This intense story begins with a nameless boy who excels at his job. He doesn't try to hide how good he is from readers, and he isn't coy about his skills. He knows what he has to do, and he does it well.
Because of his training, Ben, as the reader comes to know him, keeps his distance from everyone. There are multiple background characters essential to the progression of the plot, but just when Ben and readers come to predict those people, things change again. This not only proves Ben's thoughts that no one can be trusted, but it keeps the true events of the book hidden until the last moment.
Almost as succinct as Hemingway in writing style, I Am the Weapon is full of heart-stopping action, devious plans, and will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Isaura by Ruth Silver
In the third installment of the Aberrant trilogy, Olivia finds herself trying to save Joshua, fending off advances from Henry, and keeping herself from being killed by Isaura. This could have been so much better in so many ways.
The writing was truly terrible. The punctuation errors alone had me confused as to the emotional state of every situation. The entire narration is awkward- not just the conversation. There are so many "plot twists" that they become tedious- time travel, reproduction experiments, telepathic communication, portals, blah, blah, blah. Because of these, there are also so many holes in the story that one just gives up hope of anything making sense at all.
Olivia comes across as a whiny narcissist who wants everyone to listen to her because she's the only woman left who can naturally conceive a child. At every confrontation I expected her to stamp her foot and shout "Because that's the way I want it!" I was so annoyed with her by the end of the book that I almost didn't even care if she had resolved her internal issues with being able to have a child versus wanting to have a child.
Isaura, the evil villain of the tale, was ludicrous. This ties directly in to the holes in the story. I still have no idea what her actual motive was. She hates Olivia. Okay, but why? And what is the purpose to everything? There isn't one, as far as I could tell.
The ending was also overwhelmingly saccharine. Yes, I like a good, solid ending. I even like endings that others might not find "happy." Everyone was so happily wrapped up that I wanted to gag.
I was disappointed in the conclusion of this trilogy. It started out so well, and went downhill from there, ending with this pile of poorly put together words.
The writing was truly terrible. The punctuation errors alone had me confused as to the emotional state of every situation. The entire narration is awkward- not just the conversation. There are so many "plot twists" that they become tedious- time travel, reproduction experiments, telepathic communication, portals, blah, blah, blah. Because of these, there are also so many holes in the story that one just gives up hope of anything making sense at all.
Olivia comes across as a whiny narcissist who wants everyone to listen to her because she's the only woman left who can naturally conceive a child. At every confrontation I expected her to stamp her foot and shout "Because that's the way I want it!" I was so annoyed with her by the end of the book that I almost didn't even care if she had resolved her internal issues with being able to have a child versus wanting to have a child.
Isaura, the evil villain of the tale, was ludicrous. This ties directly in to the holes in the story. I still have no idea what her actual motive was. She hates Olivia. Okay, but why? And what is the purpose to everything? There isn't one, as far as I could tell.
The ending was also overwhelmingly saccharine. Yes, I like a good, solid ending. I even like endings that others might not find "happy." Everyone was so happily wrapped up that I wanted to gag.
I was disappointed in the conclusion of this trilogy. It started out so well, and went downhill from there, ending with this pile of poorly put together words.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
Becky had promise from the first page. She's aware of her own physical shortcomings and she doesn't make any excuses for them. She is the way she is, and everyone can accept that or keep their opinions to themselves. When she's offered the chance to be the most beautiful woman in the world, she takes it. Who wouldn't? My opinion of her didn't last.
There were a few problems with this story as a whole, though. The conversation is stilted quite frequently. There's also something...off about the entire narration. Maybe because it's written by a man voicing a teenage girl, maybe it's because Becky has a tendency to describe everything to epic proportions. Becky was okay as a narrator, but I didn't connect with her fully. She never upheld her promise of being that sarcastic, funny girl who wryly observes the world and subtly changes it to suit her own needs.
The biggest issues with this book are Tom Kelly and his dresses. He promises to make Becky the most beautiful woman in the world using "magic" but this magic is never explained. Sure, I was able to glean some of how it works along the way, but I never fully understood what was happening.
Then there is Tom himself, with the biggest plot twist of all. This could have been an amazing addition, bringing readers back again and again. I won't say what it is, in case you want to read the book, but the reveal was pretty huge and then the whole thing just fizzled. Not everything needs a scientific explanation, but there is no evidentiary support at all. There's just nothing.
The entire story came across as shallow and mean. I think it was supposed to be a cutting social commentary, but Becky never seemed to learn anything from her time as the most beautiful woman in the world other than how to provide better service to the rich. She had dreams of providing for those who were physically impaired, and for those who didn't have the means to make better lives for themselves. When her looks returned to normal, though, she seemed to have forgotten her ambitions entirely. To me, this just says that the only way we can use our assets to help those in need is if we're beautiful enough to make a public spectacle of it all.
I think with a little bit of effort this could be the scathing commentary it was supposed to be. As it is, though, Gorgeous doesn't add up to a good read.
There were a few problems with this story as a whole, though. The conversation is stilted quite frequently. There's also something...off about the entire narration. Maybe because it's written by a man voicing a teenage girl, maybe it's because Becky has a tendency to describe everything to epic proportions. Becky was okay as a narrator, but I didn't connect with her fully. She never upheld her promise of being that sarcastic, funny girl who wryly observes the world and subtly changes it to suit her own needs.
The biggest issues with this book are Tom Kelly and his dresses. He promises to make Becky the most beautiful woman in the world using "magic" but this magic is never explained. Sure, I was able to glean some of how it works along the way, but I never fully understood what was happening.
Then there is Tom himself, with the biggest plot twist of all. This could have been an amazing addition, bringing readers back again and again. I won't say what it is, in case you want to read the book, but the reveal was pretty huge and then the whole thing just fizzled. Not everything needs a scientific explanation, but there is no evidentiary support at all. There's just nothing.
The entire story came across as shallow and mean. I think it was supposed to be a cutting social commentary, but Becky never seemed to learn anything from her time as the most beautiful woman in the world other than how to provide better service to the rich. She had dreams of providing for those who were physically impaired, and for those who didn't have the means to make better lives for themselves. When her looks returned to normal, though, she seemed to have forgotten her ambitions entirely. To me, this just says that the only way we can use our assets to help those in need is if we're beautiful enough to make a public spectacle of it all.
I think with a little bit of effort this could be the scathing commentary it was supposed to be. As it is, though, Gorgeous doesn't add up to a good read.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Thief (Scarab Beetle #1) by C. L. Stone
Kayli is a thief, who makes sure never to steal from those who can spare a little cash, and she never steals from women or children. All she wants to do is protect her little brother and get him into college so she doesn't have to worry any more. When she meets some mysterious guys who want her help to stop a guy from his illegal activities, she wants to help make the world a better place. But will they be able to stop him in time?
This book had a lot of potential. It was a bitter disappointment. Kayli may be a thief with morals, but she has no depth and shows no growth or development. She is the same on page one as she is on page 339.
I have to question the sanity of a girl who will put herself into a car with guys she just met, even if she is a fictional character. I would like to think I would have been a little suspicious of their motives, but she just jumps in and doesn't have a clue where they want to take her. Or do to her.
She also doesn't hesitate to have intimate encounters with four guys in as many days- including the villain of the story. She's so distracted by a pretty face, she can't seem to turn any of them down. She also manages to string along the rest of the male cast for the entirety of the story.
Her brand of flirting is everything I would hope isn't actually done in real life. She hits guys, and then complains when they dare attempt to get her back. She vocally disdains girls who play the coquette, but she masterfully does the same any time she has a chance. She also hates it when girls are helpless, yet she plays that card several times too. I particularly detested her ruminations on why physical violence gets her libidinous thoughts flowing.
She also can't control her temper at all. She shoots a guy with a nail gun just because he irritated her. Did he seem to mind? Not really. As soon as he was released from the hospital, he was kissing her again. She ran away from the team of guys who was supposed to be keeping her safe, straight into the lair of the bad guy, to whom she then gave away every single secret of the group working to take him down.
My biggest issue with this story is its lack of just that- story. There are 300 pages of Kayli flirting, making out, and telling the reader why she's not ready for a relationship. There are about nine pages of actual story. When I finally got to the real action of the book, it was so anticlimactic it was almost laughable. All the sexual tension dragged throughout the entire book made me even forget what was really supposed to be happening.
I don't even want to know what happens in the next installment.
This book had a lot of potential. It was a bitter disappointment. Kayli may be a thief with morals, but she has no depth and shows no growth or development. She is the same on page one as she is on page 339.
I have to question the sanity of a girl who will put herself into a car with guys she just met, even if she is a fictional character. I would like to think I would have been a little suspicious of their motives, but she just jumps in and doesn't have a clue where they want to take her. Or do to her.
She also doesn't hesitate to have intimate encounters with four guys in as many days- including the villain of the story. She's so distracted by a pretty face, she can't seem to turn any of them down. She also manages to string along the rest of the male cast for the entirety of the story.
Her brand of flirting is everything I would hope isn't actually done in real life. She hits guys, and then complains when they dare attempt to get her back. She vocally disdains girls who play the coquette, but she masterfully does the same any time she has a chance. She also hates it when girls are helpless, yet she plays that card several times too. I particularly detested her ruminations on why physical violence gets her libidinous thoughts flowing.
She also can't control her temper at all. She shoots a guy with a nail gun just because he irritated her. Did he seem to mind? Not really. As soon as he was released from the hospital, he was kissing her again. She ran away from the team of guys who was supposed to be keeping her safe, straight into the lair of the bad guy, to whom she then gave away every single secret of the group working to take him down.
My biggest issue with this story is its lack of just that- story. There are 300 pages of Kayli flirting, making out, and telling the reader why she's not ready for a relationship. There are about nine pages of actual story. When I finally got to the real action of the book, it was so anticlimactic it was almost laughable. All the sexual tension dragged throughout the entire book made me even forget what was really supposed to be happening.
I don't even want to know what happens in the next installment.
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