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BookMaven9

BookMaven9

Joined May 2016

Loved puppers, books, film buff, super heros and the 10th Doctor
review
BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ The concepts in this well known classic tale of the duality of man are brilliant. Dr. Jekyll‘s intentions were well meaning to rid the person of temptations and longing to be free of constraints. The exploration is interesting enough here, however I find the execution to be tedious and structure plodding and meandering. I would think the telling from both jelly and Hyde‘s POV would have been far more compelling.

Not a favorite

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BookMaven9
The Odyssey | Homer
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️the original hero‘s journey. I loved the beautiful language and seeing what lengths we go through to get back to home and those we love. Always loved mythology and nice to read the origin story.

dabbe An epic hero's quest story doesn't get much better than this one. 💙🩵💙 3d
BookMaven9 It truly doesn‘t get better agreed 3d
9 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
We Are Legion (We Are Bob) | Dennis E. Taylor
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️didn‘t love it, didn‘t hate it, but could take it or leave it. I‘ll@give book 2 a try and see if it improves. Hoping the humor gets better and less self dialogue cause that‘s leaving me bored.

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BookMaven9
The Haar | David Sodergren
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This is how body horror mixed with folk horror is done people!!! All the feels: gross, shocking, tender, sad and lovely. A wonderful range of emotions. I love Murial and her creature feature!

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BookMaven9
I, Robot | Isaac Asimov
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ robots behaviors should not be ignored. Hence AI! A profound collection of short stories that are timeless and timely. A variable of dilemmas that ultimately become something quite terrifying. A thought provoking read of explosive ideas.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️this was a “nice” read. A bit far fetched in the end. Lies, betrayal and forgiveness are always juicy bits to write about I just wish the ending were more plausible

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BookMaven9
Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️an absolutely haunting read!!! Beautifully done with deeply felt characters, even the island was a character. This writing took me straight there where I could feel the wind, smell the sea and hear the life all around me.

Lesliereadsalot It was my favorite book for most of this year. I also loved the characters. 1mo
BookMaven9 Me too. Lovely writing and so sad 1mo
17 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Bailedbailed

Not really sure how much snoozier this can get so I‘m out.

11 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️wow book 2 was even better than book 1. What if fairies were real and not at all what you thought. Go digging and read this horrifying tale! Proud to be ☘️ Irish!

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BookMaven9
A Short Stay in Hell | Steven L. Peck
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Wow! I don‘t have the words for a review.

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BookMaven9
The Butcher's Masquerade | Matt Dinniman
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️these books are keeping me sane these days! Delightful and silly. I highly recommend the Audio book cause it‘s just gold! This is a series this is book 5

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BookMaven9
Play Nice | Rachel Harrison
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Panpan

⭐️a whole lot of nothing to see here with shallow awful people. 👎

Lauredhel Oh, that's disappointing! I was tempted by the cover 1mo
wildwoodreads I enjoyed it but totally agree that the people were awful. 1mo
BookMaven9 I think I just like a bit more depth and atmosphere to my spooky books. This one just didn‘t have the vibe I was going for. It felt more like a beach read which is fine if I knew that. I just don‘t think she‘s for me. 1mo
14 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an absolute page turner of historical fiction and the lives of women during the 1700s. Riveting!

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️the house and ravens were the best characters in the books. Atmosphere and creepy elements are abundant. However it‘s hard to care about these awful people. I also wished we had more information on the house itself.

dabbe 🤍🐾🤎 2mo
10 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
Old Man's War | John Scalzi
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️John Scalzi is always a delight and a wonderful comfort read. High adventure, heartwarming with lots of laugh at his snarky humor. I intend to definitely complete this series.

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BookMaven9
Starling House | Alix Harrow
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️I wanted to like it. I almost liked it. Very meh! Too much going on and none of it sticks. Overly long and repetitive in many places. I know there‘s a good story in there, I just couldn‘t grab onto it. It was grabbing sand.

wildwoodreads I dnfed this one. In theory I should have loved it but I just couldn‘t. 2mo
BookMaven9 Exactly how I felt! It had all the bones just nothing else. There was a story somewhere begging to come out 2mo
21 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
Of Monsters and Mainframes | Barbara Truelove
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️it wasn‘t awful, but it wasn‘t great either. Enjoyed while I was reading, but once I put it down, never felt compelled to pick it back up. It‘s a charming mashup of Dracula, Frankenstein, the mummy and AI run spaceship. However I needed more character development and some questions answered. I felt unfulfilled. Overall it‘s cute.

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BookMaven9
Don't Let Him in | Lisa Jewell
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️Not one of my favorites of hers. If you like being made to feel angry and frustrated maybe. I mean how can women of today not see that 🚩everywhere with this horrible man. Too many characters and timelines. Writing is fine just didn‘t like the way it made women seem so stupid!

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BookMaven9
Dark Horses: A Novel | Susan Mihalic
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️because of the ending, I can‘t rate this higher. TRIGGER WARNING! This deals with incest and sexual abuse. A very dark read I wanted to look away from. Graphic and disturbing and a necessary book on pulling back the curtain on SA. However I didn‘t find the satisfying.

11 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Zero Saints | Gabino Iglesias
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ This was more of a novella and I think that was one of the problems for me. I think the world the author is building is a good one but much too short and not enough details on the lore that he trying to use. I think Santeria Is interesting and mixing it up with the drug cartel is an awesome idea.

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

***** Meh, I wasn‘t thrilled in this one, It was readable, had some exciting moments once it got there, but overall I found it lackluster at best.

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BookMaven9
Atmosphere: A Love Story | Taylor Jenkins Reid
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Never ever does TJR disappoint!!! This one was just as wonderful as all her other books! I was very invested in these characters, from the loser sister to the lovely blossoming of Joan and how she finds who she is what it means to love.

14 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
King of Ashes | S. A. Cosby
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Everything burns”

Another quick paced, character driven story with a a lightening quick page turner. Whenever you think his stories go dark, they go darker!

A family who runs a crematory business runs into some hang issues, and what unfolds is a chess match between getting this family out of trouble, outwitting the gangs all the while the family secrets, dysfunction, and dream slowly unfold.

A gut puncher for sure!

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BookMaven9
My Friends | Fredrik Backman
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When you get old, gravity pulls the corners of your mouth down, the road to a smile grows longer.

The most dangerous place on earth is inside us.

Grown men don‘t have enough things they‘re afraid of on this planet to become good at running.

14 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
Isola: A Novel | Allegra Goodman
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️oh to be a woman in the 1500‘s😞.
Harrowing true story of Margarite de la Rocque who was stranded on a deserted island for years alongside her nursemaid and lover! From noble woman to warrior! Hands down one of the best reads this year!

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 3mo
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love my adventures with Carl and Donut! These books keep me sane during insane times which is wild cause these books are bonkers 😂

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TOXIC LESBIAN VAMPIRES they say!!!! Why sure, why not lol!

Well I loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaLure so this didn‘t take much to grab this one up. It‘s not just the storylines that interesting or the fascinating characters she creates. It‘s the absolute magical use of words that make each sentence sing like pure poetry! Her writing styles makes me never want her books to end!

Loved sinking teeth into this one!

Lesliereadsalot In line for this one. Sounds great! 4mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 4mo
BookMaven9 @Lesliereadsalot so gooooood! 4mo
14 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️1/2 The writing was beautiful and yet felt out of place in this environment for some reason. I couldn‘t connect@to the characters and wasn‘t sure what this was all@supposed to be about. I appreciate the effort shining a light on how parts of our society is left behind. But this sadly wasn‘t it.

Lesliereadsalot I actually bailed on this one but forgot to post. Thanks for your review…sounds like I didn‘t miss anything. 4mo
BookMaven9 Except for the beautiful words you really didn‘t. There are better stories about the immigrant/middle America novels 4mo
14 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘m finally halfway through to catching up on the Dept. Q series. This was a twisty one that went many places at once and was a fun read. However a bit disappointed that I‘m 5 books in and still don‘t have a clue about Assad‘s background. This didn‘t push the storyline forward a bit.

Other than that, a pretty good thriller.

Lesliereadsalot Is Dept Q the same one as the Netflix series? Really liked that series! 4mo
BookMaven9 Yes it is. I read the first one about 10 years ago ago which was the show. I read until there were no more. Now there‘s 10! I‘m working on catching up 4mo
15 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
The Purity of Vengeance | Jussi Adler-Olsen
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It‘s been a minute since I‘ve read a Department Q novel!

These books don‘t disappoint! Great characters along with very intricate storylines that weave and tie end nicely throughout. This one explores the oldies in Denmark when the right wing nationalists wanted to keep Denmark “Danish” and explored the lengths some crazies will go to keep in that way.

The relationships between Carl, Assad and rose gold deeper.

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BookMaven9
Jude the Obscure | Thomas Hardy
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️all the bloody stars!!!! This book is a masterpiece for its writing and its subject matter. So much to unpack. Unconventional people living in Victorian times and getting slammed from all directions. All Jude wants is an education, all Sur wants is to love without the constraints of marriage. Why is that so tragic? Heartbreaking read! A top 5 favorite

8 likes1 stack add
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️an amazing piece of Korean history along with learning about the Haenyo women of Jeju island as seen through the eyes of two friends and the catalyst that destroys their friendship during the April 3, 1948 uprising. I cannot recommend this wonderful and heartbreaking story.

Lesliereadsalot Such a good book. My son actually visited this island. 5mo
annahenke I keep meaning to pick this up. Need to move it up the list! 5mo
BookMaven9 I wish I visited it when I was in s Korea. What a fascinating history 5mo
13 likes3 comments
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow!!! These books keep getting funnier and sillier and just plain wild and crazy! I‘m in love with my characters so much. This level has been explosive! The crazy train from Hell and the tangle has been the most fun yet.

I can‘t wait to see where Carl and Donut end up next and what havoc they reap.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ the 22nd book in the incredible Charlie Parker series. Although this one started out slow, it picks up well. Wr are getting closer to why he is haunted by the ghost of his child. I need more Louis and Angel than I got here so hoping we see more of them in the next book.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
14 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
The Virgin Suicides | Jeffrey Eugenides
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Panpan

⭐️I‘m not sure I could hate a book more!

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️interesting take on the lore of staircases in the woods. Dealing with friendships, trauma while giving a unique look at haunted houses. The story stopped and stalled too much for me. Characters felt undeveloped. Needed more exploration. It was just ok.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I‘m certainly glad I read this book! Freedom versus tyranny and a battle of wills you won‘t forget.
Triggers: racism and misogyny throughout

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BookMaven9
Carl's Doomsday Scenario | Matt Dinniman
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Carl and Princess Donuts adventures continue to bring laughs and endless entertainment.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my 3rd Nat Cassidy read, he seems to get better and better at his storytelling. I found this to be a page turner since the action starts right away and never really lets up.

His characters are sympathetic and likable you find yourself sort of rooting for everyone in one way or the other.

Imagine a 5 year old boy who can make his very fears come to life? If you want to know, give this a read.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 6mo
BookMaven9 🖤 6mo
19 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
Cold Eternity | S.A. Barnes
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️this is ok@between heavier books. Entertaining enough however no depth to characters, creature lore or science fiction. It‘s just a generic space horror that somewhat engaging. Not bad, but not great by any means. Took awhile to get going.

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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Haunting, intense, loneliness, love, survival, self reflection.

What does it mean to be human. Powerful read! I wish more people were aware of this book.

Lesliereadsalot Got this one coming up! So glad you liked it. 6mo
BookMaven9 You definitely won‘t forget it. 6mo
16 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️omg this was a blast listening to!!! I am looking forward to getting back into the world of Princess Donut and Carl! Although it‘s way silly, the character building has captured me.

Addison_Reads Agree! I just finished this one today. 7mo
BookMaven9 I‘m into book 2. So much fun !🤩 7mo
10 likes2 comments
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BookMaven9
You Killed Me First | John Marrs
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 3.5 stars

While I enjoyed the book loads, I know what he can do and he can certainly do better. It‘s still a fun read and a page turner, but compared to what he‘s done before, this came in just under expectations.

These 3 women are a hot mess, in an entertaining way. And I enjoyed the backstabbing, twisty little ways they were at each other.

So definitely not one of his best but I‘m still happy I read it.

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 7mo
12 likes1 comment
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BookMaven9
Small Favors | Erin A. Craig
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This author can do no wrong. What a deliciously wonderful creepfest. I love strange forest books and am always imagining what lurks within the trees in the darkness. This gives a good spin on that genre if you love spooky forest stories.

This one is a slow burn that you have to be patient with but it does payoff. The atmosphere alone is worth the read.

I loved her other books!

ICantImReading I‘ve been on a kick with reading all of her books this year after loving “The Thirteenth Child” - I hope to get to this one soon! 🙂 7mo
BookMaven9 Loved the thirteenth child!!! And her salt and sorrow books 7mo
12 likes1 stack add2 comments
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BookMaven9
Naked in Death | Nora Roberts, J. D. Robb
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Panpan

⭐️

This was an absolutely cringe worthy novel! Dialogue was awful! I don‘t like romance books and this acts like a murder mystery/ scifi when in reality those things were thrown in as a side to the romance. Blech

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BookMaven9
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️The cover is better than the actual book. I figured it out early on. It‘s an interesting concept but it didn‘t work for me. Forest vibes are one of my faves, I wish we spent more time there rather than in the MC‘s head repeating things over and over again rather than move the story forward. Pacing was off. But the cover is stunning.

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BookMaven9
Ohio | Stephen Markley
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️a decent go at looking at small town America during some tough times. I think there is a greatness in there somewhere, but couldn‘t connect to characters and felt it was overwritten in places.

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BookMaven9
North Woods | Daniel Mason
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️two stars for the beautiful writing and making me feel like I was in nature. The stories were lackluster and not interesting to me at all.

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BookMaven9
Hollow Kingdom | Kira Jane Buxton
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️ This book started off great!
What started out as a good set up, funny dialogue even if you‘re mostly in ST‘s head, soon becomes tiresome. Many of the encounters along the way become long winded and either rambling conversations. I admit, it lost me several times and quickly ran of steam to be interesting enough for me to care. I‘m so disappointed because I think the author was onto something here.

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BookMaven9
Empire of the Damned | Jay Kristoff
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️proper vicious vampires in a gritty world that is dark and dangerous. Excellent characters that will break your heart! A worthy sequel and I can‘t wait for book 3!