Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun

This was a confusing book for me.  There wasn't enough detail of the world in which I found myself immersed- a world of witch queens, magic, giant morphing toads, and drunken vampire-unicorn hybrids.  There was entirely too much information on dancing trolls under bridges and the sibling rivalry between perfect Rose and inadequate Katherine.  There were also a lot of mixed metaphors and a weak plot.

I think Accession has the potential to kick off a good series, but it might have been  better condensed.  Part One of a story, rather than the whole book.  It definitely needed more editing, and the writing style was so messy it was painful at times.  I will most likely read the second in the Sarath Web series, but if I am as disappointed in it as I was in Accession, I will give it up for good. 

Accession (Sarath Web #1) by Terah Edun: 2 out of 5 stars.

Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell

Ever wanted to be inside the head of London's most notorious serial killer?  Dear Killer provides readers insight to the mind of Kit, seventeen-year-old hired killer who never backs down after she decides to take a life. 

I found myself thinking oddly during this book.  Mainly because Kit makes everything seem so rational, following her rules to the letter.  I'd find myself thinking, yeah, that makes sense. Then I'd remember she was talking about killing someone without leaving evidence, flawlessly evading capture.

Kit's a very introspective person, frequently wondering about herself and how others would feel or react in different situations.  This does present a problem for the reader, giving the impression that Kit is too self-centered and unfocused to represent a true serial killer.  It can be overlooked, though, as it can be construed as the self-examination of a girl who can't share her thoughts with anyone else at the risk of her own exposure. 

I did have an issue with the ending, but after thinking about it for a while, I feel it was the right way to go.  I can't say any more than that without sharing too much. 

My main problem was the authenticity.  The writing is good, but it doesn't have a British feel.  Yes, it's set in London and Kit mentions some famous landmarks and streets.  But she refers to her mother as "Mom," not "Mum." Her speech patterns also don't match those of other authors who successfully capture all things British.  I was able to push past that, though, and enjoy the story.

I also had trouble with the relationship between Alex and Kit.  For a police officer, he's entirely too trusting of her randomly turning up at crime scenes and offering her input.  Unless someone is a forensic genius, why would a cop listen to the opinion of a teenager wandering through almost every area in which there is a dead body?  Also, why is this same cop meeting said teenager regularly for coffee and lunch when they have had no previous benign relationship?  I'm not sure this could have looked more sketchy under any circumstance. 

After wavering back and forth several times and reading a few things between Dear Killer and writing this review, I have to admit that I liked it.  It was intriguing, it provided a lot to think about, and Kit is a strong character.  I could have been much better with more authenticity, some consistency, and some more revision. 

3 of 5 stars. 

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

This is the story of Ava Lavender, a girl born with wings.  But to truly understand Ava and her sorrows, we must understand those of her mother and grandmother.  Three stories in one book, giving the reader insight to Ava's past, which in turn brings insight to her future.

Although this tale feel convoluted at times, the weaving together of three stories works well for this book.  As I was absorbed further into the stories of Emilienne and Vivane, I would be surprised at the first person narration tangents that would pop up.  Momentarily caught up in the sorrows of her relatives, I had forgotten that this was the story of Ava, the girl with wings and a heavy history.

The imagery is incredible.  Never mind that I know perfectly well that one cannot foretell the future by which way the wind is blowing, or that it's unlikely that a person can be born with wings- I was sucked in from the very first page and rarely wanted to put this book down. 

Ava Lavender's sorrows are indeed strange and beautiful, giving the reader a fantastic tale of misguided love, heart-wrenching loss, and a pure hope that Ava can overcome the complicated history of her family and find freedom in accepting herself. 

The Priest by Monica La Porta

I was deeply intrigued when I started this book.  It has everything I could want in a story: a ruling class, a mistreated slave, a high-born girl who is only looking for love, and hope for those brave enough to rebel against society in order to make their lives happier.  I was also disappointed in this book.

There is huge potential here.  Set in a future dystopian society where women rule everything, the only sanctioned marriages are between women, and men who are only good as slave labor, La Porta has given us a window into something spectacular.  However, the characters fall flat, there's almost no development in the plot, and the narration and conversations are formal and stilted. 

Mauricio's child-like glee at experiencing anything new, such as the outside world, quickly  becomes tedious with the same terms and descriptions used again and again.  And again and again.  And again and again.  (Get where I'm going with this?)  His encounters with Rosie also become repetitive and seem to go nowhere.  While they eventually share a "date" and she tells Mauricio a bit of her childhood, there is no basis for a love connection, making this story more awkward.

I read the author's note, telling us that Rosie and Mauricio were characters that came to life during the writing of another novel that was almost finished.  To me, this made more sense as to why it fell short of my expectations.