How We Disappear: Novella & Stories by Tara Lynn Masih - Book Review

How We Disappear: Novella & Stories by Tara Lynn Masih

Publication Date: 13th Sep 2022

Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction 

4.3 Stars 

One Liner: Brooding and darkish; introspective without being too heavy

*****

How We Disappear is an anthology of short stories and a novella on the theme of disappearance. It encompasses stories from different regions, communities, and social structures. The writing is evocative without being dramatic. In fact, it seems matter of fact and yet delivers emotions with full force. 

The tone, POV, and narration change from one story to another. Some are in the first person, while some are in the third person. Each story is distinct, though not all make the same impact. 

While the overall theme of disappearances creates a sense of vagueness and haziness, some stories are a little too vague to understand. This is my first book by the author, and I’m totally impressed by her writing style. 

What You Can't See in the Picture: A story about a facial recognitionist and a missing girl with face blindness. A solid start to the book. Introspective police procedural with human emotions and bonding as an underlying theme.

Salt: Too short a story about a woman who chooses to disappear with a lover. 

Fleeting Gravity: Story of Brandy, a mixed race Cree. A melancholic tale about life, loss, acceptance, loneliness, and society. It is sad and peaceful at the same time. 

How Do You Thank a River: A story about a cowboy’s life and the famous Red river in the region. The ending is left open for interpretation. 

Delight: The story of a confectionary maker and a man who claims to be different from others. The hopeful ending might be a bit cliché to some, but it was perfect for me. We need a small ray of hope to keep living. 

Agatha: A Life in Unauthorized Fragments: My absolute favorite! It is Agatha Christie’s life story told in fragments- just like her mystery books. I love it.

Birdman: The story of an American woman’s journey to Belgium to find her father’s grave. It starts slow and reveals the layers in the plot through the woman’s thoughts and actions. A heartwarming story. 

Billy said this really Happened to Lucy: A little girl grieving the death of her mother and a mysterious snake that talks to her. A message about grief, mourning, and letting go. 

In a Sulfate Mist: Finding new love, mayflies, doubts, acceptance, and taking chances. Short yet impactful. 

Those who have Gone: A story about a New York woman who arrives in Arizona looking for a fresh start yet clinging to the past. A vivid story about life, relationships, and trusting oneself to make the right decisions. 

If You had Stopped: A fragment of a community’s life in the second person POV. The woman says it all without saying much. Deep, sad, and defeated acceptance. 

Notes to the World: A story about two different people who don’t meet but have a common point. Set in Russian winter, it is the story of resilience and determination. 

An Aura Surrounds the Night (novella): A bittersweet story of Mercy and Melody. It comes from Mercy’s POV, revealing her family dynamics and her life over the years. The story was a bit confusing as she refers to her parents as mother and father and by their names. It’s not entirely linear. From what I understood, the story takes a sort of U-turn to have an introspective ending. 

To sum up, How We Disappear: Novella & Stories is a collection of darkish, brooding, and melancholic stories with a few hopeful ones added to the mix. I’d love to revisit some of the stories one day in the future. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Press 53, for the eARC.  

#HowWeDisappearStories #NetGalley

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna - Book Review

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Publication Date: 23rd August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance (Witchy Rom-Com) 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: So cute! Entertaining, enjoyable, and sweet 

*****

Mika Moon is a witch and a part of the secret society that meets once every three months. The rules are simple. Stay low, don’t call attention to your witchy magic, and stay away from other witches. 

Mika is used to the rules but yearns to talk about her witching abilities without exposing herself. A social media account seems like a great way to achieve it until she gets an offer to teach three young witches to control and use their magic. 

Nowhere House seems to be overflowing with magic, and Mika slowly realizes it is a home she never had. But she and the people of Nowhere House have to deal with a few issues before thinking about the future. Will Mika risk everything to protect a family she recently got to know? What about her future? 

The story comes in limited third-person POV of Mika (and Jamie). 

My Observations: 

The book has diverse characters, and some of them work well (read my note at the end for more but finish the review first). 

Some characters are basically tropes, but they still come alive on the page. The kiddos, Rosette (10, black), Terracotta (8, Vietnamese), and Altamira (7, Palestinian), are such little cutie pies! Each of them has a definite personality. 

The pacing is steady, though it slips a little in the last part. A lot happens too, but it works out pretty well overall.

Magic is an integral part of the story and blends really well with the setting and atmosphere. 

Mika is a lovely character and easy to root for. 

The attraction between Jamie and Mika is more of a slow burn and suits the storyline. It is a bit predictable, but that’s what this genre is about. The predictability is comforting. 

The book is all cutesy and sweet yet deals with important topics like family, relationships, loneliness, friendships, etc. 

The writing style is easy to read. It is lighthearted and filled with enough quirks to make you chuckle. 

*****

Note: 

I saw some reviewers tagging the book as Indian rep (and a few more relevant tags). Mika is an Indian raised and bought up in Britain by a Britisher. Now Mika is as Indian as Aavakaya is British, which is a big fat zero. 

I have no issues with this because the story justifies it. But Mika is not an ‘Indian’ Indian. It didn’t even occur to me that she was Indian despite the hints strewn in the first half. I imagined her more as a mixed-race Britisher at the most. 

If the Indian rep is important to you, this book doesn’t deliver in that category. But if you just want a super cute witchy story, you’ll enjoy it a lot more. Forget the rep and imagine Mika any way you want. 

*****

To sum up, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a sweet book with loveable characters. It’s a perfect read for a lazy afternoon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the eARC. 

*****

P.S: Aavakaya is a spicy raw mango pickle made in Andhra Pradesh (South India). 

#NetGalley #IrregularWitches

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh - Book Review

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh

Publication Date: 04th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming but slow 

*****

The Glen Carrick House in Scotland has a family of a widowed mother and her three sons. Eighty-eight-year-old Mimi lives in her past as a carefree dancer and stage performer. Her sons, Finlay, Angus, and Hamish, love her to bits but are dealing with issues of their own. 

Jess Oliver, a fifty-nine-year-old, is on a short trip to Scotland. Her new house is under renovation, and life has offered her another chance to live to the fullest after her amicable divorce. She is mesmerized by the beauty of Scotland and loves it there. 

When life brings Jess and Mimi together, it is a chance for both of them to look at the future instead of focusing on the past. With Isabella, Heather, and others playing their part, can the women make the most of their future? 

The story comes in the third person POV. 

What I Like: 

The book mainly deals with family, relationships, and emotions. Aspects like love, loss, grief, past, happiness, freedom, etc., are an integral part of the plot. Scotland is a part of the story, and some descriptions are lovely. 

The two main ladies, Mimi and Jess, are well-etched. They are strong yet vulnerable and beautiful in different ways. The men aren’t fully etched, but Angus is well-developed of them all. 

I love how the sons absolutely love their mother. They have loads of issues in their lives and have different coping mechanisms. But when it comes to Mimi, they do everything they can to keep her happy. Indulging in her eccentricities is not at all easy, but they do it because they love her. 

Jess’s role in The Glen Carrick House grows from being a caregiver to a part of the family because of her genuine admiration and affection for Mimi. The relationship between the men and Jess is presented wonderfully. It doesn’t feel awkward or weird at any point. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

The book is quite heavy despite the antics of Mimi and Isabella. It’s not something as light or cheerful as the cover suggests. It’s not overwhelming but is still heavy. 

The pacing is slow and drags in some places. There’s some repetition, too, probably because Mimi loves to talk about her past. It sometimes feels like the story is going nowhere.

I’m not sure if the title fits the story. The alliteration sure caught my attention and is the reason I requested the book. But after reading the story, it doesn’t seem enough somehow. Not a major issue, considering I make a mess of my story titles. 

To sum up, The Highland Hens is a heartwarming book about second chances, love, life, friendships, family, and self-love. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#TheHighlandHens #NetGalley 

The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley - Book Review

The Murders at Fleat House by Lucinda Riley

Genre: Rural Mystery, Police Procedural 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Elaborate but engaging 

*****

There has been a death at the Fleat House in St Stephen, a private boarding school in Norfolk. The Chief gets Detective Inspector Jazmine (Jazz) to work on the case. Jazz takes up reluctantly. After all, she has just moved to Norfolk and pretty much left her job with the Yard. 

The case should have been easy but isn’t as things start to happen around them. More suspects join the list as Jazz and her Sergeant Miles try to fill the gaps. Life gets complicated when personal issues force Jazz to divide her attention between her life and the case. It doesn’t help that she has to deal with some pricks from her near past. 

With so much happening, can Jazz uncover the truth and find the killer before it’s too late? 

The story comes in third person POV. 

The author wrote the book in 2006. It was published posthumously in May 2022. 

My Observations: 

I’ve read only one book by the author but understood that she liked elaborate plots. This one is no different. Multiple tracks run in parallel, though some are not connected to the main plot. 

The pacing is slow to medium, with no progress in some places. Things happen on and off, which is probably because the book wasn’t thoroughly edited (as mentioned in the foreword). 

Jazz is a great character, and it saddens me to think she may not have more books. I love the multiple shades in her arc.

The story is set in 2005/ 2006 and uses modern technology but has a historical feel to it. It suits the laidback Norfolk setting and keeps things authentic.  

This isn’t exactly a cozy mystery or fully police procedural. It’s a blend of two, which I find very interesting. 

I guessed most of the twists (including the murder), but I like books where my guesses are correct, so that’s a bonus. It means the plot is logical (or as much as it can be). ;) 

To sum up, The Murders at Fleat House is an engaging mystery with an elaborate plot and a capable main lead. I enjoyed this one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and AuthorBuzz, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley 

A Line in the Sand by Teri Wilson - Book Review

A Line in the Sand by Teri Wilson

Series: Turtle Beach #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 02nd August 2022

Genre: Rom-Com, Contemporary Romance

3 Stars 

One Liner: Cute Cover; Fast-paced; Time Pass Read 

*****

Molly Price is a mermaid at the Turtle Beach Aquarium. She loves her job, the laidback small town community, and her puppy, Ursula. 

Max Miller, a marine biologist, is the new arrival in Turtle Beach town. He has the huge responsibility of reviving the Turtle Beach Aquarium and preventing it from shutting down. 

Sparks fly with Molly and Max meet, but their relationship is more strained than happy. They are at loggerheads with each other, despite having the same goal of saving the aquarium. The community is right with them to help in any way they can. 

When a chance event makes them realize that Ursula the puppy can sniff out turtle nests in the sand. Will this be enough to save the aquarium? Will Molly and Max find love in each other? 

My Observations: 

The book is a quick read with a fair sprinkling of well-known tropes. The cute cover with a super cute pup is a definite bonus. 

The setting is lovely. The side characters are quirky, nosy, funny, and a bit annoying. This made the whole thing charming and cute. 

Now, Molly and Max are the main characters. While sparks fly from their first meeting, the characters feel undeveloped.

Molly is supposed to be a sweet, naïve, capable, and sweetheart. Yet, she comes across as whiny at times and acts more like a teen. 

Max is supposed to be the nerdy, serious guy who would learn to loosen up and live life. But he alters between being rude and sappy. 

The romance is supposed to be a slow burn, I guess (they don’t kiss until towards the end). But it doesn’t really give the slow burn vibes or anticipation. 

If the romance in a romcom is underbaked, it needs something else to keep the reader hooked. Here, it should have been the saving of the aquarium, but even that falls flat in the end. 

All those ‘supposed to be’ is where my issue is. The book has all ingredients for an engaging rom-com but doesn’t fully deliver. 

While I love Ursula, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I don’t need to be reminded of the breed multiple times. 

The saving grace is that the story moves at a good pace and doesn’t require any brain work. 

To sum up, A Line in the Sand is a cute story if you want a familiar read. It is good but in no way great. 

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley 

*****

*Rant Time*

Alright. I’m pretty much used to the misappropriation of yoga by the Western world. But it is not funny to name yoga asanas with comical English versions. Renaming asanas to Murder Victim Pose, Peeking over the shoulder into the phone (whatever!) is not funny. 

I get that the character wants to make yoga entertaining (and, of course, the other character finds it strange). But yoga is not entertainment. The spirituality is already lost. Please don’t mess it further. I’m sure some people will find it funny, but I didn’t. Just call it a workout session or give it a new quirky name. It is not yoga. Period. 

*****

P.S: This is the only book by the publisher I was approved for, and there goes my 0.0001% of getting approved again. 

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer - Book Review

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer

Series: Enola Holmes #8 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 06th Sep 2022

Genre: YA Historical Cozy Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Fast, entertaining, and light-hearted 

*****

Enola Holmes, the younger sister of Sherlock Holmes (yes, one and only), is back in action with the eighth book in the series. Like the previous one, this can be read as a standalone. 

Enola lives in the Professional Women's Club, where women who share interests in various subjects and domains pursue classes and have intellectual discussions without the men disturbing or ordering them about. 

It turns out that Lady Cecily, Enola’s friend, needs help yet again. Enola has rescued her twice from her nasty father and sets about doing it for the third time. However, Lady Cecily has disappeared after the rescue mission.

 Enola is frightened about what could happen to her and is determined to find her at any cost. After all, Lady Cecily has a dual personality which can put her in difficult situations. Victorian society is no place for girls or women without male support. 

Teaming up with Sherlock is just another inconvenience Enola has to survive to accomplish her mission. 

The story comes in the first person POV for Enola Holmes. 

My Observations: 

I read Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche last year and loved Enola’s character arc. This book is just as entertaining if you like a young adult heroine who tends to run headlong into trouble and somehow manages to land on her feet every time. 

Enola is easy to like. She is witty, adventurous, daring (to the point of being stupid at times), and is her own master. She is also a trustworthy friend. Being Sherlock’s little sister gets her brownie points. 

This book has less than 250 pages and can be read in a couple of hours. The writing is easy and smooth. Various themes from the Victorian era are seamlessly woven into the story without resorting to preaching or drama. 

The banter between Enola and Sherlock is such a treat. I enjoyed these scenes the most. However, the parts about Enola being alone and stuff got a little repetitive. She’s got her family now, so maybe they could learn to live with each other. 

The setting comes alive and makes it easy to visualize the story. The descriptions are just enough to provide information for imagination. 

There really isn’t anything deep in the book, though it does show the life of women in that era. The book is meant purely for entertainment purposes.  

To sum up, Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade is a lighthearted and fast-paced addition to the series. Pick it up when you want something witty and fun to help you relax. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley 

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin - Book Review

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Publication Date: 09th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Thriller 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Fast-paced and entertaining if you ignore a few hiccups 

*****

Liv Reese has no idea of anything around her. She wakes up in a taxi and stumbles to her home only to find out that she and her friend Amy no longer live there. Nothing is the same. The scary part is the scribbles all over her arms. 

Why did she write Stay Awake, Wake Up, and other messages to herself on her body? Why does she forget everything when she falls asleep? What happened in the past? Who can she trust?  

Liv has too many questions but no answers. She is confused, scared, and unsure of what to do next? To make things worse, there has been a murder in a familiar-looking place. It appears that Liv is somehow involved in the crime. But how and why? Why does she feel as if her life is in danger? 

Can Liv and the detectives find answers to the questions? What happens to Liv? 

The story comes in the first-person perspective of Liv (past and present) and the third-person perspective of the detectives. 

My Opinions: 

The premise was intriguing, and the story had a solid start. The alternating POVs were well done. There was no confusion about the past, present, or person. 

The book had a great pace which is always a plus for me. However, it was repetitive in many places. I can’t help but wonder how much better the book would be if the repetitions were cut out. 

I liked the detectives’ track to a point. Darcy and Lavelle looked like they had potential (despite the stereotyping). But the backstories felt a bit unnecessary. Sure, they can add to the character depth, but it isn’t required unless the characters will be used in another thriller. 

I’m not sure how I feel about Liv. Sure, I felt sad for her initially, but later on, I started to wonder if she was one of those TSTL heroines. She did redeem herself towards the end, so maybe I’ll cut her some slack. 

The dialogues in the book are a bit weird. Some of them don’t even make sense (in both tracks). It feels like reading in circles, which is essentially what happens given Liv’s medical condition. 

A couple of sidetracks/ red herrings seemed a little too much. Those could have worked better if they were properly woven into the main plot. Right now (mine is an ARC), they don’t blend well. 

The book kept me hooked even though I could guess the twists. Most of them were right, and the reveal wasn’t a shock. Since I like thrillers with solutions that make sense (at least a little), I didn’t mind the rest. 

To sum up, Stay Awake has its flaws (quite a few) but is an enjoyable thriller if you don’t think much about the whole thing. Just let it flow and give your gray cells some rest. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the eARC.  

*****

P.S: If you’re wondering why I still rated it 4 stars, it’s coz I could finish it fast (in 2.5 days). The book was enjoyable once I decided not to stress too much about the details. 

This is my first book by the author, but I intend to read her other works. Seems that some of the previous ones were very good. 

The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne - Book Review

The Water Witch by Jessica Thorne

Publication Date: 05th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Engaging read with some great description 

*****

Ari Walker’s fiancé drowned in the stormy Atlantic Ocean two years ago. His words about the water witch, the lost city of Ys, and the curse continue to hound her. Ari wants nothing more than to bury herself in her university work. But when Jason asks her to visit him in Simon’s town, she has no choice but to go.

As a non-believer in fantasy tales, Ari is confused and unsure when she finds a mask during her archeological dive into the sea. Her interaction with Rafael gets complicated as she is torn between accepting the strange happenings in the town and dismissing them. 

But Rafael has everything at stake. After all, every man in his family got killed before their thirty-fifth birthday. With less than a month away from his own thirty-fifth birthday, Rafael is desperate and determined to get Ari’s help. 

Can they break the curse by finding the lost city of Ys before it is too late? Will Ari and Rafael acknowledge their feelings for each other? 

The story comes from the limited third-person POV of Ari and Rafael. 

What I Like: 

The book starts slow but picks up pace once the basics are established. I love the seamless blending of reality and fantasy. 

The descriptions are beautiful and vivid. I could visualize the settings with ease. It adds to the atmosphere and elevates the storyline. 

I remember how the FMC in The Book Binder’s Daughter didn’t feel capable of carrying the story. Here, Ari does a great job of taking the story forward. 

Ari and Rafael are well-etched. They are confident yet vulnerable. Capable but doubtful. They work well together in the book, even if the love track didn’t get enough depth to double the impact. 

While it is a mystery at its core, I could guess most of it. Luckily, I didn’t read it as a mystery book but more as a fantasy read. 

The storyline is based on local folklore in the region (in Brittany, France). I love the way the author wove her plotline around it. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

My only grouse with the book is that some aspects were left without explanation. A certain character seemed to be created for the sake of it. There just isn’t enough backstory. I wanted more about Ari and Rafael’s past. 

It’s not common for me to wish a book to have more pages (I prefer smaller books), but this one needed another 15-20 pages to provide more depth to the main characters and use the side characters to their full potential. 

To sum up, The Water Witch is an engaging and entertaining read if you like contemporary fantasy with some mystery and romance thrown in. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWaterWitch

Moonsleep and Other Stories by Liz Tuckwell - Book Review

Moonsleep and Other Stories by Liz Tuckwell

Genre: Short Story Anthology, Dark Fantasy, Bizarro Fiction 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: A decent collection of retellings and spooky tales 

Moonsleep and Other Stories is a collection of seventeen short stories (some retellings, some originals) with a blend of genres. Horror, medieval dark fantasy, paranormal, social drama, etc., are a few recurring genres. 

Similar to many anthologies, some stories hit the mark, a few remain average, and the rest end up underwhelming. The writing style is crisp and kept me interested.

I read the stories on and off whenever I had time and took notes. This review is a compilation of my notes. 

Mirror in Her Hand: Snow White retelling in fantasy noir with some cool twists. Reminded me of those B&W gangster movies, lol. 

Tully & the Ghost: A story of greedy queens, ghosts, and slaves. Interesting but not spooky enough. 

The Mysterious Mr. Fox: A retelling of Little Red Riding Hood with a twist. Is Mr. Fox a fox or something else? One of the best in the book. 

A Dead Mermaid on Eel Pie Island: A take on the political scenario (I guess). Falls into bizarro fiction and seems like a part of a supernatural investigative series. 

Some People Smell Roses: Well-written story about a woman who can smell death. 

Mason’s Revenge: A fractional retelling of Jane Eyre with zombies and stuff. Okayish. 

Cinderfeller: A gender-bent Cinderella. Another super cool story in the collection. 

Scared of Girls: This got weirder as it ended. Seems like I missed a crucial link. 

The Perfect Ham Sandwich: Meh! 

A Monster Met: Predictable storyline but engaging. Well written. 

The Boom Show: A weird death game. Reads more like a fragment of a larger story. 

A Tall Tree Tale: Hmm… oh well! Reminded me of a folktale from my school syllabus. 

The Young Woman in the Yellow Bikini: Who is the woman in the yellow bikini? Well-written. 

Moonsleep: A combo of witches, apothecaries, potions, nuns, witches, shape-shifters, etc. It needed a larger canvas. 

The Temptation of Charlotte Bronte: Will Charlotte Bronte make a deal with the Devil to become a famous author? Did she? 

I can’t help but add that the author seems to share the ‘I-can’t-name-a-story’ trait with me. Some titles are bland and don’t do justice to the story. 

To sum up, Moonsleep and Other Stories is a decent collection of short stories that aren’t either too scary or gory. 

I received an eCopy from the author and BookSirens. 

The Locked-Away Life by Drew Davies - Book Review

The Locked-Away Life by Drew Davies

Pub: 04th Aug 2022

Genre: Contemporary Drama 

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Great premise but needed a better execution 

*****

The Locked-Away Life is the story of two people, Esther and Bruno. Esther is an old woman, a recluse who shut herself away from the public eye after a mega scandal in the 70s. She needs to come to terms with and accept the latest technology to continue being independent and uncover the mystery from her past. 

Bruno is an eighteen-year-old boy with too much burden on his shoulders and a secret hidden deep inside his heart. He needs money to get away from the small town and build a life. 

When Bruno sees Esther’s ad about a paid position, he knows he needs to grab it. What starts as a tutoring session grows into something more as two unlikely people try to sort out the past, present, and future. Can Esther find peace from her past? Can Bruno figure out his future? 

The story comes in limited third-person POVs from Esther and Bruno. 

What I Like: 

The book deals with concepts like mental health, guilt, sexuality, regret, remorse, self-doubt, family & relationships, friendships, etc. It is heavier than my expectations but has enough light-hearted moments. 

Bruno’s desire to be ‘normal’ and his determination to attend Camp Change to change his sexuality is a heartbreaking premise. The camp scenes are well done without over-dramatization. 

Bruno’s vulnerability and compassion come out really well. He is a typical teen in some ways, but he is a sweet boy. 

 The interactions between Esther and others are interesting. Her conversations with Bruno, Dominic, Filip, Jane, etc., show different sides of her (all coming together to present the picture of an old lady with strong opinions and an iron will). 

It’s lovely to see characters like Esther become at ease with technology. As someone who taught my grandpa to understand the new features on his smartphone, I relate to the scenes. 

There are two epilogues, one for Esther and one for Bruno. I like them both, though everything is tied up a little too neatly. Still, I get a happy/hopeful ending, so no complaints. 

What didn’t Work for Me: 

The pacing is slow. It doesn’t help that the first chapter is almost 20% long (when the story ends at 91% in my eARC). Imagine that! A couple of chapters are just a page and a half long, but to read a super big first chapter feels tedious. 

The scandal from Esther’s past drags too much. I stopped caring by the time it is revealed. Even then, the details are hazy and underwhelming. Her character arc and the reason to isolate herself from the world don’t mesh. 

Too many words are wasted on Esther’s past while Bruno’s school life is ‘told’. Given the importance of his character arc in the story, we need to know more about what made him so vulnerable and doubtful. Seems like a lost opportunity to talk about things that matter. 

The idea behind the characters is more appealing than the characters. Not to say that they aren’t good. They just aren’t as effective as they should have been. I can’t pinpoint my issue, but it feels like the emotional connection between the characters and the readers is not complete (at least for me). 

To sum up, The Locked-Away Life is a heartwarming story with a wonderful premise but somehow doesn’t reach its full potential. This could have been so much better! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheLockedAwayLife

*****

P.S: I debated a lot between 3 and 4 stars. A part of me wants to rate it three for the missed opportunities. But this is a good book despite the few misses. Three stars seem too less, so I'm rounding it off to four. 

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen - Book Review

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Publication Date: 23rd Aug 2022

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Contemporary 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining but go with the right expectations  

Hart is a marshal with the dangerous job of patrolling the wilds of Tanria and preventing dredges from attacking the citizens. Mercy is an undertaker, solely managing Birdsall & Son Undertakers despite the obstacles. 

Hart and Mercy can’t stand each other. They seem to bring out the worst in the other (do we see sparks flying?). However, they have more in common than they like to think. Both are lonely and pretty much have no life beyond their jobs. 

When Hart’s letter to an unknown friend reaches Mercy, she responds to it without knowing the sender's identity. Though a tentative friendship is born between them, things could go either way once the truth is revealed. 

What’s more, Tanria seems to be under attack by dredges coming out of nowhere. Why is there a sudden increase in cases? Who is responsible for this? How does it affect Hart and Mercy? What about their feelings for each other? 

The story comes from a limited third-person perspective of Mercy and Hart. 

What I Like: 

The narration is lighthearted and sprinkled with some bittersweet moments. There isn’t any descriptive prose or lyrical imagery. Though I’m a fan of both, I like that the narrative style suited the storyline and the cover. 

The side characters are an absolute treat. No kidding. I love them (except for Nathan and another guy). The main characters are decent, though they sometimes act less mature for their age. 

There’s food in the book, sweet treats and desserts (which is always a plus). It’s the men who cook while the ladies enjoy the delicious servings. 

The letters could have been better, but I preferred the toned-down version. It also helps that I didn’t even think of You’ve Got Mail. The letters suit the characters (who aren’t philosophical), so no complaints. 

There are quite a few weird, funny, and eye-roll-inducing moments. The overall effect is satisfactory, which is important to me. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

The pacing is super slow. A 336-page shouldn’t feel like a 450-page book. It took me four days to read this book (even when the prose is easy). I deleted 0.2 stars for this. 

The world-building goes a little on and off, and the same happens to the terminology as well. The contemporary slang doesn’t always suit the unidentifiable fantasy period. After all, they are writing letters to each other, and there’s no mention of phones (wired/ wireless). 

The shift from enemies to lovers is a little too abrupt. Sure sparks are flying, but the transition needs to be smooth.

A few threads didn’t seem to conclude properly, especially the Bill part. I won’t elaborate, but it could have been handled better. 

To sum up, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is an entertaining read if you plod through the slow pace and ignore a few bumps. Don’t compare it to You’ve Got Mail or expect heavy stuff. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Orbit Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheUndertakingofHartandMercy 

*****

PS: The book has steam of 2ish level and cuss words (including F-bombs). 

The Lies I Told by Mary Burton - Book Review

The Lies I Told by Mary Burton

Publication Date: 02nd Aug 2022

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller, Drama 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Mixed bag 

*****

Marisa and Clare Stockton are twins with Brit as their elder sister. Clare’s body is found in Virginia’s James River when she was sixteen. The case went nowhere as none of the leads helped. 

Fourteen years later, Marisa survives a car accident with some memory loss about the incident. She swears she hasn’t consumed alcohol or drugs, but no one seems to believe her (not with her track record of spending most of her time zoned out due to substance abuse). 

But Marisa has been clean for a year. Her wedding photography business is flourishing. Brit is taking good care of her (even if it’s a little too much). She should be happy, but Marisa cannot rest until Clare’s case is solved. She has too many questions and no answers. Her smudgy memory doesn’t help either. 

Can Marisa get to the truth of the matter and get the closure she needs? Will she end up being an alcoholic because the pressure is too much to handle? Who is following Marisa, and what will they do to stop her progress? 

My Observations: 

The first half is clunky and slow. We seem to be going round in circles under 55%. Things start to happen afterward, and everything goes a fast track around 80-85%. I was almost bored on the first two days (as I barely touched 30%). 

The story comes in the first person POV of-

• Marisa
• The unknown Him
• Brit 
• Jo-Jo
• Jack 
• Richards 

Yeah! Marisa has a bigger share, but with so many POVs (not all of them are distinct), it feels more of a chore to track everything. The chapter titles mention the POVs (wondering how it would work for a single-narrator audiobook). 

None of the characters are likable. Marisa is the only one who comes close. She is highly flawed yet has the grit to see things through. 

The climax is rushed, and the ending takes its own sweet time. I appreciate the process of tying up the loose ends one at a time, but it got boring. Not to mention, a character’s actions seem strange and contradictory.

This book feels like it has potential but needs tightening and may be cut down a couple of first-person POVs and use third-person omnipresent instead. 

To sum up, The Lies I Told is a mixed bag with a couple of hits and misses. Not something I will want to read in a single sitting. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheLiesITold