He’s an immortal and a retired superhero. One who just wants to be left alone. And then an organised Talent comes and ruins his plans…
I truly think that being immortal would be one of the loneliest things ever. And this story kind of reinforces that belief. The lead character is completely alone, lonely and looking for a reason, any reason to live. It made this a bit of a sad story. But also one that ultimately had a bit of a hopeful spin to it… being immortal would suck. Until you could find others to have it suck with.
This short story starts as a fishing trip and a nice little tour. And then it quickly gets convoluted. Between reminiscing about the past and finding out just what the powers of the clients are… it’s an interesting little story. Add to that that there is a greater reason for their powers and difference… I found it quite difficult to put this down and a little sad when the story was all over.
Although I was kind of sad that this story ended, I did love the way in which it ended. Particularly when it kind of asked the question, what is the difference between man and monster? It’s something that I’m constantly wondering myself to be honest…
Title: Misery Author: Stephen King Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Horror, Thriller Dates read: 16th – 17th August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Hodder Year: 1987 5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Better?’
Misery Chastain was dead. Paul Sheldon had just killed her – with relief, with joy. Misery had made him rich; she was the heroine of a string of bestsellers. And now he wanted to get on to some real writing.
That’s when the car accident happened, and he woke up in pain in a strange bed. But it wasn’t the hospital. Annie Wilkes had pulled him from the wreck, brought him to her remote mountain home, splinted and set his mangled legs.
The good news was that Annie was a nurse and has pain-killing drugs. The bad news was that she was Paul’s Number One Fan. And when she found out what Paul had done to Misery, she didn’t like it. She didn’t like it at all.
I have seriously got to stop reading Stephen King novels when I know I’m going to be home alone for the night… I keep thinking that I’m tough and I want get all wiggy… and then I get all wiggy. This time I was a little smarter, I put aside a whole day and started reading Misery in the morning. Just so that even though I did get wiggy… it wasn’t during the night. Rather, it was when there was still a lot of sunlight…
I both admire and fear Stephen King. I absolutely love his writing. It is just completely impossible to put down and forget. I also fear that he has a mind that is capable of this kind of story. It’s pretty damn intense and hard to forget. This story is definitely one of those that is a thriller – and spine tingling. Plus, every time I had hope… it was completely dashed away. Each time more brutal than the last.
Aside from the heart pumping, pulse tingling, craziness of this story I also really loved that it was a story that featured the act of writing. There was the weird hatred that the writer feels for his own work, the process of creating a story and the ways in which fans become just a little too connected to the storyline. It was a really great insight into an aspect of writing that I’ve vaguely experienced, but not truly (since you know, I’m not actually an author). I love how this fascinating look into a writers’ psyche was partnered with just total and utter, brutal insanity.
As someone who works in mental health, anything that investigates the different ways in which people can break kind of fascinates me. Partnering that with the amazing way in which King is able to show the damage of psychological torture… this is most definitely not a novel that I’m going to forget anytime soon!
Title: Rock Wedding Author: Nalini Singh Series: Rock Kiss #4 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Music Dates read: 16th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Nalini Singh Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: “Sparrow” wasn’t a song for keyboards or fancy arrangements.
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Rock Kiss series with a hot, sweet, emotional contemporary romance about love and forgiveness…
After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought sh’ed finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellam, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.
Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love… even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.
But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time?
This was such a perfect ending to the Rock Kiss quartet. It managed to not only be incredibly cute and sweet. But it rounded out the stories of the other three band members and just gave this great feeling of happily ever after. The fact that it didn’t just feature one wedding (expected from the title), but FOUR… well, that just hit me in ALL of my happy literary places.
From Sarah’s appearance in Rock Redemption, I was quite keen to see what her journey and experiences were all about. But I didn’t expect to feel so keenly for her so damn quickly. The journey that she goes on and the tragedies that she’s faced… they were completely heart rending and, honestly, some of it was exactly what my nightmares are made of. It was seriously tragic and difficult to read in moments.
What I think I loved most about this novel is the fact that Abe took responsibility for his own actions. Not many characters tend to do that in stories. At least, not to this degree, and not when they’re an alpha male. Less so in real life, but still… just having a literary character that is able to go “Yup. I fucked up. And I’m going to fix it.” That was weirdly important and made me seriously love him as a character (particularly one that you don’t really get to know throughout the rest of the series).
Both Abe and Sarah have kind of tragic and seriously tough backstories. Yet, even though there was knowledge of these throughout the novel. It was a story that was more about moving on and forgiving one another the past. Finding a way to be happy and finding a bright and cheerful future. Which is probably why I found this book pretty much impossible to put down and seriously, seriously fun and enjoyable.
Title: We Both Go Down Together Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.09 Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 22nd August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan McGuire Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Minutes passed.
With their second child due to arrive any day, it would be reasonable for Jonathan and Frances Healy to stay safe at home. Unfortunately, the world has other ideas. A postcard from the mysterious coastal town of Gentling, Maine has Jonathan packing his bags and preparing for an adventure—and when did Fran ever pass up an adventure?
But the people of Gentling aren’t just ordinary fishermen and sailors: they’re the descendants of finfolk who fell in love with the humans who pulled them from the sea, and they have long since settled into a gentle rhythm of a life lived between the wet and the dry. Only now, someone or something is stealing their babies from the shore, endangering the next generation.
Old obligations and new obligations will collide, and the newest member of the Healy family will join the fight…or will she? Because it’s not just the babies of the finfolk who are in danger, and unless they’re careful, Johnny and Fran might find themselves losing another child…
I was kind of worried about how this story was going to go. After the events of The First Fall, I was expecting something equally tragic to happen to the next child born to Fran and Jonathan. It was a little bit tense and not so great. But I really didn’t have to worry as much as I thought I did.
As with many of the prequel short story stories that I’ve read in the InCryptid series thus far, We Both Go Down Together introduces a whole new group of cryptids. In the case of the Finfolk, I actually found their plight to be incredibly heart wrenching and sad. It was seriously tragic and made my heart hurt a little. It reminded me a lot of tales of the Selkies too…
Although the Finfolk have a bit of a tragic back story, there was something about this story that was really lovely. It provided a little hope for the future and left me wanting to know how Alice was likely to grow up after her auspicious welcome into the world.
Title: Loch and Key Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.08 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 19th August 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan McGuire Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: At least is hadn’t attacked, or slithered back down into the lake; it must have liked what it was seeing.
Daniel Healy has been dead for two years, and his parents are still in the process of healing both themselves and their relationship. When Alexander Healy suggests that it’s finally time for his daughter-in-law to accompany them on their periodic fishing trip to White Otter Lake, it seems like the perfect opportunity for the four surviving members of the family to become reacquainted with one another. Fran is dubious at first, not really understanding what a fishing trip could do for them as a family.
That was before she knew about the monsters in White Otter Lake, of course. The monsters change everything.
Before long, the entire Healy clan is embroiled in a fight for the lives of the creatures that live in White Otter Lake, which may be the last of their kind in the world. If they want to save these majestic plesiosaurs, the family will need to find a way to come together in order to solve the mystery of what the guardian of White Otter Lake has disappeared to.
It’s bullets versus brains as the Healys finally step up to do their jobs, and preserve the crytozoological world. No matter what it takes.
First Fall was a kind of tragic and heart rending short story. It was great for the overall storyline of the series – but it was still something that made my heart very, very sore. Luckily, Loch and Key starts with a lot more hope. For starters, it begins a few years after the advents of First Fall, and there is a sense of moving on and healing that left me feeling really quite hopeful.
Every time I pick up an InCryptidshort story (I’m getting my fix at the moment from these amazing short stories while I save some money for the books), I find something fun and intriguing and just a little bit funny. In the case of this short story. It is the fact that the “bad guys” in this tale are dinosaur poachers. It shouldn’t be that funny… but something about the idea of dinosaur poachers seriously hit my humour bone and had me smiling.
I needed the lightness from this story to counteract the last few InCryptid short stories. Now I’m ready to find out more horrible things that I’m sure are going to happen. But for now, this was a nice way to begin to move on from the shadow of Daniel’s death. It may still linger. But at least they are beginning to move forwards.
Title: The First Fall Author: Seanan McGuire Series: InCryptid #0.07 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy Dates read: 16th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Free online short story Publisher: Seanan McGuire Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: “Yes, sweetheart,” she said.
It has been three years since the marriage of Jonathan and Frances Healy; three years since the birth of their son, Daniel, who has been the light of their lives for that entire time. And now, due to circumstances beyond their control, the family has come together to do the one thing that none of them has ever wanted to do.
They have come together to bury Daniel.
Shattered by the death of their little boy, Jonathan and Frances set out to find the Campbell Family Carnival, where Fran’s old friend Juniper’s talent for talking to ghosts may allow her to believe that her child is truly at rest. Jonathan has no such hopes; he just wants to there’s a chance his wife will survive the labyrinth of her grief.
This is not a happy story, and it does not chronicle a happy time in the annals of the Price family. But this is what happened, and when it happened, and it shaped so very much of what came after.
Rest well, Daniel Healy. You never had a chance.
This short story kind of hurt my poor heart. It even made me cry a little. Nothing too intense, just a few spots on my cheeks and a little brightness in my eyes. This was also just at the very beginning of the story. So you can imagine that it just went downhill from there for my poor emotions…
I seriously can’t believe that the beautiful child that you barely get to meet dies. And the way that he dies. It’s truly horrible. It seriously made me rethink my love for McGuire for a little while. But it didn’t take me long to feel more comfortable with her writing again. Even when she kills off a small child, she manages to do so in a way that is both serious and heart rending and kind of beautiful.
I also loved how Juniper is able to start the process of healing in this story. Sometimes we need to lean on the people that we love the most and find our way towards healing. Even if it is a little difficult to find the words…
Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Author: Stephen Chbosky Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Book to Film, Contemporary, Mental health, Young adult Dates read: 16th August 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Simon & Schuster Year: 1999 5th sentence, 74th page: She lifted off the pillowcase, and there I was, standing in my old suit, looking at an old typewriter with a fresh ribbon.
Charlies’ not the biggest geek in high school, but he’s by no means popular.
Shy, introspective, intelligent, yet socially awkward, Charlie is a wallflower, standing on the threshold of his life whilst watching everyone else live theirs. As Charlie tries to navigate his way through uncharted territory – the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends – he realises that he can’t stay on the sidelines forever. There comes a time when you have to see what life looks like from the dance floor.
After finishing this novel, I sat staring at the cover for a good five minutes. Just. Staring. And you know… understanding. Understanding why this is a fairly popular book and why it was made into a movie. This is just phenomenal. And gut wrenching. And beautiful and just… I’m really not sure I’m going to half the words to write this review. It is just such a great story and I absolutely adored it.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is kind of a coming of age story. But it’s just so, so, so much more. It is a story that left my heart seriously hurting after turning the final page. But, it also left me with a big smile on my face – one that I tend to get only when I’ve read a particularly amazing novel. One that is well written and insightful. And, in spite of all of the tragedies and horrible, heart rending moments throughout this – there is an overwhelming feeling of hope.
This is a great reminder of living life and finding / embracing those who you love. But more so, finding those who actually love you for you and who you are. It’s a reminder that even if you’re a bit of an “outsider”, there is someone out there who will love you completely and without reservation. Someone who will make you feel like you’re coming home, just by being there in your life. It’s a great idea and something that made me constantly think about my own friends and the ways in which they help to lift me up on the worst of days.
This is a phenomenally written novel. And, I honestly don’t understand how such a tragic and intense story feels so damn beautiful. It doesn’t feel sad and tragic at all. Rather, it feels hopeful and beautiful. And, well, not quite light, but uplifting in the most confusing of ways.
Title: 206 Bones Author: Kathy Reichs Series: Temperance Brennan #12 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Anthropology, Crime, Science, Strong women Dates read: 10th July – 14th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Arrow Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: Perhaps that, too, was contributing to my newfound serenity.
When Dr. Temperance Brennan is accused of mishandling the autopsy of a missing heiress, a routine case swiftly turns sinister. But before Tempe can get to the one man with the information she needs, he turns up dead.
In Montreal, three elderly women are found murdered, their bodies brutally discarded. Even though the clues don’t add up, Tempe is certain of a link between their deaths and that of the heiress.
Has Tempe made grave errors, or is she being sabotaged by an unseen enemy? What is frighteningly clear is that more than just Tempe’s career is at stake. Her life is also at risk.
This probably wasn’t my favourite Temperance Brennan novel thus far. I had to keep stopping and starting. And I really didn’t get swept away in trying to figure out the culprit from the very beginning like I usually do. Not to say that it wasn’t still a fantastic novel. It just wasn’t quite as amazing as some of the other books in this series. It felt a little like a connector story – at least that’s what I found.
Although I wasn’t immediately swept away by 206 Bones, I did like that this took a bit of a departure from the style of the other novels in the series. For starters, it begins with Tempe being trapped. And then proceeds to flash between two time frames. Not necessarily a format and tactic that I love all the time in a novel. But it did work really well for this story line. After all, instead of trying to figure out who the murderer was, you spend a lot of time wondering who attacked Tempe. It added an extra, unexpected layer of mystery to the storyline.
I did love the fact that you pretty much know part of the ending of the story before you actually know the beginning. That, partnered with the main crime was quite intriguing. After all, I haven’t yet read a series or crime novel that focuses on the murders of elderly women. Which I feel like there should probably be more – they’re a fairly vulnerable group of people.
Although I liked the murder story and the overall rebuilding (I think) of Ryan and Tempe’s relationship. I seriously love that all throughout, you know that someone is out to get Tempe and you are constantly wondering who it is. Why. And just what is going to send them over the edge and driving an individual to commit such a crime.
The Bori want nothing more than to build a fence, and raise their young in quiet. But an annoying neighbourhood watch woman feels the need to constantly interfere… until she sees the strength inside.
I absolutely adored this short story. And, halfway through I realised that’s probably because I kind of love everything by Melissa Marr that I’ve read anyway. She manages to make some faery tale style works and paranormal fantasy stories just that little touch darker. Not so much so that it’s uncomfortable. But enough that it’s not all happy and light. Exactly the kind of story that I love.
I’ve never come across Bori in a story before. And I’m now curious to see whether they are a “real” mythological creature, or one that is entirely of Marr’s own imagination. I’m hoping that they are in other stories… I really liked the idea of them and was completely drawn in from the very beginning.
There is nothing that I love more in a story than a little busybody getting their comeuppance. Alright, in this story it was a little intense and drastic, and I probably shouldn’t have enjoyed it quite so much. But I did. And I laughed. And it was just a great, fun short story that had a little bit of death and darkness to make me fall all that more deeply in love.
Title: The Ghost in the Doctor Author: Brenda Cooper In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Weird western Dates read: 14th August 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Daw Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: Even the ghost inside of him.
Aeons ago it seems (but in reality, it was only years), a doctor made a deal with a medicine man which would make him just as powerful. Now, he realises that the gift may just be a curse. One that he really doesn’t want.
I found the idea in this short story completely intriguing. The fact that a man who is also a doctor has a slightly weird and definitely judgemental ghost sitting in his being sitting judgement on others. The fact that the consequences of this judgement are kind of severe just helped to add to my level of fascination. There were some slightly awkward moments. But it did really, really love this idea.
Most of the Weird westernsthat I’ve been reading have featured cowboys. Even most of the westerns for that matter. Yet, this is the first one that seems to seriously feature Indians. The lead character might still be a white man. But the feature of the Indian culture and Medicine Man was beautiful. And it completely drew me in.
This short story brilliantly explored the pitfalls of power and getting what you think you want. Particularly in the case of this doctor – someone who kind of holds the power of life and death in their hands. But then seriously does so once a little magic is performed. It’s confusing and brilliant and wonderful. The ending was nothing like what ia expected. And somehow all that much more brilliant for it.
Earth and Skye 