Gripping from the first pages and beautifully written
340341
From the very first pages I was drawn into Annie Black's life and desperate to know how her story would unfold.  The beautiful, vivid, insightful and honest storytelling moved me, inescapably, between the frivolous years of my own youth and my overwhelming need now, as a parent, to protect my family.  The story is engrossing, the characters compelling, the prose faultless, and the twist at the end ingenious.

I thoroughly loved this book and could only, grudgingly, put it down when life absolutely forced me to.  If you haven't already read it get it now!
2351612
A friend of mine recommended this book and, although I was not sure I was going to like it, I am really glad I got in the end, because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not a predictable story at all, extremely engaging and building suspense all along; this made it totally unputdownable. One of my family members is mentally and physically ill so I know how difficult and frustrating life can be when one of your loved ones is not well.

So this book touched me deeply - not only because of the topics it touches but because it is beautifully written, creating unbelievable suspense while delivering such an emotional and gripping story. I highly recommend the Dutiful Daughter, it is the best book I have read in a long time.
3803539
Within the first few pages, the reader is gripped by the plight of a woman betrayed for an unknown reason, and subjected to a fate worse than death. What follows is a sweeping, complex narrative that involves gods, royalty, a war for survival, and a blossoming romance between a brave young woman in a terrible circumstance, and a being of incredible power, learning to be human once more.

The entire story is gripping, exciting, and enticing. The battle scenes have a frantic energy, yet are still easily understood, even as powerful magic swirls around the battlefield. The characters are well-developed, and even the most despicable villains have redeeming qualities, and it's easy to see why people follow them. The various storylines are interwoven in a convincing and realistic narrative that provides a complete story, despite being the first part of a trilogy.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next novel, and any more work from the author!
4661824
4.5 stars
This wasn't the book that I thought I would be reading, but it was written so beautifully, and everything was brought to life that I didn't mind. It was told from first person POV which I love, but Cyn Balog can write really well in first person. Ki's voice felt genuine and real, and she never said more than what needed to be said. Sometimes you get a writer who rambles in the first person which can be annoying. I felt everything wrapped up nicely so another book is not necessary to feel a sense of completion. Although if there is another book, I would read it in a heartbeat.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be picking up other books by Cyn Balog.
2721431
From the outside, it's pretty simple. Two brothers, both working jobs below their intellect.
Two sisters, both rebelling from their parents needs and wants.

But they are intertwined, and the writing makes it so that you feel just as trapped, just as curious to explore, to test the boundaries.  The words are descriptive, coherent and gripping,  We can all relate to aspects of the story, wether you live in a big city with a corporate job, or living in a remote town.

I struggled to put the book down.
2090950
I fell in love with this  book from the first chapter, and like any well written, well-paced book I couldn't put it down. The voice of the main character is entirely believable as are all the secondary characters (although I did find Princess Lei Lei difficult to see in my mind at first, but then that maybe because she truly is an odd character). I was not so much carried along by the pace of the book as the beautiful writing and the wonderful way the author paints such vivid scenes. I wanted to know more about the children and the 'club' and perhaps more of the action scenes could have been gradually developed so not as to appear in contrast to the main style of writing, but these are minor points. This is a wonderful book. I don't want to give anything away with regard to the story or the characters, just to say parts of it reminded me of To Kill a Mocking Bird, and other parts a Stephen King story. Either way, I loved it. I saw it as a clear and vivid film inside my head as I read each chapter and I'm still thinking of the story now. Highly recommended!!!
4142418
I was drawn into the world of Marie and Cole in this engaging and very well told story. The writing is wonderful and the pacing is spot on. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of New England and rural Georgia. As someone who also moved to the south, I identified with many of Marie's impressions, and I wish I'd had my own Cole. This book deftly weaves past and present in an unforgettable tale of love, serendipity, unfairness and missed chances. I plan to read more of this author's works.
171892
Tarnished Gold drew me in with both the elegant writing style and gripping plot. I don't feel the need to write a full synopsis here, so instead Ill discuss what I found interesting and unique about this book and what makes it a worthwhile read.

What I found striking about the story was the juxtaposition of the beauty of the artwork that is integral to the story (a stolen Drer watercolour) and the darker aspects of the plot, including murder and the grittiness of the city and its underworld.

While the protagonist Cantor Gold is a tough, streetwise woman, she also has a great appreciation for fine artwork. The story is set in 1950 and we see that she is a collector of the emerging artists of the era. I particularly liked Cantors musings on the Rothko painting that she had purchased legally, rather than stolen: About a year or so ago, this guy Rothko started painting fuzzy-edged rectangles and squares of different colors. They look like spaces I could crawl into, get lost inside a slot of brown or a chasm of green or a tunnel of black. (Chapter 5)

Tarnished Gold is written in the first person, present tense and I found that it fit the story well, giving it a very immediate and personal feel.

The setting of New York City is also vividly portrayed  from the elegant homes and apartments of the wealthy in the Upper East Side, to the descriptions of the newly urbanizing Queens, to the docklands and the diners.

New York in 1950, nearly two decades before Stonewall, was a complex world in which to be lesbian or gay. As Cantor thinks to herself, one could be arrested and spend the night in jail after a raid on a gay nightclub or even put in a psychiatric institution if caught in a sexual act.

Cantor Gold is such an interesting main character and one who is certainly not perfect. As an art thief, she lives a life of crime but manages to justify it, at least to herself.  Her reasoning for her illegal acts is that if the law sees her as a criminal just for being who she is (lesbian), are any other laws worth following?

The story also touches on the raw pain of Holocaust survivors and their families, as well as their personal strength, just five years after the end of World War II.

While Tarnished Gold is Ann Aptakers second book about Cantor Gold (following Criminal Gold), it can be read as a standalone novel without feeling like youve missed anything.

I think that readers who enjoy crime or mystery novels will appreciate Tarnished Golds well-crafted plot that features a protagonist with a different and unique take on life in New York City in 1950. For readers who enjoy lesbian fiction, Tarnished Gold stands out as an interesting mystery featuring a strong lesbian character, but without the focus on romance that is common in many lesbian novels.
2103706
I hesitated to read this book, given the subject matter: a 19th century all-too-true massacre. But peeking into it, I was gripped. The writing is so extraordinary, and the author's affection/respect for the characters, based on her own family, so strong, that I easily entered the flow of the story. This is history at its finest, and I look forward to reading Tademy's other books. I strongly recommend it to those seeking to better understand American history, as well as any readers who simply bask in fine writing.
2220157
This book is stunning, gripping from the start.  It is well written, entertaining and gut wrenching.  I had a very hard time putting it down and had a couple of very late nights staying up to read it.
925713
Though I'm not usually drawn to murder/mystery novels, I took SUMMER SHADOWS with me on vacation based on a friend's recommendation.
The book is very well written. The author has a wonderful command of language and wonderful insights into the reactions, struggles and needs of the various people involved after their own personal tragedy and how another tragedy helped them to heal and find new life. The people in the story are "real", "average", "normal" people. One of the things I appreciated about this book, among many, was that anyone could read it without concern for inappropriate, risqu or otherwise so-called "adult" language or situations. The story proved to be a real page-turner for me. One of the characters unexpectedly touched me deeply and helped me to revisit an old psychological wound that had never really healed. I am truly grateful to Killarney Traynor for this magnificent first offering and I look forward to reading more from this new author.
3094441
The Language of Trees left me wanting more of the intense, magical world of Lake Canandaigua and its characters whose lives and struggles are so interwoven. A brilliant first novel written with a sure hand and keen eye for the human condition, that unfolded so suspensefully and beautifully I could hardly put it down, yet didn't want the story to end. Descriptions appealed to all my senses leaving an indelible impression. Bravo.
523761
This book drew me in with the very first page.  It is a wonderfully written book and I couldn't put it down.  You won't be disappointed.
1845009
I was pulled in by the very first sentence of this poignant novel--and kept being drawn in by the magnificent writing and in-depth character development. A literary novel that is both a family drama and mystery, "Drowning Ruth," is a gorgeous read. Tracy Shawn, author
1444301
The Lodger is a remarkable, beautifully written debut novel. A thought provoking mixture of fact and fiction.
Louisa's descriptions conjure up clear images of both characters and places. Obviously well researched, this atmospheric tale transported me to a London full of poverty, back in the early twentieth century. Emotionally charged and covering subjects I knew little about, I felt by the end, as well as being totally engrossed, I had also learned rather a lot. Fantastic. I shall look forward greatly to Louisa's next book.
91529
Reading this book made me feel like I'd been transported back in time. The words and phrases used take the reader to a time when everything for the upper and middle classes was so gentle.  They had no idea about the hardships of working life, sickness and poverty.  Even the insane were treated according to class and privilege.  Some gritty topics are discussed in this book, such as FGM, equality, women's rights and suffrage.  I would not have picked this genre before reading this book, but I was completely spellbound by the writing style.  I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which is beautifully written, gripping and interesting all at the same time.  I loved the characters and was immersed in the story.
4369027
This  beautifully written, yet stark novel was gripping from the first paragraph. Yeong-hye, a  very taciturn, young Korean woman, who is haunted by blood soaked images is married to an indifferent man. She becomes a vegetarian. This is a disconcerting decision in a very conservative Korean society . Her traditional parents are deeply shocked by her choice and after a violent confrontation with their daughter cut off ties with her. As a result she becomes anorexic and slowly decends into mental illness. This in Korean society is a shameful condition. In-hye, Yeon-hye's sister is a successful career woman who has a young child.  She supports Yeon-hye, paying for her treatment and visiting her in hospital. As Yeon-hye's condition worsens In-hye begins to feel that she too is sliding into mental illness.

This is not an easy read, but I found it fascinating and compelling.