plantladyreader's reviews
561 reviews

I discovered this book when I finished reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. That story was so beautiful, and it left me wanting to read more historical fiction surrounding the Trojan War. One search landed me on The Silence of the Girls, and I knew I wanted to read it.

With The Song of Achilles, the main narrators were Achilles and Patroclus, growing up together and becoming Greek Warriors, fighting alongside King Agamemnon and thousands on others. They overtook Trojan cities, plundering wealth and women, and killing any men. The women became war prizes for the Greek warriors, and as Achilles was the strongest fighter, he always got first pick.

The Silence of the Girls is the story of these women - being forced from their homes, watching their husbands, sons and brothers slaughtered by the Greek fighters, and then made to go to bed with the same men who murdered their families.

Briseis is Achilles' choice of war prize, after he and his fellows have destroyed her city, her husband, and all her brothers. She is made to go live in his compound, serve the men in his army, and spend her nights in his bed. The story is told mainly from her point of view, and she and the other women learn to navigate their new lives, and live with the brutal men as their property. Some women give in to the men, and accept this new life as their reality, but Briseis knows she is more than just Achilles' slave, and manages to stay true to herself. I did really enjoy the story behind this, and loved having a new perspective on this story.

What I didn't like was the writing. Pat Barker is a very casual writer, and some of her word and spelling choices really brought down the level of this book for me. There were also a few historical inaccuracies, which seemed easily avoidable with a little research. I felt the story was strong, but the delivery made it somewhat exasperating to read.

I do think, had I read this prior to reading The Song of Achilles, I may have enjoyed this more. As it was, I was holding it to a higher standard, and it fell a tiny bit flat for me.

Overall, I did enjoy this read, and would recommend it, but it was no where near the level of writing I was expecting.

3.5

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

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

What a truly intriguing fantasy! While reading like a historical fiction, All the Murmuring Bones also adds in so many fantastic elements that keep you guessing throughout the whole book.

Miren O'Malley has grown up hearing of her family legacy - once the most powerful family in Breakwater, the O'Malley's have diminished in both family members and fortune. The legends of how that fortune was obtained is dark, and some members of the family have gone to extremes to reclaim that prosperity. While Miren has grown up hearing the history, it's hard to determine what is myth, and what could possibly be real. Abandoned by her parents at a young age, she has no one to turn to but her grandmother. When she passes, Miren is left the remaining estate, Hob's Hollow. On the brink of being married off to a bully of a cousin, so he can claim Hob's Hollow for his own, Miren escapes in search of her parents. But there are dangers that lurk in every shadow, all looking to settle a debt the O'Malley's have left unpaid... While Miren encounters many creatures, both good and bad along the way, the real journey lies in what she discovers in herself.

There were so many reasons to love Miren as a character. She was independent, and wanted nothing more than to live at Hob's Hollow alone for the rest of her days; she was resourceful, and not afraid to get her hands dirty in order to survive; and she was fearless! The beings and creatures she met on her travels did nothing to sway her from finding her parents. Old relationships were healed, and new relationships blossomed, but I loved how many myths and creatures were placed throughout the story. I couldn't decide whether the Mer were a threat or not, but the ending definitely help clear that up. I definitely enjoyed this one, and will be looking for more from this author!

4.5

This second novel in the Bridgerton series was an enjoyable read, just like the first. I definitely recommend reading the books over watching the Netflix show, because they are very different.

This book follows eldest son Lord Anthony Bridgerton as he finally decides to fulfill his duties and find a wife, sire an heir and continue the Bridgerton line. He descends upon the season with one goal - find the most beautiful, most desirable, and most popular debutante, and make her his wife. His only goal? Don't fall in love. Anthony is under the illusion that he is destined to die at 30, as his father did before him, and doesn't wish to leave behind a grieving, sorrowful widow. Finding the most popular beauty comes with a twist, however - her insufferable, stubborn sister Kate. Kate Sheffield sees Anthony for the rake his reputation paints him, and will do whatever it takes to ensure he doesn't marry her little sister. But as Anthony pursues, he finds the banter he and Kate have sticks in his head, and curiously finds himself falling for the wrong type of girl.

While this is a far cry from my usual choice in genres, I'm finding I'm enjoying these books quite a bit! They are an easy read, while at times rather ridiculous and chauvinistic (fitting for the times, for sure), but the character development is always interesting, and of course the happy endings are a nice change. I'm looking forward to book three!

3.5

This was my first Jennifer McMahon read, and it definitely won't be the last. WOW does she write a can't-put-it-down type of thriller!

West Hall, Vermont is a small town with a spooky history. Going back over 100 years, the town has been victim to many strange disappearances and brutal killings. Ruthie lives in the most notorious house in town with her mother and little sister. The brutal murder of Sara Harrison Shea in 1908 has been sensationalized, after Sara's diary was published. In those pages, Sara shared her upbringing with her single father and the "aunt" that brought her up to learn the forest and magic that could come along with it, as well as the dangerous possibility of "sleepers", people brought back briefly from the dead. When Ruthie's mother disappears, she and her young sister start looking for clues as to where she could have gone. Finding a gun, some wallets, and a camera bag that definitely doesn't belong, Ruthie starts to question if she even knew her mother at all. When her investigating brings some new people into her life, Ruthie quickly learns that there may have been truth to the rumours flying around town about the woods behind her house, even though they are highly unbelievable..

Told in dual timelines, between present day and the lead-up to Sara's death in 1908, this book gives you all the creepy vibes. What Sara did in 1908 set the precedent for the events that Ruthie and her sister endure in present day, and it gives the reader something to fear, even though Ruthie doesn't figure out what's happening until the end of the book. The "sleepers" that Sara describes make the story more of a haunting, and makes you question the sanity of some of the characters. The way the characters all came together in the end was really interesting, although it did end on a bit of a low note for me, compared to the rest of the book. I definitely recommend picking it up, and I'll be looking to read more from this author!

4.5

I don't even know where to start with this book. What a powerful story, exposing the realities of our world and the way we view and approach different races.

The Vignes twins grew up in a southern Black community, in a small town you couldn't even find on a map, surrounded by people who saw being light-skinned as the way to make it through life. While they are identical, their personalities couldn't be more different - Desiree is known as the stubborn, hard-headed dreamer, whereas Stella is the quiet, easy-going pushover type. Stella loves school and dreams of university, whereas Desiree dreams of leaving Mallard behind and never looking back. When their mother decides to pull them from school to start working at 16, the two decide to run away. Suddenly 10 years later, Desiree comes back to town with her daughter, and hasn't heard from Stella in years. Stella has been living as a white woman in suburbia, with her blonde haired, blue eyed daughter, and a big secret. Even her husband has no idea of her past or background. Having to disguise who she is and cut herself off from her family has weighed on Stella, but in her mind it was the only way to achieve the best for herself and her children. When Stella's daughter Kennedy and Desiree's daughter Jude end up meeting and becoming friends, Stella is afraid her entire world is going to come crashing down. But would losing the mask, and once again embracing who she is really be the worst thing?

I could not put this book down. The difference between these two twins was remarkable to read about, and the immense strength it would have taken for Stella to leave her life behind and live a lie for all those years made for a page-turner. It really cast the privileged lives of white society into glaring spotlight - the ease that I have been able to move through life, obtain what I've wanted, and live free of prejudice is certainly a privilege. The fact that Stella felt the need to make the choice she did, because she was light-skinned enough, is heartbreaking. Cutting yourself off from your family would be a tough decision, but doing so only so you could live a lie is horrifying. Watching the twins grow up separately, but inadvertently being thrust back together again, was such a beautiful journey to read about. I can't recommend reading this book enough.

5