Tag Archives: Lindsay Smith

Sekret by Lindsay Smith

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

SekretTitle: Sekret
Author: Lindsay Smith
Series: Sekret #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, History, Psychics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: I shove the framed picture and the notes back in the desk drawer and slam it shut.

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Synopsis

AN EMPTY MIND IS A SAFE MIND.

Yulia knows she must hid her thoughts and control her emotions to survive in Communist Russia – especially because she is able to read the minds of the people she touches. But Yulia better watch out.

Russia’s powerful spy agency, the KGB, is recruiting young people with mind-reading capabilities for their psychic espionage team. Their mission: protect the Soviet space program from American spies. When Yulia is captured by the KGB and forced to work as a spy, she’s thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. It’s up to Yulia to survive on her own wits and abilities, because this is a world where no sekret can stay hidden for long.

Thoughts

I don’t know much about the history of Soviet Russia, the Cuban Missile Crisis. Or generally much European history at all. So it was really fun and interesting reading a tale based on this period in our global past. The fact that it had a strong, female protagonist and a psychic mystery to boot.

It took me a little while to sort out the names in this story. Luckily, Smith has a small introduction that explains Russian names – the formal and the informal which are used interchangeably throughout Sekret. Which meant that it took me a little longer than usual to sort the characters out in my mind. But it gave the entire story more of a genuine feeling. It made everything feel both more foreign and familiar. And makes me want to do a little more reading and research into Russian history and the Soviet Union.

I was expecting this story to be a much simpler read than it was – the short story, Krisis, that got me into this author and series certainly was. But there was a lot going on and it was quite intense. I even had to flick back a page or two a few times to check that I hadn’t missed anything. And mostly, I hadn’t. The storyline is fast paced and jumpy. And although things aren’t actually missed out, there is this feeling of time moving so fast that there could be aspects which are missing. Rather than bothering me, this technique made the entire story work all the better. It highlighted the fear and mayhem of the time in which this story is based. And it showed that although Yulia is slowly discovering herself, her powers and her past, there is still a lot missing and it brilliantly opens the doors to Skandal.

 <- Krisis Review Skandal Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Krisis by Lindsay Smith

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Kisses and CursesTitle: Krisis
Author: Lindsay Smith
Series: Sekret #0.6
In: Kisses & Curses (Lauren Burniac)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, History, Psychics
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: “Comrade, that is not a feasible option-”

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Synopsis

A seer who can see into the future is placed in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis and maybe only she can stop the world from ending.

Thoughts

I really enjoy stories that are based around actual moments in history. However, I’m not one who tends to read up much on history – probably because in high school we did a lot of American history and ANZAC history, but nothing about our Indigenous Australians, and many, many things that they basically try to pretend didn’t happen. But I digress… this short story (and apparently greater series) is set in Communist Russia. A period of history that I know next to nothing about. And now want to know even more of.

Stories about people with extra abilities, like telekinesis, telepathy, future telling… they are stories that I tend to be drawn to. The fact that this partners an aspect of history that I know little of just makes it all the more appealing. I also loved reading the author’s introduction to this story – the idea for the series came from a fascination with this period of history, and what would happen if even the privacy of your own mind was taken away. Even though this short story isn’t quite about that, it is a great introduction to the world and the idea overall.

Nuclear warfare scares me. If someone presses that button, the world will effectively end. Regardless of the way in which it happens. Revisiting a period in history where this very nearly happened and giving it a paranormal twist really works for me. It’s something that is a terrifying Krisis, and the potential for the mayham is, I think, seared into all of our souls. I can’t wait to see where this series will take me…

 <- Skandal Review Sekret Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Kisses and Curses edited by Lauren Burniac

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Overview

Kisses and CursesTitle: Kisses and Curses
Author: Lauren Burniac, Marissa Meyer, Marie Rutkoski, Jennifer Mathieu, Anna Banks, Emmy Laybourne, Courtney Alameda, Jessica Brody, Ann Aguirre, Lish McBride, Lindsay Smith, Katie Finn, Caragh M. O’Brien, Nikki Kelly, Gennifer Albin & Leigh Bardugo
In: Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniac)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: “And I don’t know any other girls who skate, but it could still be kind of cool.”

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Synopsis

EVERY PAGE MORE FIERCE THAN THE LAST.

Enjoy a good monster love story? Or a dark, Russian-style folktale? How about a flashback to the secrets of a cyborg’s past, a post-apocalyptic romance, or a conversation between a boy and Death’s dead assistant, while both sit in a diner and eat waffles?

Whether you’re already a Fierce Reads fan or you’re a fan-to-be, this short story collection will satisfy your every bookish craving! Featuring multi-genre tales from some of the hottest YA authors around, including Ann Aguirre, Courtney Alameda, Gennifer Albin, Anna Banks, Leigh Bardugo, Jessica Brody, Katie Finn, Nikki Kelly, Emmy Laybourne, Jennifer Mathieu, Lish McBride, Marissa Meyer, Caragh M. O’Brien, Marie Rutkoski, and Lindsay Smith.

By turns uplifting and sad, light-hearted and powerful, startling and laugh-out-loud, these bite-sized gems have one thing in common: You won’t be able to put them down!

Thoughts

I loved, loved, loved, loved, loved this collection. It is everything that a short story collection should be – a common thread throughout the tales, but such a diverse array of tales that constantly draw you in. I had no idea about any of the authors in this collection, except for Marissa Meyer, and now I have a new set of 12 authors to dive into.

The fact that each of these tales is part of a greater series worked beautifully. Although, there were a few spoilers throughout. Which was a little disappointing. And makes me not only want to read all of these series, but also gives a hint as to what is going to happen in each of them. The wide array of styles and tales throughout made me thoroughly entrapped.

If you like fantasy tales, this is definitely a collection worth reading. It is also a great way to find new authors if you need to add to your library… maybe make sure you have a little bit of surplus cash before you crack the spine of this though.

 <- The Too-Clever Fox Review Glitches Review ->
Image source: Goodreads