2018 Year in Review and 2019 New Year's Resolution

Another year has come and gone.

At the last count, I have reviewed a total of 62 books for the year to date. This works out to be an average of 5.17 books per month; 1.29 books per week.

Year 2018 @ 62 (+10 YOY)
Year 2017 @ 52 (■ YOY)
Year 2016 @ 52 (-22 YOY)
Year 2015 @ 74 (-23 YOY)
Year 2014 @ 97

Review: When I Was a Kid 2: Childhood Stories by Boey

4 stars for When I Was a Kid 2: Childhood Stories by Boey.

I feel on top of the world now. I did it! This graphic novel has just made it into my 2018 list of books reviewed.

This book is not your usual kind of book book. It is made up of simple stick figures accompanied by a small amount of writing that tell a story, or rather many short stories. Basically, it reads like a continuing story in comic-strip form.

I have an enjoyable time reading Boey's childhood stories. Funny, honest and touching in its own right, author Boey reminds us what it means to be a kid.

Best of all, each story is self-contained and can be read in any order. It comes especially handy when I want to read something but am sufficiently distracted enough to concentrate on reading a full-fledged novel.

Review: When I Was a Kid: Childhood Stories by Boey

4 stars for When I Was a Kid: Childhood Stories by Boey.

This book is not your usual kind of book book. It is illustrated by simple stick figures that come with a small amount of writing that tell a story, or rather many short stories. Basically, it reads like a continuing story in comic-strip form.

I have a good time reading Boey's childhood stories, of his growing up in Malaysia. Funny, honest and touching in its own right, author Boey reminds us what it means to be a kid.

Best of all, each story is self-contained and can be read in any order. It comes especially handy when I want to read something but am sufficiently distracted enough to concentrate on reading a full-fledged novel.

Review: When I Was a Kid 4: Childhood Stories by Boey

3 stars for When I Was a Kid 4: Childhood Stories by Boey.

This book is not your usual kind of book book. It is a short series of funny drawings with a small amount of writing that tell a story, or rather many short stories. Basically, it reads like a continuing story in comic-strip form.

I have a good time reading Boey's childhood stories. It comes especially handy when I want to read something but am sufficiently distracted enough to concentrate on reading a full-fledged novel.

Review: The Mistletoe Inn (Mistletoe Collection #2) by Richard Paul Evans

5 stars for The Mistletoe Inn (Mistletoe Collection book 2) by Richard Paul Evans.

This book reads like a once-in-a-lifetime experience Christmas gift. And the fact that I finish it on Christmas day itself makes the story even more special and memorable.

Author Evans is indeed the King of Christmas fiction. I have read many of his Christmas stories and thus far, no two books are ever written such that the stories teeter on the brink of similarity. It is an amazing experience to see how he coaxes words from thin air — like a magician — and weaves them into lovely, unforgettable tales.

I read The Mistletoe Inn in awed silence. Not only is it beautifully written, it also offers a different perspective and real glimpse into the literary business of writing and publishing. I love the way author Evan connects this book to the very first book in the Mistletoe Collection series. I think he has created a new definition to the meaning of standalone.

I will love to read the third book The Mistletoe Secret as well. But I seriously doubt I can finish reading it in time for the year. So, I am leaving it for next year's Christmas read. Well, at least, that is something for me to look forward to.

Review: When I Was a Kid 3: Childhood Stories by Boey

5 stars for When I Was a Kid 3: Childhood Stories by Boey.

This book is not your usual kind of book book. It is a short series of funny drawings with a small amount of writing that tell a story, or rather many short stories. Basically, it reads like a continuing story in comic-strip form.

I have a great time and many good laughs reading Boey's childhood stories. It comes especially handy when I want to read something but am sufficiently distracted enough to concentrate on reading a full-fledged novel.

The only drawback is this book 3 is not available for sale in Amazon, be it in kindle or paperback format. I feel really lucky to have come across this book (and yes! book 4 as well) in the library. The cute drawings and uniquely hilarious slice of life really make my day. Scratch that. Make my night, since I read them mostly at night, right before my bedtime.

Good news from Google and my googling! This book is available for purchase in Kinokuniya Malaysia.

Review: The Noel Diary (Noel Collection #1) by Richard Paul Evans

5 stars for The Noel Diary (Noel Collection book 1) by Richard Paul Evans.

The past week has been a very busy but extremely satisfying amd fulfilling one for me. I did not manage to put aside much time for my nightly dose of reading, but I did make time for two workout classes a day, that is right after my daywork; one ride and one rumble/boxhit. Yes, I sign up for a one-week unlimited trial and I make sure that I maximise the "Unlimited" portion of my purchase. So, that leaves me late for home and mostly spent for the night. In a way, I amaze myself that I can even squeeze in time for some reading after laundry and before I hit the sack.

This is another heartwarming Christmas story on grace, forgiveness and a chance at love.

How often do we seek peace and to reconcile with the past? Do we ever get the chance to rewrite the past? Well, The Noel Diary shares it all. Not only that, it comes with The Sound of Silence, a classic folk rock song with lyrics that is as soulful as the music itself.

Review: The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection #1) by Richard Paul Evans

5 stars for The Mistletoe Promise (Mistletoe Collection book 1) by Richard Paul Evans.

Richard Evans is my go-to author for good Christmas stories. I have no idea how he does it, but as usual, I am heartened by his telling of The Mistletoe Promise, a story about forgiveness and redemption.

If you can erase just one day from your life, will you know which day?

Review: The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne #1) by Tilly Tennant

2.5 stars for The Little Village Bakery (Honeybourne book 1) by Tilly Tennant.

I thought it will be for a nice change to start reading Christmas-themed stories earlier this year instead of waiting it out until December. Well, that and it makes for a wonderful change from the horrors of my previous read.

As I scout for the book of my dreams, the two-book Honeybourne series grabs my attention and I decide to try out book 1.

The Little Village Bakery is a heartwarming story about second chance and kindred spirit.

The story starts out great and revolves around the heart of the sleepy village of Honeybourne and its old bakery of which the main character, Millie, plans to revamp and breathe life back into. However, I did not like the turn in events when the ghost of Millie's past makes an appearance and starts sprouting fibs about her.

There is much potential to be explored in this book where the magical and mystical aspects are concerned. Sadly, they are not well exploited and it disappoints me to no end when the truth is finally revealed.

All in all, it makes for a mediocre story of guy-girl relationships. That said, I am not sure if I should continue with book 2 Christmas at the Little Village Bakery or simply give it a miss.

Review: Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary #1) by Ira Levin

4 stars for Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary book 1) by Ira Levin.

I started reading this spellbinding suspense novel in the last week of October but am not able to finish it in time for a Halloween post. All things considered, I think three days past is not too bad either.

Rosemary's Baby is one of those creepy stories that tends to add stress and anxiety to the reading. It certainly makes me very uncomfortable and sick with worries as the story progresses and the plot thickens.

As the title goes, it is obvious who the damsel in distress is. Rosemary of course! Unfortunately, contrary to the saying, there is no hero coming to her rescue. Rosemary has to brave her way out of The Bramford, the prestigious Grand-Old-Apartment-House, a house that possesses far more than its share of ugly and unsavory happenings, a place that sensible people stay away from but where she adamantly chooses to stay in.

Moral of the story - do not judge books by their covers. In Rosemary's case, do not judge houses by their facades and do not judge characters by their faces. Secret coven aside, the more disturbing moments in the story actually have less to do with the supernatural, but more to do with the horrors of manipulation, isolation and someone battling to take back control of her life and her body.

A disturbing story with an equally freaky picture of a book cover, Rosemary's Baby makes a good wrap up of the Halloween season for me this year.

Review: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

4 stars for We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson.

This is an unsettling novel about a peculiar girl named Merricat, her beloved older sister, Constance, and together, their family's dark, dark secret.

The story revolves around a mysterious past event. Through Merricat's first person narratives, the reader is prompted to figure out what exactly happens on that fatal night six years ago. Throughout the novel, there is a sense that the truth lies within reach, but in actuality, it is so near yet so far. For some of the characters such as the villagers or Uncle Julian who lives in the same house as the two sisters, truth is the same as conjecture. As for the two characters that do know the truth, even their individual truths never quite match up.

At the end of my reading, I gather that somehow, the truth does not really matter, at least that is how the author sees it. Just as often, it is not the destination but the journey that matters, and so, in this story, it matters not the truth, but family, female power and gender, guilt and punishment, and above all, isolation. To most if not all of us, living in isolation is equivalent to living in horror; but to Merricat, it is living in happy isolation.

That said, at the end of the day, the reader in me still yearns to find out the truth of that mysterious past. Well, it is certainly revealed in good time if you read right to the end of the book.

Review: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

4 stars for The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.

The Lottery is a short but deeply memorable story. It may be categorised as horror, but it is not one involved with supernatural effects, instead, it has got more to do with the dark side of human nature.

The original purpose of the lottery is a mystery. None of the characters in the story remembers or knows the reason for the lottery; why there is the lottery, what is the purpose of the lottery and when the lottery is started.

Every year without fail, the village people attend and go through this annual ceremony dutifully without ever questioning it because it is what they have been taught since young.

Perhaps if the people realise what effect and result the lottery is supposed to produce, they may all agree to abandon this traditional ritual for it is nothing but an ancient superstition.

Through this short story, the author attempts to challenge readers to examine the role of tradition in our lives and how it can lead us to continue to engage in ways that are cruel and inhumane.

Review: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

4 stars for The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

This is one of the best old horror stories.

The Haunting of Hill House is more terror than horror, at least that is how I feel. The paranormal factor embedded in the root of the story is so skilfully presented that reading the uncanny episodes bring on a sudden awareness that sends chills up my spine, such that each and every trivial sound that permeates the air in my living room while I read the book late into the night makes me jump up in my couch with a thumping heart and surreptitiously turn my head around as if I am being watched by unseeing eyes. Yes, I am spooked.

A Doctor of Philosophy wants to investigate the causes and effects of psychic disturbances in a house commonly known as "haunted". He set his eyes on Hill House which is built some eighty-odd years ago and engages assistants to observe and explore this house of despair to find out why all the people who rent Hill House make an effort to provide a rational reason for leaving, never staying more than a few days and certainly never the full terms of their leases.

Are you keen to find out the real reason as well? Are you game enough to set foot in the Hill House? If it's a yes and yes, enter and be forewarned.

Review: Lord of the Flies by William Golding

2 stars for Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

I have heard and read so much good words about this classic novel. But somehow or other, I cannot for the life of me enjoy the story.

There is actually nothing wrong with this novel except... (1) the snail slow pace of the plot is not to my liking and (2) the story is neither suspenseful nor mysterious enough to keep me excited about picking up from where I leave off each time. Still, I am glad to say that I manage to get to the end of the book.

Review: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

Did Not Finish Moloka'i by Alan Brennert.

I want to like this story and I try to read it best as I can. Sad to say the least, I am not able to make myself finish it.

Moloka'i is one of those stories where the lines between fact and fiction are blurred; historical events, real-life patients and caregivers are interlaced with fictional cast of characters. In nutshell, it is a work of fiction which is set in a real place where real people live and die.

The story revolves mostly around a seven-year old girl, Rachel and a terrible, horrible disease called Hansen’s disease which is also known as leprosy.

It is important to note that leprosy is caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) and is thus not hereditary, from a curse, or from a sin.

Review: After the Fall by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

3 stars for After the Fall by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

This short novel is a story worth reading. It encourages us to see beyond that which we fear, for in confronting and taking our fears to its outer edges, we can learn to think differently than the average human. Our lives could have been different. Very different. Totally different.

Review: The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

4 stars for The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan.

I am not sure what to make of this story right after I finish it. It is not my usual kind of read but it surely unsettles me and leaves me with mixed feelings and plenty to think about.

The Cement Garden may be an easy to read story but the theme it explores is definitely not. The book deals heavily with psychological issues relating to family, adolescent longing, sibling rivalry and death.

The family of Julie, Jack, Sue, and Tom, ages 17, 15, 13, and 6, attempts to deal with the loss of their mother in their own ways. The lack of adult supervision coupled with the confusion, fear and frustration of growing up lead them to explorations and experiments that are all too haunting and disturbing.

I am not sure if I like the story ultimately. It is obviously not a book for just about anyone but it is a story that will affect the reader in more ways than one.

Review: Necessary Lies (Necessary Lies #1) by Diane Chamberlain

5 stars for Necessary Lies (Necessary Lies book 1) by Diane Chamberlain.

This is one powerful story; heartbreaking, intense and intriguing at the same time.

It is easy to feel sad for the characters in the story. The fact that this historical fiction is based on true events - the Eugenics Sterilization Program which did happen from 1929 to 1975 - make me feel even more sad.

Necessary Lies. What constitutes necessary? Is there such a thing as a necessary lie. To me, a lie is a lie is a lie. Period.

To be poor and to be on public welfare does not make one any less human. So why does it lead to the loss of freedom to make choices or decisions? The things they do to the girls and women who are not smart enough or healthy enough or rich enough.. are basically violations of basic human rights. Where does ethics even come in?

Even as I am fuming away at the unreasonableness and injustice of it all, the narratives make me feel as if I have stepped into a time machine. At first, I feel like the 15-year old, Ivy Hart, and the 22-year old case worker, Jane Forrester, and then all of a sudden, I find myself turned into senior citizens. Yes, the story is narrated in first person perspectives, by Ivy and Jane, and to a small extent, Brenna, from 2011 back to 1960 and then back to 2011 again.

The story is predictable - hey, I guess something right even though I do not know how I did it - and unpredictable; many of the happenings when revealed, catch me by surprise. Regardless of either, it is definitely a story that builds up slowly but surely in intensity. Though the ending seems a tad too good to be true, I feel that the author has done her part and everything necessary to raise awareness and bring across the story of those in Necessary Lies.

For those readers who enjoy stories based on true events, this is the book for you.

Review: The First Lie (Necessary Lies #0.5) by Diane Chamberlain

4 stars for The First Lie (Necessary Lies book 0.5) by Diane Chamberlain.

A book buddy friend read this book, Necessary Lies and promptly recommended it to me. I check it out and realise that it actually comes with a prequel, The First Lie. Though it is not clear, at least to me, the order in which the books are written, I go with my gut feel - though I can be wrong - that book 0.5 The First Lie is written only after book 1 Necessary Lies.

In the sequence of things, I should have started off with Necessary Lies. But I don't. Because.. well... I am curious as to what that first lie is. That and that the prequel is a relatively short story. And I am not sure if I am ready to move on to the next book after finishing my favourite Kate Daniels series.

So, that is how I end up reading this book in the dead of the night at my dining table and scaring myself silly over an Ouija board in the story. Haha

I gobble up this short story in two days' time. Yes, it is that enthralling; once I start reading, I cannot put it down. But the thing is, at the end of it all, I am not sure if I know what that first lie is. I may have some ideas, or should I say, plenty of guesses, but then, I don't know. Not really.

Now, I will read Necessary Lies to find out. More of these later.

Review: Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels #10) by Ilona Andrews

5 stars for Magic Triumphs (Kate Daniels book 10) by Ilona Andrews.

The problem with reading a good book is that you want to finish the book, but you don't want to finish the book. That is exactly how I feel each time I pick up this series and go into the Kate Daniels mode.

Much as I want to uncover the plot asap in this last book of the series, I want to go slow and savor every moment of each scene, which is how I find myself keeping a nervous watch over the tiny numbers on the bottom right corner of my kindle and hope against hope that the percentage shown there will come to a standstill, if not climb up ever so slowly. Well.. the existence of this post less than 5 days from the last one is proof enough of a fat lot of good it does me.

Magic Triumphs has this super-duper grand finale feel right from the start. Many of the characters, big or small, make a welcome comeback. No surprises there. What takes me aback instead is the reappearance of the oh-my-I-so-miss-this term of endearment "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty". It definitely brings me back to the days of old when Kate meets Curran for the first time in Unicorn Lane. The author certainly knows the right button to push to teleport Fans back to the nostalgic past.

On top of the characters, all the different factions in Atlanta make their appearance as well. We have the Pack, the People, the Covens, the Order, the Guild, the Biohazard, the Red Guard, the National Guard, the Mages, the Druids, the Mercs, the Volhvs, and even the Iron Dogs. And then, as is, there is the bloodbath and screams and howls and snarls from all the fighting on the battlefield.

I have literally followed and watched Kate Daniels grow up, or perhaps grow older and wiser, over a span of eleven years; from a headstrong loner in Magic Bites to the self-sacrificing girl in Magic Strikes to the struggling owner of Cutting Edge Investigations in Magic Bleeds to the Beast Lord's consort in Magic Slays to the best sword fighter in Magic Rises to the kick-ass mercenary in Magic Shifts to the wife-and-mommy heroine she is today in Magic Triumphs. Even with a son in tow - yes yes, they have a child now - the sparks between Kate and Curran never fizzle out. Instead, it is even more heartwarming to see how the dynamics of their relationship changes to accommodate the additional family member.

I am sad, but not that sad, that this series has drawn to a close. The beauty of excellent storytelling is having the heart to kill off great important characters and knowing when to wrap up the story and series. This husband-and-wife writing team certainly recognises the need to end the series as she/he sees fit and proceeds to do it. This is what set author Ilona Andrews apart from the rest of them mediocre ones.

Not only have I come a long way with Kate Daniels, I also bear witness to the changes in her urban fantasy world. Yes, changes and definitely for the better. The author(s), the stories, the writings, the world building all just keep getting better and better. So, I did not see it coming; the freakingly frank admission in the authors' acknowledgements in Magic Triumphs.

"If you’ve never read us before, and this is your first Kate book, thank you for buying it, but please put it down and find a copy of Magic Bites. It’s not our favorite, and we would probably rewrite it if we could, but we all have to start somewhere, and it’s always better to begin at the beginning."

What is so bravely penned down by the authors is exactly how I have felt all along as a reader and loyal Fan of Kate Daniels and how I will have felt if I am the writer myself.

Grand finale. Last instalment. No more Magic something. No more Kate. No more Curran. The end. But.. if you have read Magic Triumphs, you may agree with me based on the ending which is an ending but not an ending ending, that there is this - no matter how small but it is there - possibility that this well-loved series may return once again. Perhaps one day years down the road, the author(s) may have a change of heart and decide to surprise us readers. Who knows, right? Until that one day which of course may never materialise, I can only and will surely re-read the series. Again. And again.

1. Magic Bites
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes
4. Magic Bleeds
5. Magic Slays
6. Magic Rises
7. Magic Breaks
8. Magic Shifts
9. Magic Binds
10. Magic Triumphs

Review: A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

2 stars for A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell.

One blogger. Two moms. Many secrets. That about sum up this book.

Well.. it may appear as if there are mysteries leading to more mysteries and questions leading to more questions, but at the end of the day, A Simple Favor is simply a simple story. Period.

This novel is divided into three parts. I have my share of ups and downs as I read each of them. Frankly speaking, I only like part one because ever so often, what we see is not what we get; people hide behind a facade, a flawless public facade that mask private despair. We bluff the world into thinking that all is well, when in reality our thoughts and feelings tell a different story.

I didn't like how the story turns out to be. Not at all. Perhaps the author tries to be different by having it in such a way that what goes around does not come around. But seriously, it does not work on me; the ending only leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I wonder how the author manages to get this book sold for movie rights, and a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE at that. It is beyond me.

Do not feel bad if you have yet to read this book. Wait and see the movie, perhaps it will be the lesser of two evils. Meanwhile, stay tuned for the movie reviews (release date: 14 Sep 2018).

Review: Red Letter Day by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

4 stars for Red Letter Day by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

This is actually a reread. I remember being awed by the very idea of time travel when I first read this novella. Now? Perhaps less so. I guess knowing the answers to our own fate beforehand spoils half the fun of rereading. But still, the topic of time travel continues to intrigue me. A mystery. A mystery it will always be.

Have you ever wondered what it will be like to reach back into your own past and reassure yourself or put something right? Have you?

Review: The Retrieval Artist by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

5 stars for The Retrieval Artist by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

I have always wanted to read this book, the book that introduces Miles Flint to the world and subsequently leads to the birth of the entire Retrieval Artist series. Yes, I may have read all seven books in this series, but somehow, there is always this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that something is amiss. So, I am delighted to be able to read this short story now.

Searching for an interstellar Disappeared is a lot harder than finding a missing person. Here, we see Miles Flint, the best and quickest Retrieval Artist in the business, in action - that stretches from Armstrong Dome, one of the colonies on Moon, to Sahara Dome on Mars, to Gagarin Dome on Moon - all because of a case that has turned personal.

I enjoy this short novel tremendously. It feels very much like meeting up with a good old friend and reminiscing about old times. And the best part? Everything is seen and told through the eyes of none other than Miles Flint.

The Retrieval Artist series is never complete until one has read the book that started it all; well, at least that is how I see it. Yes, I have come to complete this one terrific science fiction series. Finally.

Review: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

5 stars for Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.

The book title reminds me time and again of the miller's daughter in Rumpelstiltskin. I may even agree that the very idea of Spinning Silver originates from this children's classic book, yet Spinning Silver is remarkable in its own right.

The story is about a girl, a moneylender from a small town, who can turn silver into gold; from a hundred pennies into a silver kopek, and from twenty silver kopeks into a golden zlotek.

The initial 10% or so of the novel is business as usual, nothing special about the moneymaking activities. In fact, the story is so slow moving and uneventful that I teeter on the edge of abandoning this book for another. It also does not help that the story is narrated by more than one person, making it all the more confusing to read and follow.

Needless to say, I am happy beyond words that I persist in my pursuit of spinning silver into gold for soon enough, I am transported deep into a magical realm, first of winter and snow, then, one of fire and flame. A monster of ice and a monster of fire. As is, there is more to this icy monster than meets the eye. One exists because of the other and for good reasons.

Indeed, Spinning Silver is an enthralling and spellbinding story that explores the dynamics of various relationships and what it means to be human against all odds. Though the many different first person perspectives is not of my preferred style, the author successfully captivates me with her writing and imagery that I willingly let myself be sucked into the magical adventures of Miryem, Wanda, Sergey, Stepon, Irina, Mirnatius and Magreta. On top of it all, I love the underlying message that the story presents: everything happens for a reason.

Well, I shall leave it at that for now and say no more, else you will lose half the fun of immersing yourself in this fantasy novel.

Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik

5 stars for Uprooted by Naomi Novik.

This book must have been uprooted from Heaven's ground and magically planted to take roots on Earth. It is a beautiful story, charming and captivating in all its originality.

Do not judge this book based on the peculiarity of a title and overlook it for good. As the chinese idiom goes, the phrase 臥虎藏龍 (Wò hǔ cáng lóng) totally applies to the story here. Translated, it means 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon', in which the words 'Tiger' and 'Dragon' refer directly to people with special hidden talents.

In a sense, there is a tiger and a dragon in this book. Well, if a tiger of magic is considered as one, then there certainly is one such crouching in the female protagonist, Agnieszka, waiting to be discovered and unleashed. As for the dragon.. this Dragon does not eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside the valley. Though this dragon is not a real fire breathing one, it is close enough; a wizard and immortal whose name tasted of fire and wings, of curling smoke, of subtlety and strength, and the rasping whisper of scales.

Besides the two enthralling main characters, the marvellously melodic prose of love and war brings out a kind of beauty that goes beyond skin deep to touch my soul and flutter my heart. On the surface, this story may read like a first-rate fantasy built upon a world of mystery and enchantment, of fighting evil and corruption. But often enough, there is no clear-cut case of good versus evil for there is always a good reason behind everything. In the end, in the heart of it all, Uprooted is about learning to let go, to free oneself from obsessing thoughts and from unhappy feelings. And that basically is what makes this fantasy story epic.

Now that I have reached the end of a magical adventure with a deeply satisfying conclusion, I cannot help but yearn for more. Perhaps one day, the author may have a change of mind and turn this standalone novel into a series. Why not, right? A girl can always hope.

Review: The Alchemist’s Flame (The Final Formula #3) by Becca Andre

4 stars for The Alchemist’s Flame (The Final Formula book 3) by Becca Andre.

Thus far, the author has done a remarkable job on the opening paragraph of each instalment in the series that makes me eager to keep the pages turning.

Here goes for the current book..

"A practicing alchemist doesn’t spend all her time indoors. The profession offers many opportunities to escape the confines of the lab. There are ingredients to be gathered, potions to be delivered, and as was the case today, necromancers to spy on. Purists may not lump the last into an alchemist’s job description, but I found myself in this position so frequently that I had begun to think of it as part of the job."

Well, there is certainly a lot more to alchemy than just mixing potions. In this book, not only does the alchemical world continues to build upon itself, I notice an increase in the use of subtle humor that serves to lighten and yet heighten the dynamics between the protagonist, Addie and the rest of the characters. Great work there!

Third book to date and still my favourite character remains unchanged. I swoon over Addie's lab partner and ride, the most cool and clear headed character with old world etiquette who is, fortunately or unfortunately, an all-in-one - undead necromancer, alchemist and Lich King.

Review: The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula #2) by Becca Andre

4 stars for The Blood Alchemist (The Final Formula book 2) by Becca Andre.

How do you right a wrong? To Addie, the most brilliant alchemical mind of our time, the answer lies with The Final Formula. With that, much of this story still revolves around The Final formula and its unique properties.

I will not say that I enjoy this book through and through seeing that certain characters that get on my nerves - such as the three Huntsman brothers - keep making their appearances, so much so that I am prepared to down my rating of this book to 3 stars.

However, in the end, the Lich King, Ian, convinces me to change my mind. Yes, I like the character of Ian Mallory much more than that of the Flame Lord, Rowan. There is absolutely no doubt about it. For this reason, I am really pleased to find, at the end of The Blood Alchemist, an entire short story dedicated to Ian and Addie.

In fact, this book is a steal because it comes with not one but two bonus short story, The Lich's Lab and A Christmas Formula, both of which are very well written and leave me wanting for more at the end of it all.

Review: The Element of Death (The Final Formula #1.5) by Becca Andre

3 stars for The Element of Death (The Final Formula book 1.5) by Becca Andre.

This novella is cleverly written to spin off a story from where James and Rowan wander off towards the end of book 1 The Final Formula. The story focuses on James and provides a good introduction to the start of an unique relationship between him and Rowan.

To tell the truth, I am somewhat disappointed that this short story is not about our little alchemist, Addie, but all about James and a little walk down memory lane. But I suppose, as Addie's sidekick, James does deserves some attention too.

Overall, an okay read for me.

Review: The Final Formula (The Final Formula #1) by Becca Andre

5 stars for The Final Formula (The Final Formula book 1) by Becca Andre.

I have been reading at a snail's pace of late. It has nothing to do with the writing of the book on hand but everything to do with - for lack of a better word - distractions. For a start, there is the beta reading, then ten days of vacationing in Hokkaido, Japan and finally, my watching of the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches.

I have always wanted to read this book but somehow or other, I never get down to it until my recent flight to Hokkaido. Even then, I did not achieve much reading of this urban fantasy novel in the air as my focus is on completing the beta read.

Come to think of it, I should really have made the effort to read this book earlier. It is good. Very good in fact. It has a beginning that appeals to me, an ending that tugs at my heartstrings, and in between these two, there is alchemy, necromancy, magic and elementary forces (fire, air, water, earth), all of which serve to bring out the best mix of science, fantasy, romance, mystery, suspense, and action to produce the very formula in The Final Formula.

So, what is this Final Formula exactly? Well, go grab a copy of this e-book now while it is still available for free download, and unravel the greatest mystery of all time.

Review: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

4 stars for Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

It is my belief that at some point in time during one's lifetime, one will question the purpose of life and thus begins the quest to search for its meaning. If you are reading this for the same reason as I do.. Welcome to the club!

This is a book about survival.

The first half offers personal experiences of an inside story from the Auschwitz concentration camp, told by the author himself as one of the survivors. He conveys to readers by way of concrete examples, such as situations in a concentration camp, that life holds a potential meaning under any conditions, even the most miserable ones. His account is not so much about what he has suffered and lost, but more so about the sources of his strength to survive.

The second half is about logotherapy, a theory developed by the author who is a neurologist as well as psychiatrist, based on the belief that the human person is motivated by an inner pull to find a meaning in life. And by identifying that purpose in life, logotherapy can help to overcome all struggles.

Dr. Frankl's theories are heavily influenced by his personal experiences of suffering and loss in Nazi concentration camps. He believes that we may not be able to control what happens to us in life but we can always control what we will feel and do about what happens to us; as long as we retain the freedom to choose how we will respond, we are never left with nothing.

I like and enjoy reading the first half of this book where psychological lessons can be learnt from the author's Auschwitz experience. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the latter half. The in-depth studies, discussions and explanatons on logotherapy is just too philosophical for me.

Having reached the end of the book, when all is said and done, it all boils down to "having a Why to live for will enable us to bear the How". The greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life.

Man's Search for Meaning. Have you started yours? If you have not, this book is as good a place as any to start.

Review: Wave: A Memoir of Life After the Tsunami by Sonali Deraniyagala

3 stars for Wave: A Memoir of Life After the Tsunami by Sonali Deraniyagala.

I feel somewhat guilty for giving this book a 3-star rating granted that it is an emotionally honest and heartfelt portrayal of incomprehensible grief on life after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. But if I am to be honest as well, this is where it fails.

While I appreciate that the writing is frank - to a fault - and stripped of all window-dressing, and I understand that the author has never, will never and can never get over her unbelievable loss, there is just too much anger and negativity in her narratives that I find the story extremely heavy and laborious to read after a while. More often than not, the author gets so carried away by the past that she goes on and on about things that simply do not interest me. So, on top of the anger, the story becomes long and slow-moving and well, boring after the first few chapters.

But then again, who am I to fault or criticise? This is after all, her book, her memoir, possibly even an outlet for her to vent her frustrations for the cruel blow that life has dealt her with.

Through her book, Wave, it is clear that the author goes through the different stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and perhaps, acceptance - though not necessarily in that order. Grieving takes time; dealing with grief after losing loved ones takes a long time. I am not sure if the author has come to terms with the reality of it all and find her peace by the end of her memoir. Or will she ever?

If you are looking for a story that centers on healing and moving on after a natural disaster (a tsunami; a tidal wave), then this is not the book for you. However, if you are interested to look into the mind of a woman who is still raw with grief and anger after the passing of close to 10 years of the catastrophe, then this is the book to read.

Review: The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore

5 stars for The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore.

I read this book because of the word "Radium" in the title. I first read and learn about radium in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. For the reason that radium is mentioned only in passing for its application to treat cancer in Skloot's book, I find myself drawn to this book which is all about radium and the girls who pay with their lives, and their fight for recompense, for recognition and for justice.

So what is radium?

Radium is a chemical element with symbol Ra and atomic number 88. It is a rare radioactive metal of the alkaline earth series and can be extremely dangerous.

Radium is formed when uranium and thorium break down in the environment. Uranium and thorium are found in small amounts in most rocks and soil.

Radium has a half-life of about 1600 years. As it undergoes radioactive decay, it divides into two parts - one part is called radiation and the other part is called a daughter. The daughter, like radium, is not stable, and it also divides into radiation and another daughter. The dividing of daughters continues until a stable, nonradioactive daughter is formed.

During the decay process, alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are released. Alpha ray can travel only a short distance and cannot travel through your skin. Beta ray can penetrate through your skin, but they cannot go all the way through your body. Gamma radiation can go all the way through your body; this gives radium its medicinal value, being able to travel through the body and be directed at a tumour.

Until the 1960s, radium was a component of the luminous paints used for clock dials, intrument panels in airplanes, military instruments and compasses, and even in many everyday products, including wristwatches, toothpaste and energy drinks. It was thought to have curative properties until its intense radioactivity was found to cause adverse health effects.

It is extremely sad and disturbing to know that the events in the book are real and did happen in the 1920s in Newark and Orange in New Jersey, Ottawa in Illinois and Waterbury in Connecticut, United States of America.

The girls work in a radium dial painting factory that make the first watches with illuminated dials. Following the instructions to keep their paintbrushes well pointed, the all-female dial-painters use the ‘lip, dip, paint routine’ where they put the brush to their lips, dip it in the radium, and painted the dials.

Eventually, the introduction of minute quantities of radioactive substance build up in the bodies of these girls and nearly all died of radium poisoning. The book describes in horrendous details the pains and sufferings these women have to endure as their bodies slowly disintegrate and make them the living dead. Due to industrial occupational hazards, none of them are able to lead normal lives.

There is also the riveting courtroom drama that keeps me at the edge of my seat as I read on how these young innocent women stand up for what is right, even as their world fall apart, how they fight on when all hope seems gone, how they inspire one another to defend against attack or criticism, and finally, how they lead other dial-painters to come forward through their friendship networks.

On top of the hopeless situation of radium poisoning due to no cure, there is also plenty of anger to go around as I read about the notoriously dishonest United States Radium Corporation (USRC). The USRC is a vivid example of the ways of an inconceivably selfish capitalist system which cares nothing about the lives of its workers, but seeks only to guard its profits and interests.

The story of The Radium Girls has now been told, their voices heard. If you have yet to read this book, it is never too late to pick one up and be transported to the Roaring Twenties to understand what it means to be a dial-painter, to be one of the glowing girls who leave behind an extraordinary legacy.

Review: D is for Deadbeat (Kinsey Millhone #4) by Sue Grafton

4 stars for D is for Deadbeat (Kinsey Millhone book 4) by Sue Grafton.

I decide to revisit this tried and tested Alphabet series after my miserable attempt at not one, nor two, but four books where the plots fail to hatch into something more that entice me to read beyond the initial 20%.

C is for Corpse. This is the last Kinsey Millhone book that I read way back in November 2016. At that time, I wonder what author Grafton will do when she runs out of alphabets to grace her book covers. Will the series then draw to a close? Sadly, my concerns are addressed in an article released after the author passed away in Dec 2017. With the publication of her latest book in August 2017, the alphabets series has reached “Y is for Yesterday" and will now end at Y, forever.

D is for Deadbeat is about private investigator Kinsey Millhone being caught up in the loop of a man with the desire to make restitution. The writing is good. The plot is not bad. And there is this unexpected twist towards the end.

It is good to know that, when all else fails, I can always fall back on a good, old, down-to-earth mystery story.

Review: Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris

Did Not Finish Behind Closed Doors by B. A. Paris.

I have finally read the book that everyone seems to be raving about since its 2016 debut. A story about the wife of a brilliant lawyer, a perfect example of a woman who has it all — the perfect house, the perfect husband, the perfect life. Or so she says...

I read and read and read. At 30% into the story, there is still nothing about the plot or the characters that fascinates me. I am bored to tears and I wonder if I should struggle on or give up reading. So, I start a thread asking for opinions from readers alike, and I am shocked at the overwhelming response of so many who not only share the exact same sentiments as myself, but go a step further to dislike this story to the core.

Yes, the plot turns from moderately interesting to a bit far-fetched to the point of absurd. How is it even possible that the protagonist, a woman who is independent, resourceful and capable of earning her keep for the past thirteen years, suddenly turns into a doormat at the drop of a hat? Sorry to say, it is just so ridiculously unbelievable.

To the peeps from FB book group "What Should I Read Next", thank you for the vote of confidence in helping me with the decision to stop reading before my dislike for this story turns into something worse for the time invested.

Hmm.. so what's next? What should I read next?

Review: The Polygamist's Daughter by Anna LeBaron

4 stars for The Polygamist's Daughter by Anna LeBaron.

AT AGE NINE, I had forty-nine siblings.

This first sentence is what propels me to read the heart-wrenching life story of Anna LeBaron, one where normalcy as we know it, meets her only somewhere in the middle of her narrative.

Grown up in polygamy with no idea of the truth, Anna lives a life characterized by fear, chaos, and insecurity. Though trained to simply do as she is told without voicing her opinions or speak of her desires, needs and longings, Anna somehow finds the courage to take matters into her own hands and make a life changing decision at a tender age of thirteen.

Does the above pique your interest and entice you to find out more about the culture and practice of polygamy or how the author finally breaks free from her childhood chains of polygamy? I hope it does. Because this book will make us appreciate our lives and be thankful for life's simple pleasures.

Review: The One by John Marrs

2 stars for The One by John Marrs.

This is one book which I feel torn between giving my 2 stars worth of rating or stamping it Did Not Finish without so much as a backward glance.

Strictly speaking, I did finish reading the book upon flipping to the last page, but only because I skip so many chapters to jump right to the last one and read it backwards for that ten percent or so.

The One starts out fine with an air of mystery on finding one's significant other via a DNA match. However, I soon get bored of the story with its mediocre plot before I even reach the halfway mark.

And before I know it, Skip has become my middle name. Yes, I am glad to be done with this book.

Review: This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

5 stars for This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.

This is Where I Leave You is an entertaining family saga that amuses me to no end. I laugh and I cry and I stare and I moon over the first person narratives as well as any mocking good humor that ensues.

Meet the Foxmans as they sit Shiva. There is Mr Morton Foxman (recently deceased), Mrs Hillary Foxman and their four grown-up children, Wendy, Paul, Judd (narrator) and Phillip. Forced to reconvene at Knob’s End, the cul-de-sac where their parents’ house stands over the course of seven days, the emotionally inarticulate Foxmans go through an unexpected emotional growth as they grapple with whatever life throws at them - kids or the lack thereof, finances and fiancées and soon-to-be ex-wives, loneliness and self-esteem, love and loss, death and grief.

Life issues are common problems, issues and crises that happen to normal people living normal lives just like you and me. The thing is, the author manages to capture the gist of it and proceeds to fabricate a story in the context of the Foxmans all so well that I simply cannot resist but read the book and laugh out loud.

If you ever find yourself bombarded by life issues and are at your wits' end, take a step back, pick up this book, relax and read it for a good laugh.

Review: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

4 stars for The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.

The Hating Game is a great exploration of workplace dynamics between two employees, Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman, who also happen to be mortal enemies. There is actually nothing hateful in The Hating Game, in fact, I more than welcome the change from my previous read, a dystopian crime fiction to this light-hearted, humor-packed romance novel.

Truth be told, this is my second try at reading. I am not sure why I did not manage to sneak past chapter one the first time round which is rather strange because the humor starts right away after the first couple of pages. I am just so glad not to have cast this book aside eternally but revisit it at some point in time when the stars are aligned.

Well, if you can agree to it that both love and hate are mirror versions of the same game, then you may be up for the challenge to play the Mirror Game, or the Staring Game, or the HR Game, or the Spying Game, or the Racing Game or even the Act Natural Game. The question is, are you game for The Hating Game?

Review: Out by Natsuo Kirino

5 stars for Out by Natsuo Kirino.

Out is not your run-of-the-mill story; definitely not what I have expected out of a Japanese female author. What astound me the most are the author's crafting of characters that go way beyond skin deep and her attention to details in a well built-up world of its own. This is no doubt an author whose work goes well beyond the conventional crime novel.

It starts out like any other day, or more accurately night, for four housewives (Masako Katori, Kuniko Jonouchi, Yoshie Azuma and Yayoi Yamamoto) who work the graveyard shift at the same boxed-lunch factory. Everything is as ordinary as can be for these four typical Japanese women struggling to make ends meet.

But soon enough, the story takes an unexpected turn and spirals into a dark tale filled with vivid ghastly details layered with lies and deceit and violence that chill me to the bone and make my skin crawl. Ironically, instead of being put off, the ruthlessness and heartlessness of it all suck me right into the story and spur me to keep the pages turning.

I highly recommend this crime fiction, but it is a tale not for the faint-hearted. Read it only if you have the stomach for a life lived in the secret embrace of a dark memory. If not, forget about it.

Review: Annihilation (Southern Reach Trilogy #1) by Jeff VanderMeer

2 stars for Annihilation (Southern Reach Trilogy book 1) by Jeff VanderMeer.

To say that I am disappointed with this science fiction novel will be an understatement. It is not that the story is slow or boring, in fact, the mystery and suspense intrigue me and motivate me to keep the pages turning. The thing is, I keep on reading and reading, waiting to be sucked into the story. But it never materialise. This is so disappointing because there is so much potential in a story with such a great concept and theme.

In the end, the story is as elusive as it has started off. I expect some discoveries, answers or explanations, perhaps not in all its gory details but at least some to appease my inquisitiveness. Sadly, there is none. Zilch.

The mission:
To continue the government’s investigation into the mysteries of Area X, slowly working the way out from base camp.

The people:
Four women: a biologist, an anthropologist, a surveyor, and a psychologist. All chosen as part of the complex set of variables that govern sending the expedition.

The duration:
There is no hard and fast rule. The expedition may last days, months, or even years, depending on various stimuli and conditions.

The findings:
........

What ahout the findings? Well, your guess is as good as mine. So, either you read this trilogy or you don't. As for me, to spare myself of further grievance, reading book 2 is not something I have in the pipeline.

Review: Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

1 star for Into the Water by Paula Hawkins.

I thought I am in for a treat when I finally decide to read this book. Only that instead of a treat, it is a trick. Yes, I feel cheated of my time, reading a story about a messed up town, with a messed up history, with a messed up river, and an equally messed up group of people.

If not for my admiration of the author's debut novel, The Girl on the Train, I will have long given up reading this novel. I feel that the author tries too hard on this one, the way the story is written, the fragmented chapters, the many characters, the mixed up perspectives, they are supposed to generate curiosity but sadly, they only serve to annoy and put me off.

Well, this story may not be my cup of tea, but if you are up for a challenge in the drowning pool, in memory of those who have fallen or jumped, by all means go ahead to read - but be forewarned to fall - Into the Water.

***

Two women who know each other, who are once connected, by place and by people, are found dead in the Beckford river within a few months of the other.

Review: Only Child by Rhiannon Navin

Did Not Finish Only Child by Rhiannon Navin.

I always feel that it is delicate business spinning stories from young children's point of view. It is not easy to write, nor is it easy to be well liked, especially by fastidious readers like me.

Only Child is a story told through the eyes of Zach, a six-year old boy. It starts off really well with Zach's internal thought process running in circles amidst a gunman and the popping sounds he makes in the elementary school. The first person narrative is so childlike against the disturbing backdrop that I cannot help but read the entire first chapter with a heavy heart.

Sadly, the above moment and the feelings it stir up do not last. When Zach talks about his father making partner at his firm the year before, I am reminded yet again that this is actually an adult posing as a young storyteller. And so, my interest to read starts to dwindle.

Not for lack of trying, I find myself unable to go any further beyond the 20% mark.

Review: Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2) by Jane Harper

5 stars for Force of Nature (Aaron Falk book 2) by Jane Harper.

This is the story of a company retreat that has gone awry. A team of five women enter the Giralang Ranges - to complete some teambuilding obstacles during the day and camp for three nights - but only four return. And not one of them has seen the bushland swallow up Alice Russell...

Force of Nature is a gripping mystery story that keeps me on the edge of my seat. The author does a remarkable job transporting me to this isolated terrain where the trees grow thick and dense on land that is reluctant to let anything, or rather anyone escape. Under the author's skilful penmanship, the sights, sounds and smells of the Australian bushland come alive to encourage my mind to play tricks and give me the creepy, eerie sense of being watched.

Besides the aim of searching for the missing, the story also focuses on relationships between families, siblings, colleagues and friends, and how little it takes for one to turn sour. Due to the exploration of deep-seated mental and nervous tensions among the characters, the author creates so many teasing possibilities that it is hard to guess what actually happens to Alice Russell. Because, yes, it is not any one thing that goes wrong, but many little things, and they keep adding up until it is too late.

Two books down. Now, I guess I just have to wait for at least another year before the third instalment will be available in print.

On a separate note..
Though a series, the only thing linking book 1 The Dry to this book is Federal Agent Aaron Falk. So, the two books can actually be read as standalones. Even then, I will recommend to read the stories in its proper running sequence. Learning the background of Aaron Falk from book 1 is crucial to understanding him and how he has come a long way since leaving his hometown, Kiewarra, some twenty years ago.

Review: The Dry (Aaron Falk #1) by Jane Harper

5 stars for The Dry (Aaron Falk book 1) by Jane Harper.

It has been a long time since I gobble up a book in 2 days' time. Wth a title that sounds dry and dully factual, the story is surprisingly not. Instead, The Dry has this addictive page turning effect, especially when I do not want to be left high and dry in a small, unforgiving town where people are hurt by buried secrets.

Well.. the secrets have now been unearthed and the mystery unravelled since I have obviously reach the end of this thriller. But even so, I am still reeling from the grisly discovery of the truths amidst the author's ingenuity to weave such a simple yet complicated debut novel.

This is definitely one author to look out for.

***

The Dry is set in Kiewarra, a small farming community a few hours from Melbourne in south-eastern Australia, which for the past two years has been drought-stricken.

Everyone is scared and worried about money and drought, no one knows quite what to do or say except keep a watch on one another, trying to figure out who may be the next to snap.

And then, a family is shot dead. Aaron Falk, an old friend - who has since moved to Melbourne for the last twenty years - of the deceased, is asked to look into the deaths.

But in a town that holds a grudge against Falk who harbours his own secret and lies and fear, twenty years is twenty years with some things that are not so easily forgotten.

Truths. Half-truths. Omissions. Lies. Read The Dry to discern which is which through Aaron Falk's third person perspective.

Review: A Local Habitation (October Daye #2) by Seanan McGuire

3 stars for A Local Habitation (October Daye book 2) by Seanan McGuire.

Oak and ash.
Root and branch.

A Local Habitation is definitely a better story as compared to book 1 Rosemary and Rue. There is an air of mystery and suspense as well as some light-hearted humour as Toby, half-Daoine Sidhe, half-human self, gets sent to Fremont, a city near San Jose on a diplomatic mission.

Well, the fae are territorial by nature. And something of a political nature seems to be brewing in the self-declared Tamed Lightning County sandwiched between the two Duchies, Shadowed Hills and Dreamer’s Glass. So when duty calls, Toby answers. But in a faerie knowe where logic does not always apply, things spiral out of hand pretty quickly, and that is when the excitement starts.

With the above said, I still feel that there is much room for improvement. For one, the pace of the story is on the slow side; after a while, the story tends to stagnant and strings the characters along. And then, there is the issue of this all too familiar phrase "here, kitty, kitty" which is a killjoy. Perhaps fans of a certain other series will agree with me.

All in all, this book gives me the hope that the best is yet to be. And it, in turn, translates to keeping Toby on my reading list. At least for now.

Review: Volatile Bonds (Prospero's War #4) by Jaye Wells

3 stars for Volatile Bonds (Prospero's War book 4) by Jaye Wells.

.. and so Prospero's war continues to rage in this book 4 of the series where alchemy is the foundation of modern chemistry.

Adepts. Mundanes. Potions. Dirty Magic. Solar eclipse. One wedding. Two funerals. That about sums up this instalment of Kate Prospero's world.

Volatile Bonds may not be as volatile as its predecessors but it is not a case of total static either. The overall story is not too bad save for some annoying repetition about the ghost of the past coming back to haunt Prospero's partner in the Magic Enforcement Agency (MEA) task force and a few loose ends that are - perhaps deliberately - left dangling in the air.

Ok.. frankly speaking, I am kind of disappointed after reading the book, not for the lack in originality but for the loss in potential for more. I guess in a way, I am rooting a lot more for John Volos, Prospero's old squeeze, than I let on.

I really hope this is not the start of a downfall to an urban fantasy series that I quite enjoy reading. Also, I am keeping my fingers crossed on seeing more of Volos and snide remarks directed at him from Kate in the next book. Until then..

Review: Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire

2.5 stars for Rosemary and Rue (October Daye book 1) by Seanan McGuire.

After such a long time, seven years at least, I have finally decided to lay my hands on the October Daye series which everyone seems to be raving on about.

However, I have mixed feelings upon finishing the book. I am not sure if this series on Fae and Faerie Kingdom and changelings is an absolute Yes for me to keep going even though I see the telltale potential for more in our protagonist, October Daye aka Toby.

Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

3 stars for One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

One True Loves is about life changers, about a moment that splits life in two; the moment that creates a “before” and an “after”. It is about the sharp spike somewhere along the way on our timeline, an event - more so than the others - that changes us and our lives.

"I am finishing up dinner with my family and my fiancé when my husband calls."

Taken verbatim from the book, the story opens with a sentence that is so wrong on every account that I do a double-take. And find myself compelled to continue reading.

The story is good. The writing is polished. I cry reading it. I weep for the protagonist, Emma, when life deals her an unexpected blow. All in all, I find no fault in this novel except that it slows down way too much after the first half of the story that I have to speed read to find out Emma's one true love.

Review: Still Me (Me Before You #3) by Jojo Moyes

3 stars for Still Me (Me Before You book 3) by Jojo Moyes.

From a standalone (Me Before You) to a sequel (After You) to a series (Still Me), Lou's story has indeed come a long way from the time she is hired to work for the Traynor family in England to the Gopnik family in New York now. Since then, Lou has moved on. Time and tide wait for no man. She needs to move on. Yet somehow, it still feels somewhat wrong to have Lou's story continuing in a world without Will.

Following the advice of the late Will Traynor, Lou is now in New York city to start a new life, take up new challenges and go on exciting adventures. The story flows and is easy to read but other than that, there is nothing much compelling about it. Lou is still Lou. But Lou without Will is just not the same. Ever.

Time does not heal all wounds. It is what we do with time that heals. Perhaps that is what author Moyes is trying to put across in Lou's story - another story without Will - to us. Perhaps Still Me is the last in the series. Or perhaps there will be more to come. But no matter how, I stick to my guns that it will have been for the better if Me Before You remains as it has originally been intended to be, that is, a standalone novel.

Review: The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney

5 stars for The Girl Before by J. P. Delaney.

The Girl Before is a tense thriller that is as intriguing as it is creepy about a house, its architect and its occupants.

The story alternates in first person narratives between two female protagonists, Emma (then) and Jane (now). I will say that the author does a terrific job to avoid reader's confusion by cleverly employing the tactic of indirect (for Emma) and direct (for Jane) first person narratives.

Well, the result is, without a doubt, a series of harrowing accounts narrated in dramatic and spellbinding details the lives of Emma and Jane, as well as a minimalist style starchitect whose work is as unshowy as it is profound and of course, the sleek and perfect house designed by aforementioned architect on One Folgate Street without which there is no story.

Just as the plot is lined with unexpected twists and turns, I am totally clueless that author Delaney is actually the British adman Tony Strong, that is, until I am writing this very review. The thing is, I simply am not able to tell from the initials that the author is a man! If I did, in all likelihood, I will not have chosen to read this psychological thriller in the first place.

Well, just so you know, do not judge a book by the gender of its author just as the saying goes: do not judge a book by its cover. So.. read this book!