Wonderfully crafted from a good premise
349990
Wonderfully crafted from a good premise.  His knowledge of military survival is evident.  The characters are plausible and believable as well as the dialog.  Be advised there is no HEA ending, to be finished in the next 2 books, but the ending here is satisfying enough.  It was well edited (maybe 2 typos--no big deal).  A good read.
355489
This book was received in exchange for an honest review through christinaescamilla.com. A longer version of the review can be found there.

With so many current dystopians on the market it would be easy to discount this book as yet another attempt in the genre. However, "Hope's Rebellion" certainly stands on its own two feet.

First and foremost, I must commend Varden on an extremely efficient job at world building. Everything from the social structure to simple nuances of clothing are handcrafted and it is very easy to step inside this world and get lost there. To that extent, the main premise of the world is that the population is segmented by hair color; with blondes being favorable over brunettes. Those with the wrong color hair are on lower rungs of society, while those with higher are given a more luxurious life. Though, as one gets into the book, the idea of what is considered a life free from hardship is very questionable and is one of the ways this book is so special. It tackles notions of power, discrimination, femininity, and so forth in a highly engaging way.

Though some readers might find the subject matter especially dark, especially for a YA novel, as a whole, there is no question - this makes for a very interesting read. Aside from this initial lauding, one minor flaw readers should note is that there are no breaks to differentiate between one scene from the other, so please keep this in mind when reading.

However, with a world that is rich and vibrant, a plot that lays out more than a few surprises, and extremely complex and capable characters, this book is definitely worth checking out!
659806
Malan's reWritten is at its heart an adventure story, and delivers on an intriguing premise and a diverse cast and setting that will please just about any reader of anthropomorphic fiction or any fan of scifi adventure as well.
The writing is highly descriptive and reminiscent of more classic works, but it fits with the protagonist's character, a slightly stuffy professor who's usual adventures don't take him too far from his front door.
Despite the lovely prose, I had a hard time embedding in the story, which I felt didn't really get going until well into part two or even part three, which is where I felt the main character really first displays any sort of independent agency. Before that he is very much pushed and pulled by outside forces, though the mystery surrounding him does offer enough intrigue to keep the reader's attention.
I just wanted to attach more or feel more empathy sooner than I eventually did, and that felt like perhaps the hook came a little late, at least for me.
The ending really twisted in interesting ways for me. I found the big reveals wonderfully unexpected, and the final pages tied up in a nice satisfying package that still left me wanting more from the universe.
I give it a solid four star rating, mostly because the pacing of the hook felt a bit tardy at the start, but I also hope very much for a sequel to shed more light on the mystery of this world.
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
2371775
When I read the blurb for Family Skulls, I was intrigued by the unique premise and decided to give it a read - I wasn't disappointed. The magic is subtle and nuanced, yet absolutely essential to the story. The writer does an excellent job helping us see the impact this curse has had on the family as a whole, as well as Seth, the protagonist.  The characters and setting were interesting, and the premise was compelling enough to keep me reading late into the night just to see how it ended. The ending brought a good feeling of closure without over-explaining every last detail. A definite recommend.
466768
I really enjoyed this book.  The characters are beautifully flawed and believable and the story is enthralling once it sucks you in.  While I at first thought some of the way the culture reverted to more religiously strict times was strange, it became clear through the blurbs accompanying each chapter and the general tone of the work that this was something that could reasonably happen after such a great tragedy as took place before the book started.

The world building was beautifully done -- it didn't feel like information overload and also didn't feel like I was left trying to figure out how all of these events could possibly have come to be from the past that was portrayed.  Well done!

I especially loved that the heroine depended on her brains rather than her brawn -- too often, I feel that if a female character isn't physically equivalent (or superior) to the male characters in the book, then she's considered weak -- Cavatica is a strong female character without relying solely on her physical strength.

The premise of the story/world is interesting and doesn't feel like something I've read 100 times before.

I was impressed by this book and can't wait to read more!
4676919
Ira Levin's stories are a pleasure to read. Stepford Wives has a fantastic premise (already coverd in other reviews), and delivers a brilliant story with thought-provoking ideas at its heart.

To conform or not to conform will ALWAYS be something Americans wrestle with (can't speak for other cultures). But in America, where we value liberty and individuality, there is also an insidious pressure to conform in some manner to some group--and those who don't will have to suffer consequences to be sure. That's why the premise of Stepford Wives will always be relevant.

As for the writing, Mr. Levin's prose are as clear and clean and knife-sharp as Scott Fitzgerald. Check it out for heaven's sake!
1282821
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 9/10

PROS:
- The premise is intriguing, which is quite a compliment from someone who reads almost nothing but m/m romances.
- Crane is an unusual aristocrat: he possesses all of the breeding of his class, but suffers few of the hangups typical of his contemporaries. And he doesn't give a hoot about propriety, which lends him a devilish quality. His behavior toward his manservant, Merrick, is particularly fun: they constantly toe the line of propriety regarding how members of the aristocracy and the working class should interact.
- I love reading about characters who aren't physically perfect. Stephen's plainness only highlights his other fine qualities...and those are the ones Crane is attracted to.
- The brief mentions of Shanghai made me want to see more of the city at that time--its culture, its inhabitants, etc.
- The sexual angle was spot-on for me. It's not the focus of the story, nor is it at all detailed. But it complements the story well: the blossoming of plain little Stephen mirrors his simultaneous proving of his worth as a practitioner of magic.

CON:
- Parts of the story could afford to be more fleshed out. Some important scenes are seen only in pieces in brief flashbacks, and others are skipped over almost entirely.

Overall comments: I liked the story very early on, and my interest only grew as the story progressed. The writing is smooth, the characters are likeable, and the fantasy/historical world is well formed. A lovely book throughout.
4336535
A great concept with characters that I liked, the Grimm curse descends upon Mina in a modern setting. There are enough editing and proofing flaws that I have to mention the fact, but the story is strong enough for me to want to continue with the series in spite of that.

Granted, some of the characters were on the flat side, even clichs. But Mina herself is an original construct, and her home life is realistic. The plot is unpredictable, ranging in tone from juvenile to epic fantasy to action, sometimes with abrupt changes, but for me the effect of all this was to raise the tension as I wondered what would happen to Mina in the end. I loved some of the ways in which the curse revealed itself, and this device allowed the author to take some liberties with the story line, most notably the ending, which was a little abrupt.

Chanda Hahn's wonderful concept and her well-executed cross-over between fairy-tale fantasy and contemporary YA earn this a four star rating in spite of the flaws. I'll even buy the next book!
1462542
The author has come up with a wonderful premise and this book kept me entertained til the very end.  The plot was well developed and I liked the characters.  And if you are one of those people who spends time thinking about what computers and social media are doing to the fabric of our culture, this book will be somewhat thought provoking.

The ending was a little "meh" - but that's okay.  I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it as a quick, delightful read.
3066660
The premise of the Zahn's new novel involves the concept of being able to save one's soul, not in the religious sense, but in the actual physical (electronic?) sense.  Two medical researches, one who has lost a five year old son in an accident, work together to find a way to catch a person's soul as he dies.  The soul can then be held in a type of limbo until the body is repaired, and the soul can be re-introduced - bringing that person back to the world. The second researcher is driven by the need to be immortal and to develop the Soulminder system to that end. The chapters of the books are not so much divisions of the novel, but each is its own separate story of dealing with the ways that people can twist something developed as a Life saving medical procedure,  and warp to fit their own selfish and evil ends.  Although the author doesn't delve into what he thinks a soul really might be,  he seems to  equate it with a human's consciousness. This was a fascinating read, and I actually liked the way the chapters were used.  It was different, and provided a wider range of perspective on the whole process of Soulminding. Hard science concepts aren't used, just enough to get the point across, which makes it an easier read for many.
3831868
I love the cover and admit that it really drew me in. The sample seemed competent too so I bought the book. I didn't realise it was so short, and wished it had been free in Australia as it apparently is in the USA. However, that's Amazon's fault, not the authors. I bet she wants them to make it free everywhere. But to the book.

A unique story with a mix of ancient and modern, magic and technology, that I really enjoyed. The central character was likeable enough, and I loved the way she saw overlays of other realities or times. I think the concepts will suit a longer treatment, so I'm glad that this is just the introduction to a story.

There's a lot of potential for a good follow up series here.

Perhaps it was a result of the length of the story, but I found the men rather too willing to confess to their terrible deeds. I felt it was a bit unrealistic. Most people try to hide their crimes. My only other quibble is with the overuse of 'she thought'. In most cases that tag wasn't needed, and it appeared so many times that it became irritating. It probably wouldn't bother those who aren't editors and certainly isn't a reason not to read the book.
3529144
Wow, I like the premise of this story.  I don't want to spoil anything, but there's definitely a point of revelation that made me go, "Oh, THAT's what's going on. Cool."  The sci-fi/paranormal element here is really well done and interesting, and I can't think of anything exactly like it. I really enjoyed how the story unfolds so that there's a bit of mystery involved too.  And the spiritual/religious significance of what's going on here is really unique (creepy, but unique and fun).

The plot rolls along and keeps you interested as Emily becomes more and more caught up in the oddities surrounding Dr. Norrell's research. It feels like a familiar, "everyday" world and setting until the weirdness kicks in, and it's easy to relate to Emily and her companions as they try to make sense of what's happening with her pregnancy and the weird things she starts seeing and can't quite explain. Emily herself is very much an average woman, but by the end she is definitely the one with an insider's view into what's really going on.  Dr. Norrell is an interesting character who's quite mysterious in his true methods and motives, and I'm sure there's more to be known about him than what we're told here. Once you learn what's really going on, the deeper significance of events becomes really, really interesting and spins the story in a new direction.

It's a small cast of characters, and we don't get to know them really well, but that's partly due to the shortness of the story. The book could benefit from some quick proofreading/editing, but it's pretty well done and a quick read. (I plowed through this in two sittings.)

I'm definitely curious where the story will go next. The ending suggests that this is only the beginning, and - now that the world and its peoples have very much changed - I'm sure the next step forward will be even more interesting.
2486715
Disclaimer: The authors and I share a publisher. I received a hardcopy version of this book as a thank you for proofing an earlier version of the text.

On the surface, this book doesnt seem to have a lot that would appeal to me as a reader. In an alternate universe, I probably bought a copy to support the fellow authors who write for the same indie press that I do and quietly left it on a shelf with a promise to read it someday (sadly, true for some books in our own universe). Instead, my editor asked me to read an earlier version of the submitted text with the promise that Id make it through the horror bits okay.

Im glad I did. I loved so much about this book.

The horror elements are more akin to the violence found in any good murder mystery, with the addition of some bonus otherworldly tentacled horrors that I was too busy being horrifically fascinated by to feel, well, horrified. Im actually really interested to see where the supernatural elements of this book go further in the series, so consider me hooked despite my general disinclination toward the horror genre.

But what really made this novel shine is the characters and setting. And its not just because Wellington, New Zealand, is exotic to me as a reader. The near-future, vaguely dystopic representation of the city adds to the overall environment of the book, such as the government farms beyond the city limits and the allusions to whats happening in the rest of the world.

As for the characters, I think Id happily read about Penny and Matiu being snarky at each other even without the rest of the plot happening. It was delightfully refreshing to see a crime-solving duo that is NOT burdened by awkward sexual tension just to create a romantic subplot. Instead, the characters obvious affection for each other is balanced by the conflict born of all sibling relationships, and the team dynamic was fresh and enjoyable.

Individually, I loved that Pennys internal narration showed that, at heart, she was a scientist first, which informed her interactions with her environment even when outside her laboratory.  While the weird almost-romantic tension between her and her lab assistant seemed sometimes contrived, the awkward set-up with a government official by her meddling parents felt realistic to the point of genuine discomfort.

Matius angst bordered on overwhelming at times, but I found his imaginary friend fascinating. In Matius point of view scenes, there were just enough hints that he might be an unreliable narrator to keep me on my toes regarding what was true and what was not. It was subtle, but very well done.

This story ends on a tiny bit of a cliff-hanger  I was more than satisfied by the arc of the story I read, but at the same time, Im anxiously awaiting more!
3014138
Ms. Hutson has done a splendid job of marrying a literary setting to a unique blend of eastern mysticism and apocalypse-now. I found the premise not only believable - but crafted with enough attention to detail (it's the little things) that I was completely immersed from the first page and as others have said: when I was done, I wanted more. This world is so rich, it deserves it's own full-length novel... heck, maybe even a series.  I can see why the comparison is drawn to 'FireFly' though I think it's more like "Memoirs of a Geisha" meets "Borderlands". Highly recommended. I look forward to more from this author!
4398467
I was initially attracted to this book because of its interesting title, and I'm very glad I checked it out because it's an excellent story. The premise is one that I haven't run across before, preserved repeating loops of time, and the characters are so well-developed that they seem like friends. I'll be going on to the next parts in this series for certain.
1140143
I really, really wanted to give this book a higher rating. I will definetely be reading the sequel to find out what direction it goes, that's for sure.

This book starts off with a bang. It is not perfect - for one I find it lacked in subtlety a bit. But the concept was just so good. The magic system feels fresh and unique. Reverend Rook using passages from the Holy Bible as the base of his spells might have been my favorite part of the concept (or as I excidetly told my friend, someone's finally utilised HOW METAL the Old Testament is). Occasional weaving in of delightfully nightmarish Mesoamerican mythology was right up my alley. And the characters, of course - interesting, fleshed out, and unashamedly queer which is always a bonus in the lit world that either silences queer characters or makes things about their sexuality.

Like so many readers, I have qualms with the second part (and more specifically last third) of the book. As many pointed out, the pacing loses its rhythm, in fact i am reasonably sure that a single conversation occupied a 10% chunk of the book. While I enjoy Mesoamerican mythology, removing Rev's Bible spells was in my mind a huge mistake. And finally, finally, characters start acting in a way that make no sense, and the book makes a halfhearted attempt to explain it and immediately fails at it - sometimes it wants you to believe that all of the strange actions are Ixchel's influence or the hex, sometimes that none, and not in a good "waiting for plottwist reveal" way. I can frankly say I did not enjoy my slog through several chapters closer to the end there.

However, I enjoyed the rest of the book and I still would recommend it to lovers of horror fantasy, unusual mythology and magic system, and queer fantasy that is not about the big Q
3464066
I thought twice about requesting this novel, as I am not usually a fan of paranormals, but Hester Young offers readers a believable premise and makes it all seem a lot less woo-woo than matter-of-fact. The premise of the book is dark, and it lives up to the synopsis label of Southern Gothic. Ms. Young writes a beautifully detailed setting, extremely detailed. The suspense aspects of the book are fairly strong; lots of twists and turns, and not too much predictability (at least on my part). The character portraits are quite complete, multi dimensional and interesting. I would definitely read more from Hester Young.
*I received my copy through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.