When I first started reading this book it was back in October-November and I could not get into it for some reason, but I am pretty sure that it was because I was distracted by other books I had lined up to read. So I decided to get back into this year so I can finish the series and finally have questions answered that I have had bottled up in my head for quite some time now. I expected when I started, that it would end up with a much lower rating, but lo and behold it did not.
The pacing of this book is a bit slower to start, therefore harder to get into, but gradually it picks up and gets pretty exciting the further you go as the pacing gets much better. No it is not a favorite of the series but it was still a necessary read I think for the series. There were parts in it that I thought could have been excluded but overall it was still enjoyable and I am glad that I got it finished.
Of course we have the favorite characters that we all love, and a few new ones who change things up a bit. I think the author is very good with her character development. They are written so brilliantly and they are very relatable even though they come from a very different time. One of the things I love most about Claire is the fact that she adapts well, and she makes the best of everything and passes that on to others.
Wow, this was great! This was a buddy read with a couple of friends, but I jumped the gun because the book was staring at me and I had to pick it up. This is book 8 to the Will Trent series. Not sure how much further she is going with this series, but I felt like this one was a good place to stop.
As normal, the plotline was amazing in this book. It was intense, gripping and very engaging right from the prologue all the way to the end. I found that it was pretty hard to put the book down. It has great pacing that keeps readers turning the pages. I think that is what I like the most about Slaughter's writing. She knows how to keep readers engaged.
The characters throughout this series continue to develop. They are realistic, relatable and very believable. Some will have you swooning while others will have you seething with hatred for them. I love the strength of the characters, but also I love how they are flawed at the same time, makes for so great multi dimensional characters.
I of course recommend this book to all Slaughter fans, and also to fans of the mystery or thriller genre. So much to love about her writing I just can't say enough. If she decides to write yet another to this series, then I will of course pick that one up too.
Another brilliantly written and illustrated story. I just love how he can create 2 different stories and bring them together to tell such a beautiful tale. I also love the fact that the author does all of his own illustrations and book covers for each of his books. He is a very talented writer and artist.
In this one the story starts in 1766 with a family called the Marvels who were a family of actors in theatre. The whole first half of the story is told in marvelous and fascinating illustrations. I found that the illustrations told the story very well, it was really easy to follow it. I also think the illustrations give the story that dramatic affect and also make the story so very magical. The second part of this book continues in 1990 with a boy who is trying to figure out his family and ancestry. Both stories come together in an alluring tale that anyone will enjoy.
The characters are very colorful and of course amazing as they always are in Selznick's writing. My two favorite characters would have to be Joseph and Frankie. Both are stubborn and a force to be reckoned with for young children who are on a mission. They make you like them, they make you feel for them and understand them. I felt as though I knew them all and wanted to know them even better. They are all just beautifully done.
Of course I recommend this book to everyone, even if you don't read middle grade. Selznick's story telling should be appreciated by everyone because it is so very magical in every sense of the word. So pick it up and just try it out. If you don't like it then you just move on to something else without really losing anything at all, that is better than missing out completely.
I read this book as a buddy read with a friend. I was lucky to find this one on sale at our UBS. I have owned several of Ahern's books for awhile but this is the first time I picked one up and I am so glad I did. It makes me look forward to the other books that I have by her, and will be sure to get to them this year at some point.
When I first read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it as soon as I could. I feel like her writing reminds me a bit of Liane Moriarty and that is a good thing. I absolutely loved how great the pacing was for this book. It just kept moving and it made it hard for me to put the book down. I was made to feel so many different things during the course of the book. I was written so well and if you read it, you will feel something.
The characters are developed so well it is as though they were my friends, and my enemies. They are wrote so beautifully and they feel so realistic. Readers will cry with them, laugh with them, and even fight with them. I found that Holly was so relatable, especially while dealing with loss and trying to move on with life. It is not always an easy task and I could feel every moment of her sadness. It hits ya right where it hurts the most.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good realistic, contemporary. There is so much feeling in this book it needs to be read and shared with others. I look forward to reading more by this author since this is a first time read.
I Just did a reread of this book with my group and could not believe how much more I enjoyed it this time around. I have experienced a lot more middle grade reads since reading this book the first time, 3 years ago, and I think that has played a big role in it along with eventually reading the whole series and growing with the characters. I found it to be very engaging for me and I love the pacing of the story. Also this time I discovered that this can be a very magical world for children and adults alike and I am glad I vested a bit more time and understanding into the story with this reread. I felt swept away pretty much this time around.
The characters, to me, have always been great even if I did not always enjoy these first few books. I like the antagonists and protagonists alike because they are written so well. I also love the fact that readers get to watch them grow up and get to do what the characters are doing at whatever point they are in the story. They are developed pretty well just in this first book, but definitely get increasingly better with each one of the books. I have to say though that one of my favorite characters has always been Hagrid. I find him to be very loyal and someone I would definitely want on my side for sure. He brings so much to the story.
I can recommend this even if you are an adult. Middle grade reads can be magical and are a nice break from our adult books and adult life as well. I certainly look forward to rereading the rest of this series with my group.
So glad that I am finally to get to the Alex Cross series. This is the first book to the series. I have had several of the books for awhile now. I have read plenty by James Patterson and have enjoyed just about all of it, so I expected this book to be just as good, and it really was.
The plot to this one was very fast paced, it really kept the story flowing well and kept me engaged from page one. I found nothing that was draggy or slow with the story. There were also some pretty unexpected events that took shape in this one. I loved the action and excitement that came along with this first book and I look forward to much more of that in upcoming books of the series.
I really enjoyed Alex Cross as a character right from the start. He has a good head on his shoulder, but he does have some issues which makes him flawed, and I love a good flawed character. I look forward to his development throughout the series. I also enjoyed a few of the other characters as well, such as Nana Mama, who is Cross's grandmother, and I also enjoy Sampson who is Cross's partner in crime. Both of them together really make this an enjoyable series.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Patterson and has not yet read this series. I also recommend this to those who just love mystery in general. There is plenty to keep anyone interested and turning the pages.
