readaholicliv's reviews
639 reviews

 Reading Journal Details
Book: The Vanishing of Class 3B by Jackie Kabler
Format Read: Audiobook (~10 hours, 5 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Quick Take Review
The Vanishing of Class 3B offers a promising premise with plenty of suspense and twisty moments, yet it suffers with an overabundance of secondary characters that can be confusing to parse. With a dragged-out middle and a lackluster police investigation, the ultimately lame reveal leaves the book feeling only slightly above mediocre.

Full Review
Jackie Kabler sets up a promising premise in The Vanishing of Class 3B, where a bus full of children are abducted as a consequence of their parents' past transgressions—a concept that hints at deep, hidden family secrets. 

The novel delivers its share of suspense, peppered with twisty, sneaky, and unforeseen moments that keep you on your toes. Yet, an overabundance of secondary characters sometimes muddles the narrative, making it challenging to recall key details and characters. A notably dragged-out section just before the middle—combined with a rather lackluster police investigation—contributes to a contrived feel in certain parts of the narrative. Ultimately, while the setup promises much, the reveal and conclusion come off as tame and bordering on boring, preventing the book from fully realizing its potential, especially with so many characters and various side-arcs throughout the story. 

 Reading Journal Details
Book: Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong
Format Read: Kindle eBook (343 pages)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)

Quick Take Review
Cold as Hell is a masterfully crafted mystery set in Haven's Rock, combining an immersive, chilling atmosphere with a twist-laden narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end. With richly developed characters and thoughtful Easter eggs nodding to Rockton, Kelley Armstrong has once again delivered a must-read thriller!


Full Review
Cold as Hell is a phenomenal mystery that masterfully blends heart-stopping suspense with an immersive, chilling atmosphere set in an isolated portion of the Yukon wilderness. Kelley Armstrong delivers an unexpected whodunit filled with countless twists and turns, keeping you on your toes from start to finish.

What truly elevates the novel is its standout character work. Core figures like Casey and Eric have distinctive voices and layered personalities—each with their own strengths and vulnerabilities that unfold authentically over the course of the narrative while simultaneously building upon previous installments' history and character development. Armstrong also treats longtime readers to delightful Easter eggs—a blip or two of Casey's past and several nods to Rockton—adding extra depth to the narrative.

The structure of the story feels like an open-world video game, in the sense that there are multiple narrative paths that explore both promising clues and red herrings shrouded in deception. Even as a frequent consumer of twisty, creepy, and gruesome reads, I found myself genuinely stumped by the outcome—a testament to Armstrong's flawless plotting.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the talented Kelley Armstrong for providing me with a free advanced reader's copy (ARC). I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 Reading Journal Details
Book: Triptych by Karin Slaughter
Format Read: Audiobook (~13 hours, 15 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
Triptych is brilliantly written, with layered storytelling and authentic, shifting perspectives that immerse you in a dark, gritty world. However, a sluggish middle section and some unlikable characters prevent it from fully realizing its potential, making it a well-executed yet ultimately average installment in the series.

Full Review
Triptych is a masterfully written novel that shines with its layered storytelling and authentic, alternating perspectives. Karin Slaughter's prose is razor sharp, and the diverse cast—from gritty detectives to complex characters from every walk of life—infuses the narrative with a rich blend of action, drama, and detective sleuthing. The writing is undeniably strong, and the voices across the shifting perspectives feel distinct and genuine, drawing you into a dark and occasionally gruesome world. Equally, the narrator executes the various perspectives and characters admirably and with ease.

That being said, the novel does struggle with pacing. The middle section, in particular, feels like a torturous lull—a sluggish buildup that fails to maintain the momentum established in the beginning. Additionally, some of the characters come off as less than likable, leaving me to wonder if their abrasive traits were intentional or a misstep in character development. While the book sets up intriguing possibilities for future installments, these issues render it a well-crafted but ultimately middle-of-the-road experience. 

 Reading Journal Details
Book: The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland
Format Read: Audiobook (~7 hours, 15 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️✨ (1.5/5)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
The Honeymoon sets up an intriguing dual-timeline mystery with a missing man and a grieving newlywed wife, but an illogical twist and inconsistent character insights quickly undermine the story.

Full Review
At first, the dual timelines and straightforward plot—a missing man, a grieving newlywed wife, and a thorough investigation—seemed like the perfect recipe for a compelling story. Unfortunately, a twist at the end not only made no sense but also unraveled the narrative, which was already burdened by strong inconsistencies in the main character's inner monologue and a middle section that felt stale and repetitive. The rushed climax left much to be desired, ultimately derailing what could have been a promising thriller

 Reading Journal Details
Book: Somewhere Beyond the Sea by T.J. Klune
Format Read: Audiobook (~15 hours, 45 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a beautifully crafted continuation that, through Arthur's perspective, deepens the narrative with fresh backstory and the delightful addition of David, a yeti child who quickly becomes endearing. Although the children in this installment feel more serious than before, the story's emotional depth and seamless character dynamics keep it exceptionally engaging.

Full Review
This beautiful continuation pulses like a heartbeat. Told from Arthur's perspective, the narrative offers fresh backstory and deeper insights, enriching the overall experience. The delightful introduction of David, a yeti child who seamlessly fits into the family dynamic, adds a charming new layer to the story, and it's heartwarming to see Linus and Arthur embracing domestic life. My only critique is that the children in this installment come across as more serious and mature compared to the playful, childlike wonder that made the previous book so memorable. Despite this slight tonal shift, the story remains exceptionally engaging and emotionally resonant. 

 Reading Journal Details
Book: Breach of Magic by M.D. Massey & D. William Landsborough
Format Read: Audiobook (~5 hours, 5 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 of 5 stars)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
Breach of Magic is an action-packed continuation that skillfully follows Tony Mendoza as he grapples with monsters and hones his newfound powers. While the story is engaging, I'd love to see more of his Cerberus teammates and their development in future installments.

Full Review
This continuation was incredibly engaging, packed with unique situations and non-stop action. I loved watching Tony Mendoza, our determined urban fantasy protagonist, struggle and grow as he faced monsters and continued attempting to master his newfound powers. My only gripe is that I'd love to see more of his Cerberus teammates—delving deeper into their story arcs and character developments would elevate future installments even further. 

 Reading Journal Details
Book: Weaponized Magic by M.D. Massey & D. William Landsborough
Format Read: Audiobook (~3 hours, 30 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 of 5 stars)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
Weaponized Magic presents an intriguing origin story with a fresh take on the discovery of new powers, though its short length leaves the narrative feeling a little rushed. Tony Mendoza, the main character, frequently comes off as one-dimensional—a brute-like character lacking depth—which detracts from the overall impact of the story.

Full Review
Weaponized Magic offers an interesting origin story that draws you in from the ground level as the main character, Tony Mendoza, discovers his new role and powers in real-time. The concept of watching him figure things out on the fly was engaging, but the book's brevity made it feel rushed. While the narrative had a promising start, Mendoza's character comes off as little more than brawn—a "jar head" with little depth—which leaves me hoping for more nuanced development in future installments. 

Reading Journal Details
Book:  The Narrator by K.L. Slater
Format Read:  Audiobook (~8 hours long)
My Rating:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 of 5 stars)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
The Narrator is a quick and twisty popcorn thriller with an intriguing premise that falls short due to one-dimensional characters and a rushed, farfetched ending.  Although the story kept me engaged at times, the persistent "woe is me" attitude of the main character made it ultimately forgettable.

Full Review
This was a popcorn thriller at its finest—a mostly engaging, quick read with a basic plot line and a twisty ending.  The premise, especially appealing for an avid audiobook listener, showed promise; however, the characters often felt one-dimensional, and the protagonist's persistent "woe is me" attitude grew tiresome quickly.  While the twisty ending provided some excitement, it ultimately felt rushed and farfetched.  Overall, it wasn't a bad story, but it left me wishing for stronger character development and a more grounded conclusion to truly make a memorable impact.

Reading Journal Details
Book: Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer
Format Read: Audiobook (~10 hours, 55 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 of 5 stars)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
With a semi-fresh take on zombie-like creatures called "ticks," Hearts Still Beating delivers an engaging, well-paced apocalyptic thriller.  Strong character development, solid world-building, and riveting tension make this a gripping read, though clearer flashback transitions would have improved the audiobook experience.

Full Review
As a sucker for zombies and apocalyptic dystopias, this book was right up my alley.  The slow build in the beginning was well-executed, leading to a consistently paced and gripping plot.  I appreciated the semi-fresh take on zombie-like creatures, called "ticks," and the strong character development that continued throughout the story rather than being front-loaded.  The audiobook format occasionally made flashbacks difficult to discern, and I wish they had been more clearly indicated.  That aside, the world-building, tension, and emotional depth were all on point, making this an enjoyable and immersive read.

Reading Journal Details
Book: Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli
Format Read:  Audiobook (~9 hours, 15 minutes long)
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

Quick Take Review (TL;DR)
Gray After Dark is a dark, gripping thriller that starts slow but quickly escalates into a heart-pounding, unrelenting ride.  Packed with unexpected twists and a disturbingly realistic take on Stockholm syndrome, this loosely true story will leave you breathless.

Full Review
Noelle W. Ihli delivers another gut-wrenching thriller that grips you and refuses to let go.  Much like Ask for Andrea, I went into this blind, and what unfolded was a dark, gritty, and intense ride—one that comes with an entire page of trigger warnings for good reason.  While the beginning starts at a slower pace to establish Miley's backstory, once the tension escalates, it becomes utterly unputdownable.  The twists were unexpected, the stakes were terrifyingly real, and the depiction of Stockholm syndrome was disturbingly authentic.  Knowing this is loosely based on a true story only amplifies the chilling, nightmarish nature of the narrative.