The blurb of the book Ferryman by Claire McFall is very intriguing and interesting. I was so excited to read it. Unfortunately, the book is weirdly preachy and unnecessarily long.
Blurb:
Dylan has escaped a horrific train crash unscathed.
Except she hasn’t.
The bleak landscape around her isn’t Scotland. It’s a wasteland haunted by wraiths searching for human souls.
And the stranger waiting for her isn’t an ordinary boy. Tristan is a Ferryman, tasked with transporting her soul safely to the afterlife, a journey he’s made a thousand times before.
Except this time, something’s different.
Torn between love and destiny, Dylan realises she can’t let Tristan go, nor can she stay with him. Eventually, inevitably, the wraiths would capture her soul and she would be lost forever.
Can true love overcome the boundaries of death?
Review:
Good things first : the concept of love after death, imagination of the world between life and death and a beautiful book cover.
The book has so much unnecessary details and the writing felt dry. It takes so much time for Dylan to finally board that trian. The author was trying to paint a mental picture of her situation but it didn’t feel adequate. It is evident that this is a debut.
There are some weirdy Christian preachy things throughout the book. Tristan actually tells “pure souls = virgins” at one point. God!
In the beginning, Dylan is bullied because her bra is visible. I really don’t think any girl would laugh at another girl for that. Girls usually help others. I don’t know, it felt way too exaggerated. The writing of teenagers also felt weird.
The story also becomes repetitive easily. They are traveling and something happens and they manage to escape easily. Happens over and over agian.
I have to say that the premise of the book is very very interesting. Love after death is very intriguing for us all. It is the only reason I’ll continue reading this series.
Dylan was the Mary Sue protagonist. I really enjoyed the character of Tristan and can’t wait to learn more about his long life.
This is soon going to be a film. I am so excited to see how the world between life and death will be depicted on screen.
The ending of the book was good.
In conclusion, this book was okayish and I am looking forward to read the next book.
After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Dames Blanches, Lou, Reid, Coco, and Ansel are on the run from coven, kingdom, and church—fugitives with nowhere to hide.
To elude the scores of witches and throngs of chasseurs at their heels, Lou and Reid need allies. Strong ones. But protection comes at a price, and the group is forced to embark on separate quests to build their forces. As Lou and Reid try to close the widening rift between them, the dastardly Morgane baits them in a lethal game of cat and mouse that threatens to destroy something worth more than any coven.
This series should have clearly been a duology because literally nothing happened until the very end of this book. Also, what the fuck happened at the very end?? I’ve many questions and many more complaints.
First of all this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020. Serpent and Dove was a surprisingly excellent read. All the things developed throughout that book fell flat in this book. Why did you do this Shelby???
The book picks up right where it left off in the last book. I definitely recommend rereading Serpent & Dove before this. I had forgotten names of side characters who make appearances in this one. Also, why did Lou forget that she took the memories of Bas? It was so pointless. Actually, most of the book was pointless.
Nothing happens for 80% of the book. The group decides they need allies if they’re going to fight this and go to meet different people for it. That’s it, that’s the story. It’d have been so much better if the author could cut that part short.
Most importantly, I felt like Reid and Lou were different poeple from the last book. Character growth is good but completely changing characters? Lou did magic in the last book too but there was no point where her magic was hsrmful or destructive. But this time around everyone is worried about Lou’s magic. I also thought the growth in Reid’s character is supposed to be the realization that magic is not inherently evil but it could be used to serve evil purposes. Now if we say that Lou becomes evil the more she uses her magic , won’t that make magic evil???
I’m a witch , Reid. A witch . I have the power to protect the ones I love, and I will sacrifice anything for them. If that makes me a monster—if that makes me aberrant —I’ll don the teeth and claws to make it easier for you. I’ll get worse, if that justifies your twisted rhetoric. Much, much worse.
Those who loved the book for it’s slow burn romance in the last book will be so dissappointed by this book. The dynamic was interesting in the first say 50 pages. The rest of the book is just unnecessary conflicts and fighting between the two. I can understand the fighting to some extent because of their beliefs but Lou says this at one point:
We’re natural enemies, Reid. You’ll always be a witch hunter. I’ll always be a witch. And we’ll always bring each other pain.
Wasn’t this the conflict of the last book?? There are smut scenes in this book too but nothing leading upto it. I did enjoy reading the sex scene before the climax.
Reid is a witch now but it was handled very weirdly. I see that it would be very confusing to someone who have hated magic their whole life. Lou and Reid refuse to talk about it and Reid concludes that it’s best for Lou to not use magic. I hope to god there is better character growth in the next one. They did resolve the conflicts but I just didn’t get it. Reid comes to term with Lou’s magic and him being a witch.
You don’t get to leave me. Do you understand?” Cupping my face, he wrenched me backward and kissed me hard. His voice was fierce. His eyes were fiercer. They burned into mine, angry and anguished and afraid. “You don’t get to do this alone. If you retreat into your mind—into your magic—I’ll follow you, Lou.” He shook me slightly, tears glistening in those frightened eyes. “I’ll follow you into that darkness, and I’ll bring you back. Do you hear me? Where you go, I will go.
I crept into his lap. “What am I, Reid? Say it again.” “You’re a witch.” “And what are you?” He didn’t hesitate, and my heart swelled. “I am too.” “Only partly right, I’m afraid.” My smile—now genuine—grew at his confusion, and I leaned forward, rubbing my nose against his. He closed his eyes. “Allow me to fill in the gaps for you.” I kissed his nose. “You are a huntsman.” Though he recoiled slightly, I didn’t let him escape, kissing his cheek. “You are a son.” I kissed his other cheek. “You are a brother.” His forehead. “You are a husband.” His eyelids and his chin. “You are brave and strong and good .” And, finally, his lips. “But most important, you are loved.
Also also God’s are involved in the plot now?? Please define the rules of the magic system and the universe you’ve created. Please. It gets very confusing. The moment Claud Deveraux was introduced, I knew he’d play a major role later on. But a God!? He did have the wild old man persona throughout the book. He said things like:
A snake,” I replied, breath hitching. “I suppose . . . I’m a snake. A liar. A deceiver. Cursed to crawl on my belly and eat dust all the days of my life.” “Ah.” To my surprise, Claud’s face didn’t twist in disgust or revulsion. He nodded instead, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “Yes, I would agree with that assessment.” Humiliation hung my head. “Right. Thanks.” “Louise.” A single finger lifted my chin, forcing me to look at him. Those eyes, once warm, now blazed with intensity, with conviction. “What you are now is not what you’ve always been, nor is it what you always will be. You are a snake. Shed your skin if it no longer serves you. Transform into something different. Something better.
How old are you?” I asked again, louder this time. “Very old.” Odd, indeed. I stared at him. “ What are you?” He chuckled, his eyes cutting to mine. “I simply . . . am.” “That’s not an answer.” “Of course it is. Why must I bind myself to fit your expectations?
So he is a God but it still does not solve the problem. Why? I’ve no idea. It also feel like many characters were brought bacl from book 1 for no reason at all, especially the whole climax involving Reid’s old lover, Celie.
I can’t even begin to process Ansel’s death. He was the one character I had liked throughout the book. Why did you have to do this 😭
The book ends with a huge cliffhanger. I’m not going to mention what it is, but even it feels pointless. I was so excited to read this book ever since I read Serpent and Dove but this time I don’t really care. I’m going to read the next book when it comes out, sure but I’m only just mildly interested with what happens to Lou and Reid now.
Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.
Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou’s, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.
The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou’s most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made.
And love makes fools of us all.
As the blurb says, unexpected circumstances leads to the marriage between the witch and the witch hunter: Lou and Reid.
You’re to be my wife.” Catching up to her in two strides, I reached out to grab her arm, but stopped short of touching her. “That means you’ll obey me.” “Does it?” She raised her brows, still grinning. ” I suppose that means you’ll honor and protect me, then? If we’re adhering to the dusty old roles of your patriarchy?” I shortened my pace to match hers. “Yes.” She clapped her hands together. “Excellent. At least this will be entertaining. I have many enemies.
I really enjoy enemies to lovers trope especially in a fantasy setting with a magic system. When I first read the book a year ago, I really really enjoyed their banter. But now the similarities in the personalities between Nina (from Six of Crows) and Lou and Reid and Matthias (from Six of Crows) is way too much. I hadn’t read Six of Crows before but now I can’t even distinguish between the pairs although the settings are different. It doesn’t mean I didn’t like reading it.
I really liked the magic system of this universe. Magic works differently for everyone and you don’t get sometjing for nothing. You need to trade something from your life everytime. That is a very fascinating idea.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I didn’t really understand how just singing a pub song aka indecent as Ansel called it makes Ansel goes against the only instruction he was supposed to follow. It also distracts the witches in the middle of an attack. How?? I can atleast make some sense of Ansel part.
Big Titty Liddy was not very pretty , but her bosom was big as a barn
Her creamery knockers drove men off thir rockers, but she was blind to their charms
Apart from this, I love love the book. My only complaint would be that the “falling in love” part happened a little too quickly or maybe I just wanted more of their banter and Lou being annoying.
My favourite character was Ansel and I hope he will be developed well in the sequel.
I read this book in anticipation of the sequel, Blood & Honey. It is finally in my hands. Expect a review soon.
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Qotd: Did you read Serpent and Dove? Did you enjoy it?
I’m a sucker for mysteries and thrillers, especially a murder mystery. Add that with glamour world of film industry and the intrigue of investigative journalism makes for the perfect plot.
Blurb: On his 50th birthday, arrogant playboy superstar Raaj Kumar gets into a verbal scuffle with the media gathered outside his house who question his inability to maintain romantic relationships. He decides to take a sabbatical and disappears off the grid to Chikkamagaluru. Suhaasini, an intern at tabloid Muthodlur Blitz is assigned a difficult task – to track down Raaj and get an exclusive interview. Her research into Raaj’s life uncovers a strange pattern; ill-fate follows every official ex-girlfriend of Raaj–each one either becomes mentally unstable or dies under mysterious circumstances. Determined to solve this mystery, Suhaasini vows to unravel this sinister web, unearthing dark secrets and evil schemes along the way. As she gets closer to the truth, the death of key players and an attack to silence her only drives Suhaasini to keep on digging. Will she succeed? Will the culprit be brought to justice? And what will be the cost of her persistence to expose the truth?
Review:
I’m a sucker for mysteries and thrillers, especially a murder mystery. Add that with glamour world of film industry and the intrigue of investigative journalism makes for the perfect plot.
We follow the story of Suhaasini, an intern at tabloid Muthodlur Blitz, as she tries to uncover the mystery behind the superstar Raaj Kumar and the mysterious deaths of his ex girlfriends. Why are all of Raaj Kumar’s ex girlfriends either dead or mentally unstable? Can Suhaasini uncover the truth?
Initially I was unsure about the plot because media poking their heads in a star’s personal life is a common occurrence. I side with the stars wanting privacy but the book made it seem like the media was in the right and the star was wrong for not wanting to discuss his love life. It makes sense here considering the mystery involved but I still would’ve preferred a plot where Suhaasini gets involved in a slightly different way.
The book kept me on the edge and guessing the killer at the very end. The spiritual themes of the book was unexpected. I will not give any spoilers by mentioning exactly what it was but it came out of nowhere. It definitely made the story more interesting.
There were many references which only Kannadigas or those who live in Karnataka would know and I loved them. Ah reading about manglore bajji ( ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಬಜ್ಜಿ) made we ant to badly eat some. I suggest that meanings to some of these can be mentioned at the end of the book like a glossary.
Another round of editing and proofreading would’ve helped to cut out unnecessary details and improve the narration. The story starts with the focus on Raaj Kumar and his 50th birthday and then shifts to Suhaasini. It would have been nice to start off from Suhaasini ‘s perspective. Some of the side characters like Randheer could’ve been developed more. There was a lot of banter between Suhaasini and her mother which could’ve been cut.
The death of key characters, the slow unraveling, the investigative journalism were all well done. I especially appreciate the inclusion of love interest for Suhaasini as it provided some well needed comic relief in a mostly serious book.
Overall, it was a well written murder mystery that kept me hooked till the very end.
With Netflix releasing the Season 4 of 13 Reasons Why, it is high time we take a look at Season 1 and think.
So badly wanted to make this title 13 Reasons 13 Reasons Why is bad but it’s been done so many times now. 😂
You might have heard about the statistics linking an increase in suicide rate after the release of season 1 of 13 Reasons Why and I can see why. Did the show really need to include the graphic scene of Hannah killing herself??
Blurb of the book if you didn’t already know:
You can’t stop the future. You can’t rewind the past. The only way to learn the secret . . . is to press play.
Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.
Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain, and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.
Why do I dislike (because hate is a strong word) the book?
Firstly, the message the book gives is so harmful. Hannah gets everything she wanted, she gets her revenge, she makes everyone who wronged her pay. The story is more a revenge story than a cautionary tale about teen suicide. It romanticizes suicide.
If someone was thinking about harming themselves, they would definitely do it after seeing /reading this. It is mainly because Hannah got everything she wanted after she died. I feel like I’m repeating the same thing again and again but it needs to be said. Dying doesn’t solve anything!!!! It doesn’t get you the revenge you wanted..
Actually, 13 reasons why season 1 was a little better than the book except for the last scene. But the show makers really should not have dragged it on for 4 seasons. 4 seasons really??
I also feel like Hannah really played with the 13 people she mentioned in the tapes. Clay was not even exactly a reason but he was forced to think he was and go through that until his tape. Sometimes, Hannah even pinpoints a random incident that happened long ago. I get that every small action has a consequence and impacts others but I’m not sure I agree with all of Hannah’s tapes. She complains that Clay should have stayed though she clearly told him not to.
I agree that it is a good book with a message but it shouldn’t have been made into this cultural phenomenon which starts discussions and covers all teenager issues etc.
We never know what choices will lead to defining moments in our lives. A glance to the left instead of right could define who we meet and who passes us by. Our life path can be determined by a single phone call we make, or neglect to make.
It’s been three years since Rowan and Citra disappeared; since Scythe Goddard came into power; since the Thunderhead closed itself off to everyone but Grayson Tolliver.
In this pulse-pounding conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman’s Arc of a Scythe trilogy, constitutions are tested and old friends are brought back from the dead.
It has been three years since Rowan and Citra were last seen, three years since the Thunderhead marked all of humankind as unsavoury except Greyson Tolliver. He is the only one who can communicate with the Thunderhead so he becomes a guide to everyone. Meanwhile, Scythe Goddard is stronger than ever. Thunderhead and Greyson must work together to keep the world safe from Goddard without interfering in Scythedom. Faraday is on an abandoned island and thinks everyone he cared for is now dead. What happens next? Read!
Greyson’s character arc is interesting. I was bored reading about his daily life since only he can communicate in the beginning but the ending was worth it. The abondened island storyline was also pretty boring in the beginning. Rowan and Citra was the only interesting part but that comes later. The “dairy entries” or inner thoughts also became repetitive.
So, if you’re asking me if it’s possible for you to make errors in judgement, the answer is yes. You make errors all the time… as does every other human being who has ever lived. Error is an intrinsic part of the human condition – and it is something I deeply love about humankind.
I was almost going to stop reading the book and I’m glad I didn’t. This book has a very slow and confusing beginning. There are multiple storylines with a slightly different time period that come together in the end. Citra remains my favorite character throughout. I wish the author had explored more of Rowan.
All in all, a great ending to a great story though I wish some parts of book 2 and 3 could’ve been cut and this could’ve been a duology.
🌟🌟🌟.8
All resonates. The past, the present, and the future. The tales we hear as children—the stories we then pass on—have happened, are happening, or will happen soon enough. If not, then the stories would not exist. They resonate in our hearts because they are true. Even the ones that begin as lies.
Rowan has gone rogue, and has taken it upon himself to put the Scythedom through a trial by fire. Literally. In the year since Winter Conclave, he has gone off-grid, and has been striking out against corrupt scythes—not only in MidMerica, but across the entire continent. He is a dark folk hero now—“Scythe Lucifer”—a vigilante taking down corrupt scythes in flames.
Citra, now a junior scythe under Scythe Curie, sees the corruption and wants to help change it from the inside out, but is thwarted at every turn, and threatened by the “new order” scythes. Realizing she cannot do this alone—or even with the help of Scythe Curie and Faraday, she does the unthinkable, and risks being “deadish” so she can communicate with the Thunderhead—the only being on earth wise enough to solve the dire problems of a perfect world. But will it help solve those problems, or simply watch as perfection goes into decline?
Review:
The book starts right where the previous book ended. (Spoilers for book 1 ahead! )
The pain of my awareness is unbearable. Because my eyes do not close. Ever. And so all I can do is watch unblinkingly as my beloved humankind slowly weaves the rope it will use to hang itself.
Over these many years, I have observed both profound folly and breathtaking wisdom among humankind. They balance each other like dancers in the throes of a passionate tango. It is only when the brutality of the dance overwhelms the beauty that the future is threatened. It is the Scythedom that leads and sets the tone for the dance. I often wonder if the Scythedom realised how fragile are the spines of the other dancers.
This book provides insight into the Thunderhead itself, the AI that overlooks everything. It was extremely fascinating in the beginning and became boring after a while. The way it looks at humanity and how it separates itself from Scythedom is interesting. The best part was that even though it is an all knowing AI, it was created by humans and they knew that some things need to be done by human beings.
To deny humanity the lesson of consequences would be a mistake. And I do not make mistakes.
The introduction of new characters were all good. I’m curious about where Rowan is headed as a character. Citra remains my favorite. The dynamics between the scythes perfectly represents the working of politics and power structures.
The first half of the book was amazing while the second half felt dragged and left me disappointed and dissatisfied because of my own expectations. The ending was unexpected, unpredictable and in one word, epic. That ending was worth reading the second book. It ends on a huggee cliff hanger!
What can go wrong in a world where everything is perfect?
Thou shalt kill.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Review:
If you’ve ever studied mortal age cartoons, you’ll remember this one. A coyote was always plotting the demise of a smirking long-necked bird. The coyote never succeeded; instead, his plans always backfired. He would blow up, or get shot, or splat from a ridiculous height.
And it was funny.
Because no matter how deadly his failure, he was always back in the next scene, as if there were a revival center just beyond the edge of the animation cell.
I’ve seen human foibles that have resulted in temporary maiming or momentary loss of life. People stumble into manholes, are hit by falling objects, trip into the paths of speeding vehicles.
And when it happens, people laugh, because no matter how gruesome the event, that person, just like the coyote, will be back in a day or two, as good as new, and no worse—or wiser—for the wear.
This is one of the best dystopian series. It explores what immortality and perfection would mean to human beings and the world as we know. I really don’t want to give away any spoilers.
If you think about what a perfect world would mean for humans, we definitely think about a world with no war or conflicts, no hunger, no problems at all. But what about the problems in a perfect world? How would a human being spend infinite amount of time on earth without any problems?
The book also explores religion and how beliefs are important and what a robot ruling over us would mean. The first book in the series starts off by introducing us to the world and the scythes. It talks about necessity of death and the randomness of death.
Citra, Rowan and Scythe Faraday are well developed characters. I wonder what would happen if Citra was in Rowan’s place in the second half of the book and vice versa. The plot twist involving Faraday was unnecessary but I see that it is important for the coming books. The dairies of scythes were so so good and provided all the info dump without seeming too much.
Now that I’m writing the review, it is becoming increasingly difficult not to giveaway anything crucial. All I can say is the story, especially the world building, is totally worth your time.
If you have liked the Hunger Games, you will definitely like this. I can see why people call it the successor to the Hunger Games.
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