plantladyreader's reviews
561 reviews

This novel was so amazingly beautiful. It has definitely made it to the list of my favourite books of all time, and I will recommend it until I turn blue.

We follow two sisters in the lead up, and during, the Second World War. They are very different, in both age and personality, yet both manage to have an inspiring impact on the events of the war in France. We also follow another character, set in the 1990s, and we don't learn her name until the very last chapter - this was a heartbreaking twist for me.

Isabelle is the youngest of the sisters, and much more rebellious than her sister. We learn that she has felt unsettled for her entire life, and at 18 she is once again heading back to the father that doesn't want her.

Vianne is the older of the two sisters, and must live with a husband fighting in the French army, a budding-teenage daughter, a Jewish best friend, and her home being taken over by the German army. We get the vibe that she has had to be responsible for Isabelle from a young age after the death of their mother, and that their relationship is rather strained because of it.

I can't say much without spoilers, but I loved the strength of the women in this book. Each takes a stand for their country and the people they love in such a different, but equally important way. Both impact the lives around them for the better, and it takes an outrageous amount of strength and courage for them to succeed.

This book was truly a powerful read - the emotions I felt while reading it were unmatched by anything I've read in a very long time. If you're a fan on historical fiction, you definitely need to add this to your To Be Read list. You'll be very happy you did.

5

Another Jane Austen novel with a lively female lead. Emma is definitely one of my favourite Austen characters, as she is so relatable with her lively personality and wild ideas.

Emma thinks of herself as the ultimate matchmaker. Having decided she needs to care for her elderly father, she sets her mind to finding love for all her friends. She even goes so far to help "refine" her friends, and find them matches above their station. She is very assertive, sometimes to a fault, and is constantly on the lookout for potential romances.

I enjoyed this read because of Emma's charm. She was sometimes so blind to the happenings around her, and her opinions of people of the lower classes was typical of a young woman of high society breeding. In the end, she (somewhat) learns a valuable lesson and has a happily ever after of her own! It did however read very slowly, as classics do, and I really lagged on getting through it. I was reading other books throughout my read of Emma, and pretty much only read it at night before I went to sleep

I have to say, Stuart Theron did an amazing job with this one! He definitely has a creative mind, and he managed to write a thriller in a way I’ve never seen done before! It’s like The Great Gatsby meets The Dinner Party, and I loved it!

As the synopsis states, we’re invited to a party where a murder will be committed, and we have 8 hosts to solve the murder. I really enjoyed how Turton described the thought process behind each of the hosts, and how they all dealt with the situation at hand. It was an interesting perspective to have some characters who were more cunning than others, more physically fit, more ruthless, and who had more connections to the family involved! It was such a creative way to surround the same situation with different perspectives. I’ve never read a thriller like it.

And while I’m continuously calling it a thriller, the description is not as simple as that. In my mind, the “villain” changed faces a couple of times throughout the book, and the way each host viewed different people! I was constantly suspicious of certain characters, and not the least suspicious with others! But within a few chapters my whole perspective had changed! It took me on a wild journey, but not in the same way a regular thriller novel usually does. I was more curious about the journey our narrator was taking, and less wrapped up in who was killing who.

I really love thrillers that make me think, and that I can’t figure out immediately! It makes it more enjoyable to read, because I can’t predict the ending, and it’s a surprise twist with how it plays out. Turton definitely achieves this with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and I will for sure be looking out for more of his work.

4.5

This was a very quick read, because I could not put this book down!

Within the first pages, you are instantly drawn into the story. When her son is abducted seemingly right from her side, Marin is distraught. Her and her husband Derek are very high profile, wealthy people, and they desperately wait for a ransom demand. When nothing comes, and the FBI case runs cold, Marin and Derek's lives are shattered.

Forward to over a year later, Marin is in a support group for parents of missing children, and has hired a PI to continue the investigation into Sebastian's abduction. However, what Marin learns instead is that her husband is having an affair with a much younger woman. Marin decides to take action - she's not losing her husband as well as her son. When Marin starts to obsess over this new woman however, she quickly learns that Kenzie may be connected to her in more ways than just her husband, and worse - Derek may know more about the kidnapping than he's let on.

I was gripped by this story right away - Marin was such a badass female lead, taking charge of her life right when it seemed like everything was going to be taken from her. Her journey to the truth was a wild one, and there was definitely a point where this story got WAY crazier than I anticipated, and I was super thrown off. The ending was something I did not see coming, and the characters who were involved in the end were also a surprise. I truly love a thriller where I'm shocked by the end! If I can guess where it is going, it takes some of the fun away.

Hillier writes a gripping thriller, and I can't wait to check out more of her work. It lost half a star for me because while the ending was great, it was a little too quick and neat for me.

4.5

I reread The Hunger Games trilogy in May to prepare myself for this new installment. Suzanne Collins, once again, did not disappoint.

This story is told during the 10th Hunger Games - 65 years earlier than the original Hunger Games series - and follows future President Coriolanus Snow. Snow is 18 years old, and has a shot at bringing glory back to his once mighty family name, being one of the first ever mentors for a Hunger Games contestant. The tribute he is given is Lucy Gray, a 16 year old girl from District 12. Snow must do whatever he can to keep her alive, as his future within the Capitol is at stake, but he ends up getting more than he ever dreamed he would.

I really enjoyed this story! The thing I found most interesting is that I really enjoyed Snow as a character until the last third of the book - then we start to see the side of him that shows in the original series. However, young Snow starts off as a kind, friendly, family-oriented guy. He shows compassion towards the tributes headed into the arena, and is wary of his Capitol enemies. It is only closer to the end of this book that we see glimpses of the man he is going to become. This lost a star for me because I found some of the relationships weren't invested in enough, and there were a lot of new songs added into this one, which made me feel like I was reading a musical, which I didn't really enjoy.

I really hope I am right in thinking that Collins is going to write another trilogy, because we merely scratched the surface of the man who Snow becomes! If you are a fan of the Hunger Games trilogy, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

3.5

Everyone stop what you are doing and read this book!

I don't what has happened to me, but I am all of the sudden all about reading fantasy! And, if you know me, you know I love a great book about witches. Enter Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin.

Louise Le Blanc is a witch - one who abandoned her coven and mother, and currently lives in the city of Cesarine, not using her magic, and stealing whatever she can to survive. In Cesarine, witches are hunted. The Archbishop and his team of Chasseurs patrol the city, burning anyone who practices magic. Lou keeps a low profile, but manages to cross paths with the Archbishop and a Chasseur named Reid, leading to an unlikely forced marriage. Now Lou has to hide her abilities even further, as her new husband is an avid witch-hunter and would burn her in a heartbeat. As the battle between the city and the witches reaches a boiling point, Lou is drawn into the fight in a way she's been fleeing for the last two years.

This book was an amazing read. The main character, Lou, has so much fire and spunk, and throws everyone off with her unlady-like attitude - just what I love in a female lead! She's a no nonsense, independent, fierce woman who manages to make everyone love her, even if she is a bit of a wild card. The characters and writing draw you right into the story, making it an impossible one to point down. The ending was WILD, and I can't wait to see where Mahurin takes us in the second installment!

5

Oh boy. Unpopular opinion here. ⠀
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I struggled with this book, and I really can't understand why. It was an exciting premise, the fantasy wasn't super overdone so it should still have held my interest, and the overall story had elements that should have kept me turning pages! Magic, danger, thieves, romance, risk... but I still found myself really unwilling to pick this book up. Even now I'm curious how I'm even going to review it.⠀
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We're following Kaz, the Bastard of the Barrel, as he assembles a crew to pull off a seemingly impossible heist. The reward: thirty million kruge. He only takes his most trusted gang members, and the planning is extensive. No one has ever pulled off a heist like this. On their way, they battle Grisha, who have the power to control the elements, control the body, or create something from nothing; Fjerdan's, who are fighting to protect their land and secrets; and even rival gangs, who have all assembled a team in an attempt to seize the prize first. Kaz and his team seem like the least likely to make it, and definitely won't all make it back alive. ⠀
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I don't know why I didn't get into this book. Maybe Bardugo's writing just isn't for me? There isn't anything wrong with it, it just didn't draw me in. I also struggle with reading fantasy, and although this isn't super fantastic, I still found myself having difficulties. ⠀
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This story ends on a cliffhanger, and one that did tug lightly at my heartstrings, but I don't see myself picking up Crooked Kingdom anytime soon.⠀
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3

What a beautiful book.

This story is set in the early 1600's and centres around Jana, a poor Dutch girl fighting to make a living in Amsterdam. She works as a servant in wealthy Dutch houses to survive, and in one of these houses she meets Sontje. While their relationship starts off rocky, with Jana working for spoiled, rich Sontje, they quickly learn to rely on each other. When Sontje's father dies, Jana is out of work, and Sontje is being shipped off by the East India Trading Company as a Company Daughter, orphaned women sent to Dutch colonies in Bavaria to become wives to the Dutch settlers. Jana makes the decision to journey to the settlement with Sontje, and what awaits them both is like nothing they ever dreamed of. Jana and Sontje quickly learn to be independent, trust their instincts, and be true to one another.

This was such a beautiful story of one woman overcoming her struggles to become everything she could ever dream of. Jana is such a strong character to read about, and you're constantly cheering her on. She ends up finding love, a family, and an independence she only dreamed of while living in Amsterdam. The ending wasn't entirely what I was hoping for, but it was still beautiful nonetheless.

4

Usually going into the second book in a duology, I'm prepared to enjoy it much less than the first. However, with Namesake, it just made me love Fable even more! It was such a perfect ending!

Snatched from West and the rest of the Marigold crew, Fable finds herself caught in the middle of a scheme headed by one of her greatest enemies. Forced to dredge for him in order to gain enough gold to secure an alliance with Holland, notorious leader and gem trader in the Unnamed Sea, Fable finds herself surrounded by some faces she hoped she'd never see again, and some she thought were long since dead. While she’s determined to gain her freedom, she’s also surprised to learn more about her mother’s past, and about the family she didn’t know she had. She must trust her instincts in order to come out of this alive, and return to West and the crew that had become the only family she thought she had.

It's really difficult to review this without spoiling anything. I'll just say, if you liked the first book, you'll love the second! I'm so thankful to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this one pre-release! Fable grew into a strong, independent young woman, who knows what she wants and trusts in her heart to lead her in the right direction. I was really happy with the ending, because her tough, independent personality continued to shine through!

5

I basically devoured this entire book in one sitting. I don't read much in the way of YA but I've slowly found myself picking more up. I always tend to like the stories, but sometimes find the writing a little juvenile. Fable did not make me feel that way. I loved the story, I loved the main character, Fable, she was definitely my favourite, and the ending left me wanting to immediately start the second book.

Fable has been left to fend for herself since she was 13, dropped on the shores of Jeval by her father. Having to make her own way in the world or starve trying, Fable used the skills her mother taught her to dredge - dredge the sea floors for gems and treasures to sell for coin. On the dangerous island of Jeval, where everyone is an enemy, Fable had no one she could trust. When another dredger comes for her life, and her coin, Fable runs to the only person she's ever felt like she could trust - West, helmsman of the Marigold. When West agrees to take her on as a passenger and bring her to the island of Ceros (where Fable is hoping to reunite with her father), the crew is unhappy. With everyone calling her a bad luck charm, Fable finds herself among people she can finally trust, even if they don't entirely trust her.

Fable was such an easy character to root for. Having been on her own for so long, it's always nice to read about a character who makes the best out of their unfortunate situation. The crew of the Marigold all have their own demons to hide, yet each end up learning to live together despite these issues. The entire world of ships and trading was fascinating to read about - cutthroat and dangerous. My only complaint was that the story read a little too closely to what I classify as typical YA - young main character has a hard life, finds a group of ragtag people to stick it out with, finds some romance, and winds up in a sticky situation. That being said, it didn't make me enjoy the book any less, and the cliffhanger at the end has me immediately reaching for the second book.

4.75