Tag: Mystery (Page 7 of 19)

BOOK REVIEW – The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

July 9, 2016 / Anna

The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Near an isolated mansion lies a beautiful garden.

In this garden grow luscious flowers, shady trees…and a collection of precious “butterflies”—young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. Overseeing it all is the Gardener, a brutal, twisted man obsessed with capturing and preserving his lovely specimens.

When the garden is discovered, a survivor is brought in for questioning. FBI agents Victor Hanoverian and Brandon Eddison are tasked with piecing together one of the most stomach-churning cases of their careers. But the girl, known only as Maya, proves to be a puzzle herself.

As her story twists and turns, slowly shedding light on life in the Butterfly Garden, Maya reveals old grudges, new saviors, and horrific tales of a man who’d go to any length to hold beauty captive. But the more she shares, the more the agents have to wonder what she’s still hiding…

“Cowardice may be our natural state but it’s still a choice.”

For more than a year now I’ve been making little pictures for my reviews, and this is the first time it doesn’t feel right. Thinking about letting my mind wander around a butterfly makes me sick, if I’m completely honest. I’d rather not express my thoughts that way because it would feel a little like corrupting myself.

Those who read The Butterfly Garden know.

The only art I can think of is a huge, covering splash of black paint, for some reason. I’m sure psychologists would have things to say about that, but then, I am not one of those. Perhaps I would be more equipped to review this unforgettable novel if I was, but somehow I doubt that it would change a single thing. I sure don’t regret being speechless, because I would feel uncomfortable with myself if I was not.

I’m sure you would love for me to make some kind of sense, though? Alright.

The Butterfly Garden is a disturbing, dark, unforgettable novel that you won’t be able to put down until the very end, whose sick atmosphere will grab you instantly and attach you to its characters whether you like it or not. Once I turned the first page, I knew that I couldn’t rest until I learned everything Maya had to say, even if it meant going through a fucking nightmare.

The Butterfly Garden is not the kind of novels where Stockholm syndrome is praised and called love. It seems baffling to me that I have to point that, but we can’t ignore the ridiculous amount of these ~~love~~ stories now can we? Do not fear, The Butterfly Garden is definitely not a love story (and again, a statement whose need baffles me, given the subject handled).

Although I would be lying if I told you that it was an easy journey to take, I don’t regret exploring this twisted and gruesome story one second. Perhaps it’s the complex and true-to-life characterization. Perhaps it’s the never-ending suspense. Perhaps it’s the compelling writing, part poetic and part trivial.

Really, though? Despite the complaints I could have considering the believability, it’s how deeply it affected me, because in this news-saturated world, I believe that we need books that don’t let us indifferent. The Butterfly Garden sure didn’t. How could it?

Trigger warning : Rape & Violence.

BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY: How to Disappear by Ann Redisch Stampler

June 24, 2016 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

How to Disappear by Ann Redisch Stampler
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Title: HOW TO DISAPPEAR
Author: Ann Redisch Stampler
Release date: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416
Formats: Hardcover, eBook

This electric cross-country thriller follows the game of cat and mouse between a girl on the run from a murder she witnessed—or committed?—and the boy who’s sent to kill her.
Nicolette Holland is the girl everyone likes. Up for adventure. Loyal to a fault. And she’s pretty sure she can get away with anything…until a young woman is brutally murdered in the woods near Nicolette’s house. Which is why she has to disappear.
Jack Manx has always been the stand-up guy with the killer last name. But straight A’s and athletic trophies can’t make people forget that his father was a hit man and his brother is doing time for armed assault. Just when Jack is about to graduate from his Las Vegas high school and head east for college, his brother pulls him into the family business with inescapable instructions: find this ruthless Nicolette Holland and get rid of her. Or else Jack and everyone he loves will pay the price.
As Nicolette and Jack race to outsmart each other, tensions—and attractions—run high. Told in alternating voices, this tightly plotted mystery and tense love story challenges our assumptions about right and wrong, guilt and innocence, truth and lies.

Click the link to purchase this book below!

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | iTUNES | INDIEBOUND | GOODREADS

Giveaway:

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ONE (1) winner will receive a $50.00 gift certificate for The Book Depository, Signed HOW TO DISAPPEAR bookmarks + a Nicolette’s disguise inspired Smashbox makeup kit.

***Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Ann Redisch Stampler

Ann Redisch Stampler is the author of the young adult novels Afterparty and Where It Began as well as half a dozen picture books. Her work has garnered an Aesop accolade, the National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor honors, the Middle East Book Award, and Bank Street Best Books of the Year mentions. How to Disappear (Simon Pulse, 2016), her first young adult thriller, will be released in June. Ann lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Rick.

And check out the rest of the tour below!

Tuesday, June 14^th:

Book Briefs– Review
BookHounds YA– Author Interview

Wednesday, June 15^th:

Ryley Reads– Review
Fiktshun– Review
Becky on Books– Excerpt

Thursday, June 16^th:

Just Commonly– Review
Emily Reads Everything– Review

Friday, June 17^th:

Such a Novel Idea– Review
Curling Up With A Good Book– Author Interview

Saturday, June 18^th:

Here’s to Happy Endings– Review
My So-Called Book Reviews– Author Interview

Sunday, June 19^th:

A Gingerly Review– Spotlight
Book Whales– Excerpt

Monday, June 20^th:

A Dream Within A Dream– Review
Jessabella Reads– Character Interview

Tuesday, June 21^st:

Owl Always Be Reading– Review
The Cover Contessa– Character Interview

Wednesday, June 22^nd:

Dani Reviews Things– Author Interview
Fishing for Books– Review

Thursday, June 23^rd:

Once Upon a Twilight– Author Interview
Classy Cat Books– Review

Friday, June 24^th:

Star-Crossed Book Blog– Spotlight
Lilians Book Stuff– Author Interview

Saturday, June 25^th:

Pandora’s Books– Excerpt
Reese’s Reviews – Review

Sunday, June 26^th:

The Phantom Paragrapher– Review
In a Bookish World– Excerpt

Monday, June 27^th:

Movies, Shows & Books– Review
Wishful Endings– Character Interview
A Bookish Escape– Review

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BOOK REVIEW – The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

June 4, 2016 / Anna

The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The woods were insane in the dark, terrifying and magical at the same time. But best of all were the stars, which trumpeted their light into the misty dark.

Castella Cresswell and her five siblings—Hannan, Caspar, Mortimer, Delvive, and Jerusalem—know what it’s like to be different. For years, their world has been confined to their ramshackle family home deep in the woods of upstate New York. They abide by the strict rule of God, whose messages come directly from their father.

Slowly, Castley and her siblings start to test the boundaries of the laws that bind them. But, at school, they’re still the freaks they’ve always been to the outside world. Marked by their plain clothing. Unexplained bruising. Utter isolation from their classmates. That is, until Castley is forced to partner with the totally irritating, totally normal George Gray, who offers her a glimpse of a life filled with freedom and choice.

Castley’s world rapidly expands beyond the woods she knows so well and the beliefs she once thought were the only truths. There is a future waiting for her if she can escape her father’s grasp, but Castley refuses to leave her siblings behind. Just as she begins to form a plan, her father makes a chilling announcement: the Cresswells will soon return to their home in heaven. With time running out on all of their lives, Castley must expose the depth of her father’s lies. The forest has buried the truth in darkness for far too long. Castley might be their last hope for salvation.

Wow. Give The Cresswell Plot a slow clap for picturing such a fanatic, disturbing and abusive family without never creating ANY emotion in me. As far as my 1 star ratings are concerned, I usually follow two patterns :

1) The book makes me rage so much that I would love burning it, but it would be evil (I may be a Slytherin and an INTJ, even I have standards, you know).

2) The book is just so fucking bad that I,
a) want to forget that I even considered it, let alone read it ;
b) regularly burst of laughing at the most inappropriate moments ;
c) desperately shake my head in a “DID YOU SEE THIS?” fashion (alas, my dog didn’t).

Congrats, The Cresswell Plot! You proudly belong to #2, and here’s why :

1) There’s something to say about a narrative voice so flat and dispassionate that the most horrific events don’t make the reader blink an eye (think abuse, incest, crazy speech about God, JUST NAME IT). That something is : this is what happens when you can’t connect with the characters, when the plot ~~what plot?!~~ doesn’t make any sense and when the writing is nothing else than generic and devoid of any depth.

This book should earn a medal – it would go like this :

Yikes.

2) Somewhere along the way, The Cresswell Plot forgot that a mystery needed tension to have a fucking point. You know when everything is so confusing that you keep turning the pages, eager to know what will happen, to understand, finally? Do you see? Do you know what I mean??? Well, it wasn’t like that, but on the contrary the book and me went through many discussions like this –

Book : So our father want to marry us to each other
Me : whatevs

Book : And now there is this intriguing and questioning THING that happened SOMEDAY with SOMEONE and wouldn’t you want to know?
Me : whatever you sayyyyy

Book : I get the feeling that we don’t understand each other
Me : …

Book : i am dark though am i not (yeah, it kinda became a troll at some point)
Me : …

Book : But aren’t you intrigued just say it
Me : yeah, sure (now the head shaking I was talking about earlier) (please someone help me)

3) While we’re at it, can we focus one second on the fact that it got harder and harder for me to suspend my disbelief? So you have a family who’s living in the woods, surviving by selling junk on markets, and thinking that Heaven is that little place just for Them (because they’re the only ones really pure). I mean, okay. It’s hard for me to believe in this but ALRIGHT. I’m sure there are crazy people like this everywhere. But see, the children go to high school. One of them never talks and it doesn’t seem to bother anyone. Because the girl PAINTS.

“They loved that she never spoke; people thought that was really fabulous. “How wonderful,” they would say, “that she can speak so beautifully through her paintings.”

YOU DON’T SAY. Hey, honestly, if one of my pupils stopped talking at age 6 and draw fucking Monet, I would still be concerned by her absolute lack of TALKING. What’s this school really?! Shouldn’t be, say, social workers? Especially when every one of the kids show proofs of abuse (bruises, burns) and are starving? When it’s common knowledge that their father lock them in a hole in the woods when they “sinned”? NOBODY CARES? REALLY?

4) I dare you to connect to the characters. No, seriously. I DARE YOU. Since they’re exclusively built on telling and never, ever on showing, the only thing I can say is that the main character, Castella, does like rambling (and calling her boyfriend by his complete name. In. Her. Head. All. The. Time. Who does that?!) and for the other ones…

…

……………………………………………

They are not there. They’re cardboard people. They don’t make any sense. THEY CAN’T KEEP A PERSONALITY FOR MORE THAN 10 PAGES. They are all over the place. It’s exhausting. I don’t care about any of them, and I SHOULD. Given what they go through, I should feel horrified and depressed and upset and fucking mad.

Above that, the fact that all of them trust their father *cough* are brainwashed *cough* makes for the most uncomfortable thoughts. If at first I accepted it, thinking that it would be handled later in the book, I can’t dismiss my discomfort now. If there’s something that maddens me, it’s when abuse isn’t called for what it is but only brushed off, and in the end, it’s how I feel in The Cresswell Plot. The way Castella and her siblings condemn it – only in the very end, and pretty quickly – is not enough. You don’t go and tackle that kind of hard issues without really dealing with them.

5) The last paragraph was so lame, okay?

“Some people might look pretty or talk prettily, but it’s the things they do that tell you if they’re worthy of your time. It’s the things they do that tell you if they deserve your faith.”

Amen, I guess? Such a disappointment, really. Do not recommend.

*arc kindly provided by Disney-Hyperion through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

BOOK REVIEW – Moon Child (By Blood #2) by Tracy Banghart

May 24, 2016 / Jen / 2 Comments

Moon Child (By Blood #2)
by Tracy Banghart
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Before Emma's adventures in Oxford, her best friend Diana came face-to-face with a killer...

Diana Calvert is so over high school. Who cares if Olivia hates her? And David needs to forget about his crush on her STAT. Even Emma’s crazy fashion choices can’t keep Diana entertained. All she can hope for is a dance scholarship to a college far away from too-small, too-boring, too-nothing-ever-happens New Freedom, PA.

Then Diana meets Nicholas Woodhaven. He’s pale, angry…yet weirdly charming. The more time they spend together, the more she wonders who – or what – he really is. Because he isn’t anything like the other guys she knows. Not with the whole only-going-out-at-night thing. And living with his creepy aunt. And not going to school.

Just when Diana thinks she’s got Nicholas all figured out, people in her small, nothing-ever-happens town start dying. She has to wonder – can she trust him? And even more alarming – could she be next?

Review:

I thought this would be a normal paranormal book that I’d just enjoy. *smacks forehead* I read her Rebel Wing Series and thought that it was spellbinding, intricately crafted, and I became completely addicted. I will admit that I forgot about that when I was a few chapters in, since I started out a little disjointed. Dianna made some decisions I definitely questioned, there was a lot of characters introduced at first and it took me a while to become completely absorbed. But then me and this book just clicked. And by 40% there was no way I was putting my Kindle down to sleep, it was too much fun!

Sadness sits in the lines of his face like an old friend. There’s regret there too and a sense of resignation in the set of his mouth. “Diana, there’s a lot about me you don’t understand. I told you when we met that I don’t have friends. I don’t—I can’t—Let’s just say my life isn’t normal. I am different. I have had to do things…differently.”

Before I jump into this story, I have to tell you about a common element across her books. Her stories capture strong female friendships and she has quite the knack for writing twists that make you question how you never caught something, because the clues are there it’s just that I never see them ack! And both of these elements, which I loved in her other series, shined brightly in this book too!

He steps even closer and my legs tangle with his. My wobbly, fear-weakened knees give and we tumble to the ground. I feel pain now – the gravel digs into my back, my butt, my thighs – but it doesn’t matter. I wrap my hands in his hair and pull his face even closer. His hips grind into mine and I think I cry out, softly, as a stone presses into the tender flesh at the base of my spine. This moment we share: it feels like anger, or passion…maybe even despair.

We started out the book with Diana attending her church youth group meeting at night. And let it be known that I usually struggle when religion makes a way into a story, even a little bit. YET I never once struggled, it flowed perfectly and was actually a great setting. I don’t think you’ll ever get me to say that in any other book lol. Anywho, they were going to play a game in the adjoining graveyard. And while Diana was out there trying not to have the living daylights scared out of her, she tripped and was caught by a stranger.

“If you’re that clumsy,” he adds, “probably shouldn’t be walking around graveyards after dark.” The corner of his lip quirks, his skin crinkling like paper.

Ohhhhh enter Nicholas. He was mysterious with not wanting to reveal anything about himself. He was sweet with the gestures he did for Diana…..what he brought her and her friend, when he met her best friend for the first time, oh my gosh it was beyond adorable! And yet I wasn’t entirely sure of him at first. Not because I was questioning whether he was a good guy or bad guy, come on now it’s me we’re talking about and I love both haha, but it was the comments that made me pause. Like in the quote above about skin wrinkling like paper. Weird right? But those thoughts disappeared from my mind when we got to spend more time time with Nicholas.

“Come on. I don’t bite,” he whispers. I want to laugh. If he only knew the irony.

So Diana, being from a small town where everything is always the same, got a little obsessed with Nicholas. He was infuriating at times, sweet at other times and he was this huge mystery while always being hot. Diana slowly started to learn about Nicolas and his odd ways when, BAM, a murder happened in her tiny town.

Eventually my breathing slows. I crumple to my knees and then find myself sitting cross-legged on the grass next to the entrance of school. In the rain. The wind blows my wet hair against my face, but I don’t have the energy to brush it away. Instead, I turn my face to the sky and close my eyes and let the rain fall softly onto my skin. I can’t tell if I’m crying.

So I thought I had the murderer pinned down and a few other things too but *shakes head*, my guessing skills were not good. Not good at all lol. Usually I pride myself for figuring things out pretty quickly – like two things that happened in the final book of Divergent, I was so proud of myself. But yeah. That so didn’t happen this time. That’s twice now that Tracy Banghart has gotten me!

Moon Child was a quick, fun read that was filled with an adorable first love, strong friendships and a few great twists. The story-line and characters completed creeped up on me, and I’m so glad they did because this book was just what I was looking for! And just so you know, I liked Diana. And I loved the friendships she had in her life, since they felt so real and true. My favorite female friend of hers was Emma. She was so quirky with her ways and thoughts. I adored their friendship, even during their up and downs. But my favorite friendship was between Diana and Nicholas. I loved watching it unfold into something more. They were at times awkward, adorable and so sweet. Here’s hoping you enjoy this book just as much as I did!

P.S. I still have a few questions though. I’m one of those neurotic people that likes almost everything wrapped up in a tiny bow. I know, I’m weird. So I’m wondering….HUGE spoiler so don’t click unless you’ve read this book….. View Spoiler »

P.P.S Goodreads says that this is Book #2 YET it’s actually a prequel to book #1 since it happens beforehand AND on the authors website it shows this book first. Just wanted to mention this in case you are wondering why I read “#2” first. 🙂

BOOK REVIEW – The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1) by Craig Schaefer

May 22, 2016 / Anna

The Long Way Down (Daniel Faust #1)
by Craig Schaefer
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Nobody knows the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas like Daniel Faust, a sorcerer for hire and ex-gangster who uses black magic and bullets to solve his clients' problems. When an old man comes seeking vengeance for his murdered granddaughter, what looks like a simple job quickly spirals out of control.

Soon Daniel stands in the crossfire between a murderous porn director; a corrupt cop with a quick trigger finger; and his own former employer, a racket boss who isn't entirely human. Then there's Caitlin: brilliant, beautiful, and the lethal right hand of a demon prince.

A man named Faust should know what happens when you rub shoulders with demons. Still Daniel can't resist being drawn to Caitlin's flame as they race to unlock the secret of the Etruscan Box, a relic that people all over town are dying -- and killing -- to get their hands on. As the bodies drop and the double-crosses pile up, Daniel will need every shred of his wits, courage and sheer ruthlessness just to survive.

Daniel Faust knew he was standing with one foot over the brink of hell. He's about to find out just how far he can fall.

What you should know is this : I don’t like Urban Fantasy, which is baffling, given that I love Fantasy and cities – there’s just something in them that never really appeal to me, a feeling of something lacking even though I hardly can pinpoint why that is.

The Long Way Down is perhaps one of my best discoveries in that genre, so although it will probably never be a favorite of mine, I cannot hide how pleasantly surprised it made me. Well done, and here’s why.

➊ The world building is vivid and horrific, spreading very noir vibes. Did I say that I loved thrillers? Because I do. These are dark times guys, and I should issue a trigger warning against violence, abuse and murder (including towards kids at some point). Abusive. Disgusting. Maddening. Welcome to Daniel’s world. Granted, he has a pretty healthy way to look at it, and doesn’t condone it by any means, but it was still hard to take on sometimes. Some graphic scenes of violence made me want to throw up, and I don’t think I’m easily disturbed. You’ve been warned.

➋ The Long Way Down pictures a morally ambiguous – but likeable all the same – hero. I loved this sorcerer, alright? If he doesn’t shy away from harsh decisions and actions sometimes, he stays in the good side of things as far as I’m concerned (I never disliked a hero ready to beat the fuck out of sociopaths, SUE ME). As for Caitlin, CAITLIN! The girl’s a DEMON. A not-so-nice one at it – how awesome is that?! Despite my slight disbelief at the way their relationship evolved *cough* THIS IS TOO FAST! I DON’T BUY IT!! *cough* I still immensely enjoyed their banter and… hmm… differences? I also very much laughed at the stunts Caitlin pulled because… Reversal of genders, people. Seeing Daniel dumbfounded because she ordered his food for him – and understandably upset about it – was in my opinion a great way of denouncing stereotypical controlling behavior, even implicitly.

➌ For ONCE the plot kept me interested, which is so rare in everything UF. Indeed I genuinely wanted to know where the story would go and in the end, I’m pretty satisfied by the way Craig Schaefer wrapped its mystery. Note that I (almost) never read any UF, therefore I am not able to notice the similarities between this book and the other ones in that genre. Perhaps it’s cliché. Perhaps it’s been better done before. The thing is, I don’t freaking know, and honestly? I don’t care.

➍ Finally the perfect balance between grim and humor. Forget all the books where we don’t know if we should laugh or be horrified – but think sparks of humor lightening the mood a little. I say yes to that.

Daniel, Daniel, what did you do to me?