Book List 2016

2. The Tesla Legacy by Rebecca Cantrell

January 7, 2016 Ashley LPLeave a comment

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Plot

This is a very natural continuation to the previous novel in the series, with Joe trying to cope even further with the revelation of why he is agoraphobic, and new revelations about his familial connections. The discovery of a dangerous device, created by none other than Nikola Tesla himself really does drive this plot in a great way.

Characters

My love for Joe Tesla only grows within this book and I can’t wait to read more of his adventures, or misadventures as they may be. His mind is truly an amazing thing, even as it turns against him in certain ways. There is more vulnerability for him within this novel, which only makes me care about him more, as though he is a real, live human being.

His enemies are twisted, almost more so than in the first novel. Ash is truly sinister, and a completely unreliable narrator, despite the reasons he gives for doing what he’s doing.

Characters I would like to learn more about: Vivian

Tone and Setting

The tunnels and his new home seem almost like coming home as a reader, as we are given the opportunity to become more familiar with them. The tone of this novel is more sprawling, from fear, to almost abject terror at one point. It’s a true mystery though.

Overall:

I’ve already got my hands on the second novel and I can’t wait to read it. Rebecca Cantrell is a fantastic writer, one who knows how to do her research as well.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆

Recommended to: Nikola Tesla fans, mystery lovers, people who have read anything else by Rebecca Cantrell.

Book List 2015

Three Reviews for the Price of One

January 6, 2015May 27, 2018 Ashley LP2 Comments

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

I don’t know what made me wait so long to read any of Michael Crichton’s books, after all he was definitely a master of plot, characters and he usually did a pretty good job on his science as well.

Jurassic Park, the book which the movie phenomenon ended up based off is a masterful work of writing. Even though I knew the premise, and the end, it was the explanation behind how this could have happened that had me rapidly flipping the pages. I searched for the differences, marvelled at the way in which it was written and loved every second of it until the end.

Crichton’s books are now on my to be read list, and i’m very excited to read The Lost World, and even his other novels as well.

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

This is one of those series’ of books that I was initially very “meh” about while reading it, but I have come to love through time. They are typically quick reads, but I always felt something was missing throughout the books until this one.

The main character, Mercy Thompson is as sassy as ever, and I’m glad to see that didn’t change with a change in relationship status. She will always fight for what she believes in and I was happy to see the current mythologies of this series, fae, vampire,lycanthrope and otherwise melding, and clashing against the mythologies existing in the Native American tribes.

This books is a page turner, and I really did enjoy every minute of the wild ride.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

This book was a little bit more of a slow burn, if you don’t mind the cliche, for me. I don’t know if I was burnt out from having read the series back to back or what, but it was just plain hard for me to get into at first.

However, once I got into it, that was it. The pacing sped up, new characters were introduced, and certainly left their mark, and a shiver of fear behind. The vampires role was explained just a little bit further, but not too much, meaning their presence will continue to be enticing and somewhat frustrating.

Mercy’s relationship with Jesse made me smile in this, as it seems to have grown just the slightest bit and as per usual certain scenes had me laughing aloud while others, and Mercy’s stubbornness had be shaking my head.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

January 4, 2014May 27, 2018 Ashley LPLeave a comment

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I feel like my life has been highjacked by an author and used for fictional purposes, and yet I am perfectly okay with that.

I read this novel in the span of two hours, with the knowledge that I was probably reading what will end up being my favourite book of 2014 and it’s only the beginning of the year. What does that mean for the rest of the time? I don’t know. I’ll find something.

I would like to preface this review by saying I absolutely, positively did not want to read this book at all. It was everywhere though and I couldn’t avoid it so finally I gave in.

After all a book about a girl who loves fan fiction and a fictional world so in tune with books I’d loved (possibly Harry Potter, possibly the Magicians) couldn’t even be that good could it?

I was wrong.

Cath is a very fulfilling and enriched character, with all of her flaws laid out before her and sadly it is in her that I see my own flaws. The ability to bury ones self in a fictional world to avoid what is going on around you is seen in this book. But the realization that the world around you might not be so bad is what makes this novel great. When she began to come out of her shell I felt a sense of pride.

This book is just awesome. It’s not masterful literature and might not be considered a classic by anyone who isn’t in a fandom but it’s fun, and it’s a fast read and altogether lovely.

View all my reviews