expositive info-dumps (e.g. listing side effects of certain drugs); bantering is full of sarcastic LOL-worthy wit
— Revelations feel a bit too neat and tidy; characters don’t experience steep growth
— Rating: 3.5/5

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Initial Thoughts

Whenever I see fantasy a la superhero, I will wave that wormy arm in the air holding a “sign me up banner”. I quite enjoy them; and this book is like the adult-ish take on all of the pew pew super power goodness without the actual inhumane abilities.

Full disclosure: I received a finished copy of Less Than Hero through PAI Media. I extend thanks to Gallery Books and the contact at Pai Media for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

Disclaimer: Potential spoilers inherent to this review from here onward.

Continue reading [Review] Less Than Hero — S.G. Browne →