whimsicallymeghan's reviews
1386 reviews

This was, as the front of the book states, one woman’s obsessive search for, who she deemed, the Golden State Killer. This took a deep dive into all the research that McNamara had done on trying to find this killer and serial rapist. Unfortunately, McNamara passed away before this book could be completed and the mystery solved, so this left this reader feeling really sad about that. After all the work that we could see went into this, the reader felt the heart and soul McNamara put into this, it came through loud and strong in her writing, it’s really terrible and a little heartbreaking she didn’t get to see this all through. After doing a little research of their own, this reader has since found out that in 2020 they were able to catch the killer/rapist. This book dealt with some really hard topics and McNamara never shied away from it, but she was able to soften things with her beautiful writing; it really let the reader ease into all of this heavy stuff without feeling overwhelmed. The fact that she let the reader into her own life and how she got into loving true crime and wanting to find the justice in the world was also really well incorporated into all the hard facts and figures, and helped soften this book, too. There were quite a few of her chapters that had to be pieced together by her editors and at times that kinda left this choppy to read. We could tell the editors did a good job of trying to place everything together for McNamara, but it just didn’t read as smoothly as some of her chapters that she was able to put together herself. That to say though, this was still a really fascinating read, especially coming from someone who doesn’t read the true crime genre, this was done in a way that was easily accessible to outside readers. Overall, a well worth and captivating read.

Humanity is dying on Earth, so when they intercept a message from an alien planet, Gaia, entailing how their planet’s advanced technology can be the answer to reversing all the damage done to Earth, they jump at sending people there. Jules Addison is student of alien culture and agrees to go for his studies, while Amelia Radcliff finds herself chosen to go. The two meet accidently and decide to form an alliance to help get the information they’ve both come to seek. But as their search for the technology continues, they soon start realize that things may not be what they seem on this planet and humanity might not be as saved as they thought. This was definitely an exciting and fun novel to read, even if it didn’t always start out that way. This novel kinda just drops the reader into this world, or this uninhabited planet, and we’re left to try and put everything together. It helped that there was a lot given to us, but it felt like it could be really wordy in the first half of the book. That made this a really slow read, and could be a bit of a slog to get through, especially with all the science lingo that went over this reader’s head. That and the fact that the chapters started off super long, really made it a chore to get through, but once we made it through that, things started to move fast and the plot really took off. Once the reader grasped the story and the plot, they really enjoyed the twists and turns this took because it was never really clear what was going to happen, so as soon as we got to the end, it felt shocking. This unfortunately ended on a cliff-hanger; we’re led to believe one thing, but it turns out, it could be something else, so now the reader just needs the next book to find out who these people could be and what’s going to happen next. The world building was good; the reader understood the concept, even if it did take time to figure out how everything worked together. The characters were really well developed and the reader liked how they worked together. This had a bit of an enemies to friends plot, but they really liked that they both had a different set of skills and how the realized they could use each other’s knowledge to get them out of the situation they were in. It made for a really good read. The secondary characters really brought the story to life with all the different things they threw at our main characters and how resilient they needed to be. In the end, it didn’t exactly wow this reader, but they enjoyed the ride this took them on. They look forward to the sequel and have high expectations for how everything is going to go down. As for this novel, it was a good introduction to this world and the reader can’t wait to read more.

Arthie Casimir owns a tea room, that by night turns into an illegal bloodhouse for the vampires who fear society. So when her tea room is threatened, she must make a deal with an unlikely rival to save it, but she can’t do it alone. Arthie then rounds up some of the city’s most skilled outcasts to help with her plan, only not everyone on her crew is on her side. As secrets are revealed, truths are unveiled and it soon becomes a question on whether Arthie’s plan will work or not. This novel had a lot of potential, but it just didn’t live up to this reader’s expectations. They really enjoyed the concept of this, but the execution fell short. The plot was good, it was fast-paced and full of heist and vampires, but there was just too much going on and not enough explanation that it left for a more confusing read, than a pleasant one. The reader wanted to understand and know how the world worked more. The author did do a good job of trying to describe things, like half vampires, that was such a cool concept, but unfortunately this reader didn’t totally get it. Because of that, it felt like the big reveal close to the end felt a little lacklustre because they just didn’t grasp the world properly. The characters were good, but at the same time, they could sometimes sound the same, so the reader had a hard time telling whom was whom. They all had some sort of similar backstory, and they were all trying to overcome where they came from to become better people; which is great for character growth and development, that we did see here, but the fact that they felt too similar left it feeling less diversified. All that aside though, that’s not to say this wasn’t a good book, it just needed some work. It was still enjoyable to read and it’s not a complete loss because the reader is invested and wants to read the sequel when it’s released. We’re hoping that we’ll get more world building and a better sense of things and maybe a better appreciation for this book. For now, this was a read that could be entertaining at times, a little witty at times, but also a little unclear, but it was still a good time.

In the small fishing town of Baja California, Mexico, lives Viridiana. It’s 1979, and all she dreams about is leaving to travel, go to school, explore, but instead her options are very limited, to stay, get married and have children. When a wealthy American shows up with his wife and brother-in-law, she jumps at the job opportunity to be his writer’s assistant. Little does she know, she begins to fall down the rabbit hole of lies and deceit as she’s entangled in their webs. Do the risks outweigh the rewards and is she willing to stick around to find out? Another solid novel from Moreno-Garcia. In this novel, she really hit the mark with a slow burn, coming of age, mystery. This had a slow-paced start; it didn’t really pick up until the last handful of chapters, but this really worked for the story. We’re in a sleepy town in Mexico where nothing ever really happens, so the pacing felt perfect for the kind of life our main character would live and know. Obviously our more secondary characters brought the action and drama, but it was worked in so well that it wasn’t rushed in, but a slow gradual build up. Moreno-Garcia’s writing was also really well done because everything just flowed and the layers in which she not only created suspense and tension, but her characters were so deeply layered it made it hard to put down; they needed to read more. Our main character, Viridiana, was such a flawed character, it basically made her perfect. She’s eighteen years old and wants to escape her small town. When she gets the opportunity with her new job and she learns the truth of their nefarious ways, she knows it’s bad, yet she can’t help but weigh her options – do the right thing, or help in doing the wrong thing, but essentially use that as a get out of town ticket. The decisions that Viridiana must make are hard ones, and we see her struggle the whole time, but it was so interesting to keep reading to see what choices she’d make because the reader never knew what would do; the reader doesn’t think Viridiana even knew until she was making them. The secondary characters really moved the plot along in how mysterious they were. The reader knew there was something up with them, and it was so satisfying to keep reading to figure out if their suspicions were right or not. An overall thrill of a novel, even if it could be slow; Moreno-Garcia has a way with words to make it feel well worth the time and investment.

A very odd, yet curious companion novel to Riggs’ Peculiar Children series. This book transported readers back into this world once more for background information and details never shared before. Reading like a guide for new arrivals in the peculiar world, from learning about famous peculiar children, the evils that they run from, the loops that they live in and how to act like a normal, when they very much aren’t, was a lot of fun to read. The way Riggs set the photos with his writing was so captivating and believable, that he has his readers on their toes wanting to conceive that what he’s written is fact and not fiction. This was so fast-paced, too. It was so easy to get lost in the words and the stories. Not only were the photos a great complement to the stories, but there were some illustrations that made this so beautiful to look at. For the most part, the reader enjoyed reading all of the chapters and thought they were told in a great order; the only thing this reader didn’t really care for was the addition of the peculiar language that is apparently spoken by peculiar children. This reader doesn’t remember them ever having a language so it felt like that section came out of left field. Otherwise, this was a really well put together book, full of wonders and fascinations. This is definitely for readers who adored the series; this was a great way to be back without doing a complete re-read of all the books.

Zarin was the girl people were warned to stay away from, always a troublemaker with too many boys around. So when she and her best friend Porus end up in a car accident, dead, it’s only then that people start to see there was more to Zarin, than what everyone said about her. Told in reverse chronological order, this novel was an interesting rollercoaster of a book to read. It started off really confusing because there were so many points of view that we didn’t know who our main characters were supposed to be. To add to that, we didn’t even know if they were alive or not. The way the author tried to format the book so that the tense shifted, just left the reader very confused. It took a good little while before the reader could grasp what was going on and to actually start to enjoy the book. For the most part, yes this book was good, it had a good message and the reader appreciated what she was trying to go for, but it didn’t feel like it always hit the mark. The reader wanted more from the characters. We got a basic understanding of them and their lives, which the author did a great job of describing the ways in which both men and women have their very strict gender norms and rules in Saudi Arabia, that part was so well done because it’s a topic this reader is only mildly aware of, so this book gave a great eye into that life. But it felt like so much more could have been given to us, especially our secondary characters Zarin’s aunt and uncle. There’s this big plot point that Zarin’s mother died when she was young so she had to live with her relatives, but we never get more than that. It’s always alluded to from her aunt, mostly, who was seen as crazy, but the reader wanted to know so much more about that. There was a whole story that felt was missing. Sure that wasn’t exactly Zarin’s story, but it would play a large roll in it, and give the reader so much more. We thought we might have gotten some answers near the end, but the novel just kind of ends after the climax. The pacing was good, there was enough tension and suspense to keep the reader invested. They already knew what had happened, as it was told to us in the very beginning, but we didn’t know how it happened, so the whole novel was a playback and a lead up to the events. It could get emotional at times because there was a lot going on and definitely has trigger warnings for date rape, and sexual assault. In the end, this novel had importance and could be quite heavy, but this reader found it was lacking a bit in terms of character growth and the plot development could have been a bit better; that said, this is still worth the read.

Taking place in an alternate reality of Detroit, Fort Détroit, where it never gave itself away to the U.S., weaves a tale of orphaned children fighting for survival in their own kingdom in the trees where they make the rules. It’s here that Gloria finds herself when on the hunt for her lost grandchildren. This started as a moving and interesting novel, but as the reader dove deeper, it got stranger and they stopped to wonder if they understood what was happening. This novel is separated into four parts and the first part was very emotionally driven and fast-paced. We meet our main character Gloria and we realize her grandchildren are missing; it’s a little reflective as she thinks about her own daughter and her upbringing and the lost communication and just the relationship she had with her. It was such a great way to open the novel because it left the reader wanting to know more about Gloria, and if she was going to find these two young girls. We enter the second part and it’s no longer in Gloria’s point of view but in a third person narration of these children who live within the woods and take care of themselves. What the reader liked was the closeness and the bonds they had with each other, and how they protected each other. What they didn’t like, was how jumbled it felt to read. We jumped from person to place a lot trying to get a feel for this place, and we just never got there because this reader couldn’t keep anything straight. Then when we entered the third part and it’s a combination of the third person narration and Gloria’s point of view and it felt even more miss-mashed because there was too much going on. On top of this, this felt overwritten; things were over-described, which made it hard to keep reading. The reader wonders if this is because it was translated because it felt too wordy. This probably could have been a great novel, but because there were too many voices and words clouding up the story, it made it hard to follow and hard to connect with. There were moments in between that felt worth-while, but overall, this novel didn’t fit with this reader. They appreciated what the author was trying to do and the story she wanted to tell because it sounded so intriguing, but it unfortunately didn’t come through for this reader.

A collection of six short essays depicting Smith’s thoughts and muses through the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s something about Smith’s non-fiction that just hits different for this reader. The reader liked that these essays were short because it gave enough time for the reader to read and reread her thoughts and to really let the words she’s saying sink in before moving on to something else, like you’re really absorbing what you’re reading. The way she writes leaves so much room for thought. Her ideas are definitely thought provoking and really make you think about things in different ways or in ways that they wouldn’t have thought otherwise. It’s great to read from different perspectives to see how other people perceive the world. Obviously, no one is obligated to agree with everything she says, and this reader didn’t agree with everything, but they appreciated her views and could respect her opinions. Speaking of the pandemic, that’s one thing this reader has learned a lot from it, realizing that not everyone is going to have the same thoughts, which was already known, but learning to respect those opinions and how to have better conversations around that, and Smith touches on that here. It’s also wild to be reading this almost exactly four years after she wrote this and to see how far (or not so far) we’ve come since then. It made it feel a little introspective, but it’s still a pretty relevant read and certainly worth the read.

Loli is just a young girl when she immigrants to Canada from Congo with her family. Over the course of the novel we see her through her teen years into early adulthood and how she deals with the ever changing course of her life and the things that got thrown at her. A coming of age story that is told in short story vignettes, depicting different stages of our main character’s life from her childhood days to her young adult days. This made for such a brilliant way to tell her story; it made it so that her story never dragged and we could really get a glimpse of who she is as a person at the varying points in her life. This also felt like a great way to keep the plot moving without it feeling like it jump-cut abruptly, like it could have in a regular novel format; with the short stories, it made sense to have the years move in the rapid succession that they did, and the reader really liked that. Not only was this told well, but the writing was really good, too. Mutonji had a way of captivating her audience with her words; they were so moving and evoked a lot of emotions, which made for a deeper and more meaningful read. Loli as a character was strongly developed. She had a lot to overcome and we could see the rises and pitfalls of her life and the choices she was making and why. The reader was always rooting for her and hoping for the best because even when she was making poor choices, we could see that she understood it wasn’t the best, but it was what she could do at that time. Watching as she discovered who she was and who she wanted to be, through the different people she encountered who made her the strong person she turned out to be, was poignant and emotional. In the end, this was a good read that was told in a creative and touching way.

My next classic read is short, but has a lot of info. It’s not dense per se. Because I’m actually enjoying reading it, but it’s reading like a manual… but an interesting manual. So, I went into this knowing nothing, I’ve heard of Machiavelli, but I had no idea what he was about. I started this and I went ‘huh this sounds a lot like Art of War’ where there are concepts and ideas for war and how they can be used in every day life, Machiavelli is the same way but less focused on war and more so on conquering and being a ruler. How to be the best prince, basically. I don’t know, there’s something about it that has me entranced every time I start reading it. Maybe it’s the words, but I feel like I get sucked in and I can’t help but find it so fascinating. I look forward to continuing! 

 

This was such a fascinating read; a look into the mind from centuries ago and how the concepts in this can still be relevant today. A lot like, Art of War, this had many concepts and ideas that one can look at and use, but there was something about the Prince that held my attention more and I just enjoyed more. I don’t know if it was his view on life or what, but I found myself submerged into this and fully engaged. Some ideas were more out there than others, but it was all really interesting. I also think that this is a book that you need to read more than once to fully absorb it all. I know there were a few passages I read more than once to fully grasp what he was saying, but I could definitely see myself flipping through this again one day.