Announcement: New website

A few months ago I decided to create my own website and it is now up and running. I have transferred all of the content from this blog onto my new site and will continue to post my book reviews and creative writing pieces there.

Thank you to all for your support and visits to my little blog. I would like to invite you to check out my new website elliotscribbles.com and to continue following me there.

 Faithfully, your book reviewer,

 Elliot

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The Belles (The Belles #1) by Dhonielle Clayton

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Initially I wanted to give myself at least a day before writing this review, but I have this uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach and decided it’s best to get this over with and move on. The story started out relative well, sadly it didn’t end that way, at least for me.
The characters came across as uneven and inconsistent. I understand what the author tried to accomplish with them, mostly create a sense of mystery and intrigue, but they were nothing more than stiff, 2-dimensional entities that meant to move the plot along.
The plot or rather the main idea that got me interested in the book in the first place was good enough, but through the unfolding of the story I grew more and more frustrated with little inconsistencies, details that didn’t add up and scenes that appear to only exist as an attempt to keep the reader’s attention. The story, which should have created mystery, which then slowly unfolds, went from mildly entertaining to a tangled web of confusion mixed in with many borrowed ideas and themes that are meant to stimulate discussions.
The writing improved as the story continued, although the dialogue between the main character and her “love interest” remained stunted with poorly executed efforts at flirting that felt like a disaster in slow motion. In the first 100-150 pages were more than a few awkward sentences that I had to read few times over. Further along in the story I came to my attention that various lines of description, which were unnecessary this far into the story, were simply copied and pasted.
Overall, I tried to like it. I tried to be patient. But in the end, I can’t recommend it and I honestly can’t wait to return it to my library.

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Wither by Amy Miles

Wither by Amy Miles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! And where can I get the second installment, if one exists? A post-apocalyptic, horror, creepy, sci-fi story that captures the reader’s attention and includes such depth is a rare find among books.
The characters are complex, and the author keeps most of them shrouded in mystery, which adds to the eerie atmosphere surrounding this story. The main character is not the typical hero/anti-hero and shows a good range of strengths and weaknesses that make her believable and likeable in her own way.
The plot is straight forward, but the author takes good care to create a sense of mystery and adds elements of horror.
The writing is excellent. The reader feels present and a part of the story. It includes the right amount of internal dialogue from the main character but enough is left unsaid to keep the reader’s curiosity.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was delighted by the author skill to weave in just the right amount of horror that had me bury myself a little deeper beneath my blanket. I would recommend it to anyone, who enjoys zombie, post-apocalyptic and horror stories.

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Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter

Manga Classics: The Scarlet Letter by Crystal S. Chan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was auto-approved by the publisher Udon Entertainment through NetGalley to review this title.
Truth be told, I was never able to get into the story The Scarlet Letter; I started the book about 10 years ago, but quickly lost interest. I even tried watching a movie version, but again lost interest.
Having said that, I did make it through this version of the story and I even enjoyed it. The art work was great. The story itself will never be one that I favour, but at least this time I was able to get a good overview of the classic story.
Overall, this was my second manga comic in the Manga Classic series and I’m looking forward reading other installments in this series. I would recommend it to anyone, who enjoys comics and retellings of classics.


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Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe by Stacy King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was given this title by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The only Poe story I ever read was The Cask of Amontillado about 20 years ago, so I’m not that familiar with his original works. However, I enjoyed the collection of stories in this manga comic.
The artwork was magnificent and I appreciated the use of only black and white, which made the stories just that much more eerie.
As my first experience reading manga, I got the hang of it fairly quickly and finished the comic in one sitting.
Overall, I’m glad I found this collection and I would recommend it to anyone, who enjoys comics and retellings of classics.


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The Viking's Chosen (Clan Hakon #1) by Quinn Loftis

The Viking's Chosen by Quinn Loftis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit it has been very difficult for me to write a review for this book. It wasn’t bad, I just felt like something was missing and I can’t exactly put my finger on it.
I didn’t particularly like the characters, but one doesn’t have to like the characters, if the story is good enough to keep one’s interest. Both main characters had strong personalities and weren’t flat or boring.
The story was also interesting, containing elements of mysticism, strategy and intrigue.
I believe what really got me frustrated was the writing style and yet it wasn’t. It had a nice flow to it, but combined with the overwhelming amount of minute details that would span pages and pages, the narration never went anywhere. Sometimes it is necessary to include a decent amount of specific details, but if every chapter is written like that, the reader’s attention might start to dwindle, which happen to me.
Overall, this was a nice story, but I felt overwhelmed and exhausted by the play-by-play description of every single move the main characters made. Some might not mind, therefore I would suggest it.

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The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1) by Holly Black

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in six months I chose to read for personal interest and I’m so glad I was able to get it from my local library so quickly.
I loved the characters with their many internal conflicts and issues. I was never sure who was more cruel or if I could trust anyone that had a part in this slowly unfolding royal intrigue.
The story was rich and full of imagination. Lots of strategy, conflict within the main character and with others, and the main character’s deep-rooted desire to fit in, make for a hauntingly good story.
The writing was excellent. It takes the reader’s hand and guides them through a world so beautiful that it’s difficult to accept the rot underneath its glittery surface.
Overall, towards the end of the story I kept catching myself holding my breath, gripping the book white knuckled, not believing how all of this could possible end in anything resembling a happy ending. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone, who likes fantasy, intrigue, strategy and good conflicts.

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Up From The Deep (Fantomah, #1) by Ray Fawkes, Soo Lee

Up From The Deep by Ray Fawkes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The main issue I had with this comic was the format in which it was provided and the difficulties I had reading it; the pages would jump back and forth by up to 50 pages and it looked like various frames were cut off. Just prior to reading this comic I read another one and a collection of poetry in the same file type and with the same program and encountered no problems at all.
This plus the fact that the story is meant to begin by explaining very little and slowly unfolds towards the end (as I was able to discover from other reviews) made this reading experience very frustrating and lacked anything that could be considered flow of narration.
The graphics were good enough, but I was so preoccupied with trying to stay on the current page and figuring out if I had missed any frames that I could not fully appreciate the artistic talent on display.
Overall, it is a shame that the format did not work for the story, because I was really interested in reading it. I can’t honestly say if I would recommend it or give it a pass and my rating is reflecting the reading experience as a whole and obviously is not solely reflecting the author’s/artist’s work.

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The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One (Women are Some Kind of Magic, #2) by Amanda Lovelace

The Witch Doesn't Burn in this One by Amanda Lovelace
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
As the introduction to this collection of poems states, it deals with abuse, assault, body issues, eating disorders and childhood trauma.
Having had personal experience with a few of these topics myself, reading these poems was truly a journey through a range of intense emotions.
I appreciated the poet taking her time and exploring the emotions before moving on and almost guiding the reader to begin the healing process. The anger and hurt and suppression felt leads the way to stand up, speak up and fight, which in turn leads to allowing the reader to heal.
Overall, I haven’t had a chance to read the first collection in this series, but will do so as soon as it is available at my local library. As the poet warns, her poems deal with a lot of sensitive topics and one should practice self-care at all times. Having said that, I appreciated the poet’s sincere and honest address of these issues and I would recommend this collection of poems.

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I'm Not Your Sweet Babboo! by Charles M. Schulz

I'm Not Your Sweet Babboo! by Charles M. Schulz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
How I love Peanuts comics! I grew up with them and I still enjoy curling up on the couch with the stories of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.
This collection focused a bit more on Peppermint Patty and I found myself chuckling quite a bit.
Overall, this is a good collection of Peanuts stories and I would definitely recommend it.

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Ink & Fire: (A Havenwood Falls Novella) by R.K. Ryals

Ink & Fire: by R.K. Ryals
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was looking forward to reading another novella in this series, but ended up being rather confused by the halfway point.
The characters came across as flat and uninteresting. A lot of time was spent on the description of the protagonist; how she felt, what she did, contemplating everything, which made her seem self-centred. The secondary characters, few as they were, added no depth to the story in general and only existed to move the plot/protagonist forward.
The writing was too elaborate in explaining everything the main character thought and felt, and the narration was tedious. Written from the protagonist’s point of view, most of the story was spent showing what a special snowflake she is.
The plot had me scratch my head in confusion, wondering if this really was the main point of the story. Also, it was sad that the story did not really have anything to do with Heavenwood Falls, even though it is part of the novella series.
Overall, this wasn’t for me. I have read another book by the same author over a year ago and enjoyed it, but this one didn’t do anything for me. I would give it a pass.

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Herding Cats (Sarah's Scribbles, #3) by Sarah Andersen

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I love Sarah’s Scribbles. They show what I feel, think, waste my time fretting about and do all that with a sense of humour that has me laughing out loud every time I read her comics.
As soon as I finished her newest installment I wanted to go back and read the entire series from the beginning. It lightens one’s mood when they are feeling down (trust me on this one) and keep the reader feeling happy when they are already in a good place that day.
Overall, I would most definitely recommend this third installment.

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The Power Club by Greg Gildersleeve

The Power Club by Greg Gildersleeve
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
It has been a while since I last read a middle grade school story and I was surprised by the amount of details and depth of fantasy this one contained.
Personally, I found that the characters, more than anything else in this story maintained the reader’s interest. They were well thought out and highly developed, not only for a book geared to a younger audience, but one that belongs in the fantasy genre in general.
The plot was good and straight forward, with the added mystery of bad guys having evil, secret plans and a group of children trying to find their role in life as well as society.
The writing is what got to me a little bit. I found there were too many details, at times it felt too long winded and wordy, which kept me from being able to completely commit to the story.
Overall, it was a nice story for a younger audience with lots of fantasy, friends and fiends. I would suggest it to anyone, who is looking for a shorter story of the fantasy genre.

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Between the Blade and the Heart (Valkyrie, #1) by Amanda Hocking

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A few months ago, the museum in my hometown began their run of a special exhibition about Vikings and Norse mythology and since then I have visited it three times. One can only imagine my excitement when I found this little gem of a story on NetGalley, which combines futuristic elements with Norse mythology.

I must confess that recently I took a small step back from reading Young Adult fiction, because of the overused stock characters that came to dominate this genre. The reader always gets introduced to a special snowflake that wasn’t aware of some talent/gift, but is able to overcome whatever peril is thrown in her way with minimum character development. This is not the case in Between the Blade and the Heart. The main character, struggling to establish herself not only in her profession, but also as a person, while dealing with family issues, primarily a lack of maternal love and affection, is interesting enough to carry the story and keep the readers’ attention. The secondary characters are in their own way just as strong as the protagonist, which makes for a great collection of personalities as they embark on their adventure.

The plot with its many references to Norse mythology (and here I have to admit, I wish I knew more about this fascinating subject) is catching and intriguing, explores the importance of mother-daughter relationships, sexual orientation and includes a lot of fantasy.

The writing has a natural flow that transports the reader into the story, unfolding in the reader’s imagination and stays there long after the book is finished. The author takes her time setting up the story and introducing the characters. It is a slowly unfolding story that shows the author’s love and commitment.

Overall, I am extremely glad that I stumbled upon this story and cannot wait for the second installment. The rougher setting of the world the author has built combined with the ruggedness and internal conflict of the protagonist makes for a great read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Norse mythology, fantasy and unconventional characters that breathe some fresh life into the Young Adult fantasy genre.

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Announcement: Blog Tour for Amanda Hocking's "Between the Blade and the Heart

I will be participating in the blog tour. Stay tuned for my review, coming later today.

Another Backwards Christmas by Brooke Williams

Another Backwards Christmas by Brooke Williams
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have a feeling that this is going to be a very unpopular opinion, but this story wasn’t for me in every possible way.
The characters, specifically the female protagonist, were extremely naive and had unrealistic romantic views that make the reading experience rather less than joyful. I could understand the male romantic interest's motivation slightly better, but with the focus placed on the female character, the reader does not get much of a chance to fully appreciate the character.
The plot is a typical and traditional one for Christmas stories, with the quirky twist of creating Christmas traditions in a backwards way, hence the title.
The writing left a few things to be desired. As this was a short story, I was surprised to find a lot of repetition in the narration and much time was spent on internal contemplation done by the female protagonist. The repeated use of the word “giggled” gave the character an image of a silly school girl and took away from the potential of being more realistically romantic.
Overall, this wasn’t for me. I puzzled throughout reading this story why the author chose to write most of the story from the female character's point of view instead of the male character's, which would have possibly provided the story with more of a Christmas spirit. I would give this one a pass.

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Edinburgh Twilight (Ian Hamilton Mysteries #1) by Carole Lawrence

Edinburgh Twilight by Carole Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was given this ARC by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
A serial killer, a detective with his own demons and lots of possible suspects and all set in one of the most captivating cities I ever had the pleasure of visiting. They combine to make for a great detective story that keeps the reader bound in its world long after the story is over.
The characters were fully and richly developed. From the protagonist to the over enthusiastic want-to-be assistant, they all had character traits that kept the reader on their toes. A detective with a few issues that could annoy even the most understanding reader blurred the lines between a person doing good and being good in their own way. And with secondary characters that have their own flaws, it is a perfect ensemble to fill the story with intrigue and mystery.
The plot was a typical murder mystery, but very nicely executed with enough tangents and little red herrings to maintain the readers interest without getting boring, but not too many to distract from the main purpose of the story. In addition, the reader obtains little snippets of the protagonist’s past and character to look forward to the next installment.
The writing was very smooth with a seamless integration of imagery and technical explanation so as not to get too caught up in one or the other. Although, I have to comment on one thing I noticed in the latter part of the story: there was a bit of repetition in the descriptive words used, which took only slightly away from the narration.
Overall, I loved this story and it stayed with me for almost a week after finishing it. If I had the sequel already, I would have started it immediately. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves a good murder mystery, complex characters and Scotland at the turn of the century.

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Alpha's Queen (A Havenwood Falls Novella) by Lila Felix

Alpha's Queen by Lila Felix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the author in exchange for an honest review.
I needed a few days to think about this story. It left me divided in my opinion and confused as to how I should rate and review it.
At the beginning, the main characters held great promise to be well developed and complex, with spunk and their own little quirks, but somewhere towards the middle of the story they lost their way. The entire story was mainly focused around the two central characters with the stock bad guy, the stock bad-guy-in-training and a whiff of female competition for the female lead.
The plot began showing great potential, with intrigue and complications; I was excited to see how the characters would manage the challenge. It was all resolved in the most simple and lackluster way possible, deflating any sense of anticipation and excitement. The same can be said about the connection between the main characters. The author took half the story to set up electrifying sexual tension, only to have it unfold in the imagination of the reader as the scene closed and the chapter ended. Anticipation that doesn’t lead to any type of satisfaction can be very frustrating.
The writing was good for the most part, but again at around the midpoint of the story it began to slack. The narration began to repeat itself and certain points were brought up again and again, taking the joy out of finishing the story.
Overall, I felt this story was divided into two parts; the first was interesting, fun, filled with anticipation and the promise of a satisfying conclusion; and the second part that rushed to finish within the constraints of the limited space provided. I am still torn. I have enjoyed Havenwood Falls Series, including the first part of this story. It was the conclusion that just didn’t do it for me.

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The Ruby Eye by Amy Miles, L.G. Miles

The Ruby Eye by Amy Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the authors in exchange for an honest review.
The adventure continues with Tommy, Jack and Becky working to solve the mystery of the creepy trickster.
I enjoyed the sequel to The Trickster just as much and maybe even more than the first installment. I felt it was a little longer and contained more details about the three main characters, who are fun to join on their path to breaking the curse.
It is a lovely short story series with elements of the eerie, mystery, adventure and light humour. I will certainly look out for the next installment.

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The Trickster by L.G. Miles, Amy Miles

The Trickster by L.G. Miles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this ARC from Red Coat Publishing and the authors in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute, spooky and creepy short story geared towards the younger audience of the Young Adult genre.
For a short story with space limited and the purpose to bring the narration to a quick conclusion with as much entertainment and pleasure to reader as possible, I found the characters to be very well developed. Each one had their own distinct purpose without falling into the dreaded stock character category.
The plot was straight forward and to the point without any unnecessary fluff or tangents that would have only confused the reader.
The writing was clear and crisp so that the reader could picture the three friends’ adventure vividly in their mind’s eye.
Overall, this was a delightful quick read that has the flavour of a very well-known story. It captures the elements of the creepy and eerie successfully to make for a very entertaining read. I would recommend it.

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