Book Review – Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick

School going years, especially middle and high school years, are the most memorable of my life. Though not so much when I have received punishments. Those times I have blotted out. Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick took me right back to those times – especially making friendships unexpectedly!

Dread Wood is a tale of how four students have to go to school on a Saturday to face detention. With their phones taken away, they are stranded in the school grounds with their own company. And the horrors that surround them. One after the other Hallie, Naira, Gustav and Angelo face horrors that have gotten from bad to worse together. And together they overcome this.

Jennifer Killick is good at her craft. The book’s plot is well thought of and excellently written. This makes Dread Wood an engaging read. It had me hooked from the get go! The pace, the suspense, the thrill … everything was very well formulated and the reader can get carried with the flow. The best part however are the four main characters and how they go from four random classmates to become a team. It is an experience the reader can rejoice in as they become a part of that gang.

The best part however are the four main characters and how they go from four random classmates to become a team. It is an experience the reader can rejoice in as they become a part of that gang

Tweet

A wonderful book, Dread Wood can be enjoyed by young readers as well as old. They can be expected to be taken on a thrilling ride!

Book Review- Things to Do Before the End of the World by Emily Barr

The world around me is quite bizarre. India today has her muffled cries echoing down all of her streets. Reading a book with a title “Things to do Before the End of World” was a weird thing for me during this time.

Honestly I thought that I might need to put down the book due to the bleakness of the title. Perhaps, the book would add on to the anxiety I already dealt with. But, no. It is just a title, and one that is, in my opinion, not in sync with the rest of the book. I already know this is going to be a very short review, because I did not enjoy this book. 😐

A tale of a sixteen year old is sometimes fun to read. I, however, did not enjoy the young woman’s tale in this book. Olivia is an introvert. Her crush, her relationship with her parents, a cousin she didn’t know of, her best friend… almost all the things that one usually finds in this genre are present in Things to Do Before the End of the World.

I enjoyed the writing, Emily Barr has a gift for it. But, Things to Do Before the End of the World is in discord with its title. When facing the end of the world, one would assume human emotions go through the wringer. An element which was absent consistently through out this book. And second, the end of the world was an event, called The Creep, which was mentioned here and there. Therefore, the seriousness with which it was dealt with was completely lacking from the plot.

Under the circumstances, the book went on and on and it felt like reading fustian. It was lacking the emotional connect one feels while reading.

Again, this is my opinion. There may be readers who have enjoyed Things to Do Before the End of the World for all it is. But, I did not. And therefore, this one does not do it for me. 😦

Book Review – Kate In Waiting by Becki Albertalli

I must start this post with an apology to The Write Reads gang, and Dave. They had originally scheduled me for this post on the seventeenth of April, but I am posting this one day later. Given the Covid situation in India right now, I could only finish reading this book now and had to delay this post.

Kate In Waiting is one of those light hearted teen rom-coms that take your mind away from the hard times that is life today. And I found I liked it alot. The book is all about Kate, a teenager, actively involved in the drama club at her school. Her life, her family, her friends and the traipsing through the obstacle course that is teenage love.

What I loved about Kate In Waiting was that it dealt with everything that encompasses adolescence. First love, fighting and making up with best friends, friendships and relationships that stay and wither, family that grows apart and family bonds that grow stronger. The awkwardness and that thrill, the heartbreak and all that, that comes with any such relationhip. An absolute delight to read.

A few chapters in, I felt that Kate In Waiting was being very verbose about Kate and her everyday life. Too many words, too little content. However, that is exactly what most teenager is. I certainly was walking around with my head in the clouds. I cannot complain about the realistic situation in the book, can I?

On the whole, Kate In Waiting is a very lovely read that got me through a few bleak days. It was all that warm and fuzzy feeling in the last few chapters, where everything is “peachy and perfect”.

Definitely recommend to those who love a good teenage rom-com with all the bells and whistles.

Book Review – Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney

There are some great things about being a part of a bookish community. Actually, there are only great things when one is a part of anything to do with books. And Book Tours are one of them. We get to read books, relish and review them. One such book tour is Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney, by The Write Reads.

One will either go “bah!”, or get hooked on to it from the get go. Bad Habits is a book about Alex, and her life at St. Mary’s, a Catholic boarding school. I absolutely loved reading Bad Habits.

Alex, with her biker boots and purple hair, has one goal – to get expelled from St. Mary’s. The misogynistic, rooted in patriarchy, rosary distributing school, where Alex is the black sheep. It really does not help that St. Mary’s is also Alex’s father’s Alma Mater. So what does it take to get expelled? She has gotten a file thick with all the paperwork for every misstep she has been caught at. Obviously, Alex plans for something more; something immense enough to get her kicked off campus. With her adorable roommate, Mary Kate, trotting alongside being the poster girl for everything prim and proper, Alex sets off on a journey that is equal parts hilarious and imbecilic. Alex is, afterall a school kid.

Now, is the book only about Alex? No. Mary Kate has a significant portion where she also realises her term goals. There are many other characters who have a very significant presence in Bad Habits. Some of the issues addressed in the book, like sex education, are a worthy cause that must be taken up in schools. However, it was on a lighter note and a topic of a few paragraphs. Alex did her best to highlight it those few times.

The major portion of the book is all about teenagers and them finding their footing, making their space… basically, becoming their future selves. It makes for an interesting read. Not some philosophical coming of age, jargon filled book this. Bad Habits is a more hilarious version of it. With its protagonist literally having a “lightbulb” moment in the midst of a crisis to realise what she actually wants!

I do hope Bad Habits gets made into a teen movie, because it sure is meant to be one.

I absolutely enjoyed reading Bad Habits, and think you should too.

Book Review – The Cousins by Karen McManus

There are only two weeks left in this year. There was the announcement of going into a lockdown, and it is December! Where has all the time gone? We all may have a dozen more significant milestones this year, but it feels like this year has been one that has zoomed past. With everything happening around me, reading has been the only thing keeping me grounded and in any semblance of peace.

With another blog tour, The WriteReads gang has brought forth an excellent book to be reviewed – The Cousins. Karen McManus has done excellently with The Cousins. Three cousins, who have not been in touch for eons, their parents who could not be interested with being in touch, their grandmother a woman who disinherited her four children without second thought. What could be interesting in their lives?

It all starts with one day the three cousins, Jonah, Milly, and Aubrey receiving a letter from their grandmother, Mildred. It states that they are to be a part of an intern program at the family island resort. Mildred is rich, and she disinherited her four children without a penny. Without any communication for decades, she reaches out now to her grandchildren.

What follows is one twist after another. While the initial chapters give us an insight into the life of Milly and Aubrey, it takes off at a much faster half way through the book. I didn’t know who to cheer for. I wanted Jonah to accomplish his purpose, for Aubrey to get fierce, and if Milly wanted to go hulk smash, that too! Twist after twist, it was all too exciting to read.

The Cousins is an exciting read with excellent characters, a great plot and captivating writing. Karen McManus has given us a wonderful read.

If you are interested in YA with mystery, romance and all thrown in, The Cousins is what need. A full five stars for The Cousins by Karen McManus.

Go read!

Goodreads

The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
View all my reviews

Book Review – Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall

First off I must confess that being a part of The Write Reads gang is a great thing. And with time, I may eventually begin to like the YA fantasy genre more. Some of the YA fantasies I have read in recent times have been courtesy of the gang.

Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall takes the reader to a whole new world, Isle of Ruma, filled with magic and powerful creatures. Volke Savan is a sixteen year old who wants to better his place in the world. He dared to dream and was inspired by his hero, Gregory Ruma. Volke refused to let his future be coloured by his parents infamy or his current status as a grave digger.

Shami Stovall needs to commended for making this fantasy world come alive with her words. A gift that is an absolute delight to the reader. Vivid and captivating in its depictions, Volke’s world is one the reader can picture as they read Knightmare Arcanist. Stovall other strength is her writing in itself. It was a delight to read Knightmare Arcanist, coursing through its emotions and character evolutions. All of the characters, their stories, the dynamics between them, all of these were handled by the author with aplomb. It felt like one could look up to Volke, despite his tender years. A feat that is completely Stovall‘s doing.

Being the first of the series, Knightmare Arcanist is a great stepping stone into Volke’s world. I am sure that anyone who has read Knightmare Arcanist would agree that the second book in the series is one to look forward to. With Shami Stovall‘s writing, the readers can expect more of the same goodness to follow.

Definitely recommend!

Book Review – Magic Unleashed (Venators) by Devri Walls

I signed up for Magic Unleashed by  Devri Walls as part of a book tour by The Write Reads gang. I must acknowledge my gratitude for Dave and every book blogger involved. This group is one of the most amazing things to happen in the world of book blogging.

Now to Venators. The first book in the series, Magic Unleashed is a YA and fantasy all in one. Rune, her twin Ryker and Grey are a part of the same college community. When Rune and Grey are attacked by creatures in their dorm, they are saved by a blue skinned man, but Ryker is taken by those creatures. That is just the beginning. While the beginning of the book was a tad slow, as I flipped through a few pages, the plot became engrossing. It is a wonderfully built plot and amazed me.

The whole world of the Venators is fascinating. Starting from the stunts, to the beings themselves, it was very detailed and painted a startlingly vivid picture. If the reader does not picture the whole scene, I would be surprised. Vampires, werewolves; good and bad, all of it come together in this superb telling of this realm.

Well, the story thickens as choices need to be made and paths need to be taken. However, this is just the first book in the series. There is more to come from Venators.

About the book

Six years ago, Grey Malteer was attacked by creatures he thought couldn’t possibly exist. They repeated a word, calling him a name he’d never heard before…Venator. Since then, his life has been a hellhole of secrecy—hiding old pain alongside strange new abilities.

Rune Jenkins has an itch, as she calls it, but it’s more than that. It’s an anger that builds up like the inside of a boiler whenever she’s around anything remotely supernatural. The pressure is growing steadily worse and she can’t understand why. All she knows is—her control is slipping.

By order of an unknown council Grey and Rune are pulled through a portal in the St. Louis arch, landing them in an alternate dimension where creatures of myth and legend exist. A realm that calls them, Venators.

Made up of centuries old fae, vampires, werewolves, elves and succubi the council’s corrupt nature becomes obvious as they seek to wield the newly returned Venators as weapons. Wedged in an impossible position, Grey and Rune must decide their fate—do they go against the council’s wishes and help the innocents of this unforgiving land, or face the possibility of execution by the council.