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Elisa N. (leesie) - , - Reviews

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After the End (After the End, Bk 1)
After the End (After the End, Bk 1)
Author: Amy Plum
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 10
Review Date: 10/21/2014
Helpful Score: 1


This is book 1 of something because it ends with a lot more story left to be told. It is good, action packed and about a girl trying to figure out why thugs are after her and what is truth vs fiction. I like the heroine a lot, very capable. The boy is iffy for a bit, but I grew to like him as well.
I am looking forward to the continuation of the story to hopefully find out what the heck is going on!


All the Light We Cannot See
All the Light We Cannot See
Author: Anthony Doerr
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 287
Review Date: 5/1/2015


Beautifully written, interesting storylines, engaging characters and shifts in time. Fairly realistic, filled with plenty of wartime atrocities, but with beauty as well.
I didn't love the time shifts. I think it helped build tension, but just as things were getting "good" you would go back a few years or something.
The chapters are very short, so this book reads really quickly as I continued to read "just one more".
Lovely yet horrifying. It really illuminated certain things about WWII and you can easily begin to understand both the French and the German youth.
Read it for bookclub and it was quite universally enjoyed. We had a good question and answer session. Recommended for engaging discussions.


Allison Hewitt Is Trapped  (Zombie, Bk 1)
Allison Hewitt Is Trapped (Zombie, Bk 1)
Author: Madeleine Roux
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 30
Review Date: 6/26/2013


Allison Hewitt is a little bit funny but there is definitely a zombie apocalypse happening and it is a big part of the book. Zombies get killed and kill, there is viscera and gross stuff. People are jerks too so it gets a little violent, but it is told via blog posts so the action is always after the fact so the immediacy is missing a little bit which tones down any scary stuff and tension.
It does reinforce the fact that people are selfish and crazy during times of stress!
I like reading about stuff like that, so I enjoyed, especially Allison's humor and the online friendships.
I will be trying another book by Roux.


Any Other Name
Any Other Name
Author: Emma Newman
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 7/24/2014


I like this series a lot kind of an upstairs/downstairs with lots of magic, fae and many societal rules.
I like the characters even though they are tricky and duped and some are bad and some try to be good. They are all interesting and the story reads quickly.
I am looking forward to the third one to see how everything shakes loose! (I think it is a trilogy and things will tie up then.)


Armed  &  Magical (Raine Benares, Bk 2)
Armed & Magical (Raine Benares, Bk 2)
Author: Lisa Shearin
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 86
Review Date: 8/26/2013


I agree with Nicole, fun series but I get confused with the magic system as well as all of the people and who they are or represent. But otherwise Raine is quite funny and I really enjoy her and her family.


Aurelia (Aurelia, Bk 1)
Aurelia (Aurelia, Bk 1)
Author: Anne Osterlund
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 41
Review Date: 2/14/2012


I really enjoyed this YA treat. Aurelia is a spunky and strong heroine who has to be to deal with the politics her position brings. Well developed characters, a minor mystery and a bit of a romance. Great fun, I am looking forward to the sequel.


Avalon High
Avalon High
Author: Meg Cabot
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 52
Review Date: 2/14/2012


A really fun Arthur reincarnation story. Easy, enjoyable read.


Beyond the Empire (Indranan War, Bk 3)
Beyond the Empire (Indranan War, Bk 3)
Author: K. B. Wagers
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 8
Review Date: 1/12/2018


I really enjoyed this trilogy, and this ending was strong and worked well. Hail stays consistent, but learns from previous actions and mistakes. The characters around her are interesting and well fleshed. Lots of action.
AND, it looks like Wagers is writing another story arc set in the same world with the same characters. Yay!


Burning Bright
Burning Bright
Author: Tracy Chevalier
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 64
Review Date: 3/3/2010


I enjoyed this book, though not Chevalier's most powerful, it provided an amazing feel for what life was like in London in the 1790s. I was hoping for more of William Blake but it was interesting to see how he fit into his neighborhood and how he appeared from other characters points of view.


Clarity
Clarity
Author: Kim Harrington
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 9/26/2012


I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well done and cute. The family dynamic is sweet and enjoyable to read and the paranormal part is almost realistic. Loved it. I was rivited to the mystery even though things don't happen all at once, enough happened to keep me turning the pages and worrying about who did what. This starts off with one chapter in present where something bad is going to happen and then goes back a few days so we can see how the character found herself in this mess. Kind of exactly like the Twilight books open. Hmmmm. But the similarities end there. Clare can see events that happened when she touches objects. There is a murder in her sleepy little town and she is pulled in to help find him or her.

The story itself isn't too realistic. The psychic part? No, I was fine with that, but the teenagers running their own psychic Scooby Doo/Veronica Mars squad - not sure that could really happen, but since this is a small little tourist town, I could see how it might. There are two boys which creates a a delicious little love triangle with Clare in the middle. But it isn't annoying, it is squee worthy for a while. I felt like a little fangirl all aflutter. She and her ex still have feelings for eachother and the new swoon worthy detective's son looks like a serious contender. He doesn't believe in psychics though, so they are at odds with eachother for quite some time. Deliciously tense and Clare has to remain sassy and tough for him to respect her. Loved it!

Her family and her powers are on the line unless she can help the police figure out who killed the tourist. Clare tends to look at one person pretty closely and worry that they did it to the detriment of looking at anyone else. Good thing she isn't the police...but she is 16 and doing her best to find the bad guy.

Also, she is fairly mean to the new competition, the psychic down the street and is just as mean to her as people are to Clarity. Bratlet. Though interestingly they are only mean to Clare, her brother is popular enough, but not her. Kinda weird.

The characters are well drawn. I love Clare's family dynamic. Her mom can read minds - I don't know about growing up a with mom who can do that! But it certainly keeps her kids honest, that or really good at thinking about mundane things when they are at home! Perry, her brother can talk to ghosts and Clare reads an object's pschycic residue I guess you could say. It is a quick read, a little over 200 pages and a good time. I was sorely tempted to peak into the back, or the next book even to look for names. But I refrained! So tempting because I was working myself up about certain things. I had a strong idea of who the killer was...it took a while, but then I just figured it had to be him but not why. The reveal was interesting and tense with a bit of some monologuing by the bad guy to wrap things up.

There are loose ends dangling at the end of this story, but there is a second book out there, I saw it at the library and I am going to go pick it up sooner rather than later. Even though there were some issues with it, I still really enjoyed the ride! I recommend this for when you want to suspend your disbelief and run around with teen mystery solvers who aren't very good at it yet. :) 3.5 stars.


The Cursed (League of the Black Swan, Bk 1)
The Cursed (League of the Black Swan, Bk 1)
Author: Alyssa Day
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 26
Review Date: 7/23/2013
Helpful Score: 1


That was an enjoyable paranormal romance. I always like stories set in Bordertown with the mix of "races", fae, demon, goblin and in-between. Luke is a wizard, Rio a bike messenger who is suddenly of interest to all the big players in town. Parts are a little silly, but satisfying story and I look forward to the next one.


Cursed Moon (Prospero's War, Bk 2)
Cursed Moon (Prospero's War, Bk 2)
Author: Jaye Wells
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 22
Review Date: 3/30/2015
Helpful Score: 1


Good gritty series, cop fighting magic. Since Kate is a magic addict there is a lot of guilt over whether she feels using the magic is is worth the saving of lives. It comes to a head here, so hopefully the future books aren't so guilt ridden. Fast story line, new crazy characters and a nutso bad guy. Good blend of paranormal and cop procedural.


Dead and Loving It: Monster Love / Santa Claws / There's No Such Thing as a Werewolf / A Fiend in Need
Review Date: 12/13/2011


This book is ok. I have been reading the Betsy books and thought I would check out the last story about George the Fiend and Antonia, which didn't add much, but was fun. Each story is really fast and easy, though with some wacky and in some cases offensive wooing (rape? kidnapping?). But it is brain candy like the others, and not really meant to make you think.


Dead of Winter (Cora Oglesby, Bk 1)
Dead of Winter (Cora Oglesby, Bk 1)
Author: Lee Collins
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.1/5 Stars.
 12
Review Date: 3/21/2014


I really enjoyed this gritty western filled with paranormal elements. No romance, but Cora is a wounded soul who kicks major paranormal booty and has a dirty mouth like Calamity Jane from Deadwood. You get little hints at certain things and it was amazingly fun to see the story play out, sad at times, but fun. I have decided I need to check out Angry Robot books, they print up good stuff that isn't mainstream. Love it!
I hope the next one in this series, She Returns from War is just as good :)


A Dirty Job
A Dirty Job
Author: Christopher Moore
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 149
Review Date: 12/13/2011
Helpful Score: 2


This is one of my favorite Christopher Moore books, at least for the laugh out loud funny bits. I had my bookclub read it and it was universally enjoyed (so it isn't just me).
There is a little bit of crossover with the BloodSucking Fiends characters, which is great. There are new, ridiculously funny characters, even more crazy things happening in San Francisco, and a new twist on our souls, death and harpies.


Dirty Kiss (Cole McGinnis, Bk 1)
Dirty Kiss (Cole McGinnis, Bk 1)
Author: Rhys Ford
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 13
Review Date: 7/28/2011
Helpful Score: 2


This was a gritty, sexy novel. Cole, our PI lead is wounded but emerging from his cocoon of scars and bad memories. Jae is wounded but hiding his fears behind his responsibilities and familial expectations. (Hmmm, can they heal eachother?)
There has been a suicide Cole has been asked to review since the police aren't looking further than the suicide note. Unfortunately, as Cole looks into it, violence dogs his every step making murder look quite likely.
Cole meets Jae during the investigation and they are instantly attracted to each other, catapulting these two into a steamy romance which also dislodges and awakens their fears, wounds and emotions.
This is a great first novel. The language is rich and complex, the mystery is intense, though seemed to play second fiddle to the romance after a while, and the characters are amazing! I loved Scarlet, Cat and Bobby, they were simply wonderful. Jae and Cole have many layers and make an interesting couple, which has potential for future novels. There are questions about the past which remain unanswered, but aren't necessary for the readers enjoyment, but I want to know! So I hope Ford is planning on a sequel or even a prequel!


Discount Armageddon (Incryptid, Bk 1)
Discount Armageddon (Incryptid, Bk 1)
Author: Seanan McGuire
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 61
Review Date: 8/29/2013
Helpful Score: 1


I really liked this book, more fantasy with all the beastie types but Verity is quite funny, tongue in cheek humor and I loved all the cranky cryptids.
Plus, I love the funny sayings and journal excerpts at the beginning of each chapter. Won't be for everyone, might start a little slow and have too much description and world-building at the beginning and throughout... but I thought it was awesome.


Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Bk 1)
Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Bk 1)
Author: G. A. Aiken
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 250
Review Date: 4/12/2015


Fun, sexy paranormal romp with bloodthirsty dragons and humans strong enough to capture their attention. Two stories in one. Both were lots of fun.


The End is Nigh (Apocalypse Triptych, No 1)
Review Date: 7/2/2014
Helpful Score: 1


I am not usually a short story fan, but I read every single one of these. I thought they were great, and a bit depressing because there are SO MANY ways to end the world. Usually in dystopia there are people at least struggling to make the best of what they are dealt, but since these stories are all about the time leading up to disaster and end with it happening or just about to, there wasn't any lights shining at the end of the tunnel, unless they might be alien or comet...
The world ends is ALL sorts of ways, some more terrifying than others but all quite interesting!
If you like apocalyptic stories, people trying to make the best out of crazy situations and difficult choices. Check these out! There are two more books coming, the next group of short stories will be during the apocalypse and the third will be afterwards. Fun stuff!


Ever After (Hollows, Bk 11)
Ever After (Hollows, Bk 11)
Author: Kim Harrison
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 68
Review Date: 1/5/2018


This book slayed me, I didn't want to do anything else but read until I finished.
Read this series in order, you can't bounce around effectively.
Tons happens, Rachel is growing, Trent is too, Jenks rocks, Al is amazing. Ivy isn't here much, sad stuff happens, but good stuff too. Luckily I own the last two books, gonna have to read them soon.


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