Book Review (Save Nina by Ann Simpson)

Save Nina by Ann Simpson

It was quite difficult for me to get through this book; for several reasons, but I am just going to touch base with the main ones.

First, the phrasing and grammar were quite poor. Not just spelling errors, but also a lot of word confusion.

Second, there are several times when it is as if the author forgot that she was writing in first-person and would say him or he in reference to the main character, the one who was the one telling the story.

Third, and this one might be silly, but it was still bothersome. Someone was shot, at fairly close range, with a shotgun and it was described as a small hole in the dead guy's head. Now I know that not everyone has experience with guns and how they work. Nevertheless, when so much of your story involves shooting you should really do your research. In the situation, the person that was shot with a shotgun would have suffered catastrophic damage to their head. He would not be recognizable.

Fourth, this is a very predictable book. Not a single twist was something new and unexpected. I considered putting the book down several times and did not in hopes that it would get better. It did not and I guessed all the 'surprises' right to the end.

It is just meh. I will not read it again and honestly wish I had not read it in the first place. To each their own, though.

Book Review (The Grasp of Nighttide by: Sadaf Zulfikar)

The Grasp of Nighttide by: Sadaf Zulfikar

Let me begin by saying that when a book has a 4.36 average star rating I am thinking it is going to be a really good book. Right? I don't see how this could be the case for this particular story. It was very poorly written. The story line jumps every which way not just from chapter to chapter, but sometimes from sentence to sentence. There are some pretty big grammar and spelling errors on almost all the pages I made it through. You did read that correctly, 'pages I made it through.'

I did not, cannot, finish reading this book. I got thirty percent of the book read on Kindle and am done trying to go further. I found the writing to be erratic and annoying to try and follow. When topics are jumping back and forth every paragraph it is not a writing style, but an unorganized mess. I think if it was edited a few more times and the writing was made to be clearer and not jerk around so much it wouldn't be a bad read. As it stands right now, I am not a fan.

Series Review (Faerie Tales from the White Forest by Danika Dinsmore)

Faerie Tales from the White Forest by Danika Dinsmore

This series gets five stars from me! I totally enjoyed reading all of the books! I was sent them in exchange for an honest review, and I promise that I only ever give my honest opinion in every review I do. Even though this series was written to be a middle-grade book I think anyone could enjoy it. Without further ado here are the reviews for each book.

Brigitta of the White Forest (Book One)

I just love fantasy, and because of this love, I have read many different fantasy books. I feel like everyone tends to stick to a certain theme. An ordinary girl finds out she is not normal or someone goes missing and this courageous person must find them before it is too late. Thankfully, this was not one of those stories, and even though it was geared towards middle grade I found it quite captivating!

Brigitta and her little sister, Himalette, somehow manage to be the only ones not turned to stone. The two of them now must embark on a dangerous outing to save not only their people but their forest as well. The author, Danika, did a truly fantastic job at make you feel the sense of urgency, without a lingering cheesiness. The world was described in such a perfect manner. I was able to easily picture myself with or even as the characters. Like all great books, I was unable to predict the ending. The plot twists were timed perfectly, and the characters showed great development. This is truly a fascinating story, that could easily be enjoyed by anyone who reads and likes faerie stories. 


The Ruins of Noe (Book Two)

Danika Dinsmore has once again written a thrilling middle-grade book. The excitement continues as you follow Brigitta as she trains to become one of the Elders for her village. When she discovers that she may be able to once again save her village she sets out on another journey with the High Priestess Ondelle. Though it sounds slightly similar in tone to the first book, I found the situations slightly more dire and the characters more mature.

Danika’s writing is once again fluid and engaging. Her descriptions are quite vivid and allow you to feel as though you have been sucked right in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Ondelle of Grioth (Book Three) 

Danika Dinsmore once again wrote an incredible story. This book places Brigitta into some difficult situations that give her a chance to grow and shine. In this book, we find that she's received not just a second element from the High Priestess, but also new memories that show her how to restore the elemental balance of the world. No one believes that Brigitta is actually seeing memories and attribute it to her grieving over the loss of a friend. Brigitta decides to go try and fix the problem while the Elders of her village hesitate.

I love seeing how Brigitta has developed and changed over the series so far, and that she continues to do so. Danika has captivated my attention once again. I am left wanting more and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Narine of Noe (Book Four)

Danika Dinsmore has, once again, written another fantastic tale! Even though this book is written for tweens and teens, as an adult reader, I found it to be an exciting and entertaining fantasy adventure. Even though it is the fourth book in a series it is about the events that led to Brigittas adventures and changes and I loved it! Such a fun read!

Usually when I read a lot of books by the same author I get used to their writing and find that it becomes predictable. This was not the case for this book. I was on my toes and unable to put the book down! Great fantasy!

Book Review (Awakening by: Janet V Forster)

I am going to start by saying this is not a very positive review. But, I believe that all books should be given a chance, regardless of what others say about it. Even though I am not a big fan, doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try.

Awakening
By: Janet V Forster

Janet has an excellent mind, and truly a wonderful story. However, I had a very difficult time staying interested in this book. Not because of the basic plot, but because of all the gobbly goop I had to read to get to the good part or to get to the main needed information. I feel as though I read a lengthened version of the description. I know what you are thinking, ‘well yeah that is kind of the point of a description’. No, I mean the description tells you pretty much everything, there is no hook. Allow me to further explain.

Here is the description as it is stated right now.

“Kate has the potential to save the world. Some would rather she destroy it. Is quirky muso Kate becoming an angel? And not just any angel, but the one everyone’s been waiting for the one to reconcile fallen angels with their Creator and save the world from certain destruction.

There are benefits to this possibility. James is one. Ethan, his twin brother, not so much…

Darkness is shadowing Kate and many have great expectations of her. She’s only just met Nick, her biological father, but he drinks like tomorrow might never come and when he advises her of his family’s supernatural background and the potential disaster looming, she is soon considering joining him in slurping down a bucket of something amber-hued and running blathering into the night.

The first book in The Last Anakim Trilogy, Awakening explores the mysterious events at the time of Kate’s conception and the passionate, but forbidden relationship between Kate’s biological parents. It builds the readers’ insight into the strange circumstances of the past, as well as Nick’s unusual Anakim family, and offers an understanding of who Kate really is and why she offers the hope she does.

Will the babe born of light be infected by darkness, or rise up in triumph?”

That is pretty much the whole book. There are no surprises or twists because they are all revealed in the description. And you can’t change the description; otherwise, the book would sound dull. Why? Because the beginning of this book has no hook. It is literally just going through Kate’s (main character) daily life and how her biological parents met and had sex. It took until I was 64% of the way in to get to the major event that usually happens within the first three chapters. Unless, of course, the major event is her finding her biological parents. But what kind of hook is that? It is not entertaining or exciting at all. Once I got to Nick (her biological father) telling her what they are, I couldn’t put the book down. It was fantastic! A little over the top on the descriptions, but good. Honestly, though, all the information you picked up before that was practically useless. The bits that were useful had long and pointless descriptions around it. Or the main point was backed into.

*Note: backing into the main point is when you add a description to the subject. Once you get to the subject you go, ‘Oh that is what you are talking about’ and then you go back to the beginning of the description and re-read because you are now able to understand because you finally got to the subject. Yes, I understand that sometimes that is an okay thing to do, but it happens all too often in this books, and not in a very good way.

I know that the last paragraph of the description says that it 'explores the mysterious events at the time of Kate’s conception and the passionate, but forbidden relationship between Kate’s biological parents.' but it isn't a mystery when you know the secrets of the father, which is stated in the description. The 'mysterious' events are lacking the thrill of the mystery. They are could have and probably should have been condensed into a few chapters and not spread out into 13 chapters.

I really wish that the first part of the book had been shortened into being a few chapters and that the ending was lengthened. Or that there was a better hook at the beginning. Or if I had questions that I felt the need to be answered between each chapter, but I didn't. All the questions you could ask are revealed in the description. If I could just rate the last 15 chapters, I think I would give this book four stars instead of three, even with the over-the-top descriptions. I may give the second book a try when it comes out, but if it starts up like this one I will just put it down.

Let me end by restating that I hate giving negative reviews and that there are obviously people out there that will enjoy this book. Maybe the second one will be more thrilling and maybe you somehow needed all the stuff in this book to understand the next one better. So I say give it a try if you have kindle unlimited you don't even have to pay to download it. Just try it, and if you like it, right on. If you don't like, it no big, but at least you tried.