Category Archives: Reviews

2014, adventure, Book Review, dystopian, romance, science-fiction, series, YA

[Review] The Runner – J.M. Johnson

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Book Title:                     The Runner (Avi Bloom Series #01)
Author:                            J.M. JohnsonThe Runner_Cover
Number of pages:    199

Synopsis:

Ten years ago the president of the United States declared that global warming had reached a tipping point from which it would not recover. In answer to this dilemma, modern technology was shut down. The elderly and other volunteers could opt to live out the rest of their lives in a virtual world, but all others were left to fend for themselves.

Seventeen-year-old Avi Bloom lives in a world in which each family must contribute one child as a runner. A runner risks life and limb to travel from village to village delivering news and other small items. Avi is one run shy of retiring when she discovers that whole villages are disappearing, leaving only a few dead bodies and the youngest children behind. Now, Avi must find out who or what is responsible for these missing people as she goes on a journey and discovers friendship, love, and betrayal. She also discovers that the forces behind these disappearances are much larger and more frightening than she could ever have imagined.

 (re: Goodreads @ The Runner by J.M. Johnson)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • Elements of intrigue include Amish concepts and computer programming language.
  • Heroine is underwhelming in development. Love triangle exhibited through underdeveloped relationships.
  • Action sequences are fast-paced.
  • There’s a degree of wishful thinking and lacking urgency in plotting.
Initial Thoughts:

I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest critique.

The premise is intriguing and certainly made me want to read this. The unfortunate thing is that while it does start off with a bang, there are avenues which lack substance in allowing this narrative to thrive in this genre.

Let me run these thoughts by you:

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

Continue reading [Review] The Runner – J.M. Johnson →

2014, Book Review, contemporary, cultural, death, japan, realistic fiction, Reviews, romance, standalone, YA

[Review] When You Were Here – Daisy Whitney

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Book Title:                    When You Were Here (Standalone)
Author:                           Daisy Whitney
Number of pages:    264daisywhitney_whenyouwerehere

Synopsis:

Danny’s mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn’t know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom’s property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother’s memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died.

(re: Goodreads @ When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • Predominately takes place in Japan and exposes its culture.
  • Male perspective on grieving losses, optimism, and discovering the nature of life and love.
  • Some characters are refreshing, others are one dimensional, but they’re all interwoven and linked to some degree.
Initial Thoughts:

This book was suggested to me by Savindi.

I had a brief moment after I read the synopsis: could it be that Daniel Kellerman will redeem the name “Daniel/Danny” after my experience with Daniel Kelly (re: Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas)? It’s totally not a coincidence that their names are practically identical right? Twins in another life, maybe. This is a young-adult contemporary about grieving death and meandering through clouded vision of acceptance and finding a way to move on. It has the inner workings to be one of those heart wrenching discovery reads where streams of figurative (or physical) tears eventually flow out of your sockets. But it didn’t get to that point for me.

Let me regale you with my grief:

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

Continue reading [Review] When You Were Here – Daisy Whitney →

2014, adventure, Book Review, mystery, mythology, romance, science-fiction, series, steampunk, YA

[Review] Chasing the Star Garden – Melanie Karsak

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Book Title:                    Chasing The Star Garden
(The Airship Racing Chronicles Series #01)
Author:                           Melanie Karsak chasing the star garden cover
Number of pages:    325

Synopsis:

An opium-addicted beauty.
An infamous poet living in self-imposed exile.
An ancient treasure about to fall into the wrong hands.

Melanie Karsak’s Chasing the Star Garden takes readers on a thrilling adventure from the gritty opium dens of gaslamp London to the gem-colored waters of the ancient world. Lily Stargazer, a loveable but reckless airship racer with a famous lover and shattered past, reluctantly plunges into a centuries-old mystery in a romantic adventure best described as Dan Brown meets Mary Shelley.

It all begins on one of the worst days of Lily’s life. She just lost the London leg of the 1823 Airship Grand Prix. To top it off, a harlequin fleeing from constables shoved a kaleidoscope down her pants, told her to fly to Venice, then threw himself from her airship tower. What’s a girl to do? For Lily, the answer is easy: drink absinthe and smoke opium.

Lily’s lover, Lord Byron, encourages her to make the trip to Venice. Lily soon finds herself at the heart of an ancient mystery which has her running from her past and chasing true love and the stars along the way.

(re: Goodreads @ Chasing The Star Garden by Melanie Karsak)

Should this book be picked up? the tl;dr spoiler-less review:
  • It’s like the Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones – a treasure-hunt of sorts on both tangible/intangible extremes.
  • Fancy steampunk? World building is superb and this is a fast-paced read that might fit your bill.
  • Anti-heroine is fleshed out well. She also inhales drugs and alcohol like oxygen. So that’s cool.
Initial Thoughts:

I don’t really understand the hype of steampunk or the vintage feel of steam-powered technology. I mean, I guess I can visualise the appeal others might have…but it just never did it for me. And then I was graced with this read; which I will say kind of changed my perception of steampunk. Not by much, but it’s a step in the right direction in discovering new things.

Let me throw down some concrete thoughts:

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

Continue reading [Review] Chasing the Star Garden – Melanie Karsak →