Scan barcode
bookswithjax's reviews
725 reviews
A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas
4.0
Okay I must talk about this book!! This was unexpected for me. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, but I buy into this whole premise!! I bought this ages ago because I saw it on bookstagram, then it sat on my TBR pile for almost a year. Today as I was doing laundry I didn’t feel like going upstairs to get my current read, so I picked this up off the shelf. I am here for Charlotte Holmes and Lord Ingram. I love the Watson angle and the direction Livia is taking. This is just a fun read plain and simple and I love it. I am sooo thankful that I had the foresight to buy the second in the series the same day!
Now I came into this series with no reviews read or any real knowledge about it other than it’s a Sherlock retelling with female characters. Just to forewarn you this is a slow burn kind of book. The author takes her time with the characters and the mystery. I felt like I’ve been well set up for a long series (hopefully very long). I’ve since read some reviews just now and apparently a lot of people didn’t like it or how much time and detail was spent on other characters. I personally loved it. I will say the author spends a lot of time, I mean A LOT, on Charlotte’s weight and her contemplating her double chins. I hope that aspect doesn’t continue in the next books, but it’s not enough to keep me from reading or enjoying the series. At least not yet!
Now I came into this series with no reviews read or any real knowledge about it other than it’s a Sherlock retelling with female characters. Just to forewarn you this is a slow burn kind of book. The author takes her time with the characters and the mystery. I felt like I’ve been well set up for a long series (hopefully very long). I’ve since read some reviews just now and apparently a lot of people didn’t like it or how much time and detail was spent on other characters. I personally loved it. I will say the author spends a lot of time, I mean A LOT, on Charlotte’s weight and her contemplating her double chins. I hope that aspect doesn’t continue in the next books, but it’s not enough to keep me from reading or enjoying the series. At least not yet!
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
5.0
This was a re-read for me and since I haven’t reviewed it before it’s a perfect time to do so. I love LOVE Anne McCaffrey’s Pern books. I first read this book in middle school and fell in love. After reading it again as. 30 something it still holds up for me. The world building alone is worth 5 stars, however this story surrounding Harper Hall of Pern is so good!
The book is told from the perspective of Menolly a musical prodigy born in a time of rampant sexism. This seems very appropriate as it was written in the early to mid 70’s during a time where feminism was really coming into its own (again). It weaves a magical tale of her troubled upbringing and home life, how she saves herself and is subsequently saved by the Harper community as they help her learn to trust in them and herself. Throw in the dangers of thread, fire lizards, and some dragons and it makes for quite the adventure.
It’s a short and easy read and perfect if you’re looking for a book to escape from the world.
The book is told from the perspective of Menolly a musical prodigy born in a time of rampant sexism. This seems very appropriate as it was written in the early to mid 70’s during a time where feminism was really coming into its own (again). It weaves a magical tale of her troubled upbringing and home life, how she saves herself and is subsequently saved by the Harper community as they help her learn to trust in them and herself. Throw in the dangers of thread, fire lizards, and some dragons and it makes for quite the adventure.
It’s a short and easy read and perfect if you’re looking for a book to escape from the world.
Murder in Downfell Manor by E.M. Cooper
3.0
Disclaimer: I received a copy for review from Hidden Gems.
I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. I struggled in the beginning as the prose was a bit awkward, and I couldn’t tell where this book was going. I also got some Harry Potter vibes at first. That vanished fairly quickly and the book developed into a good rhythm. I would have liked a little more character development for the main characters, but all the other secondary characters are completely shady acting from the jump so you can’t be sure ‘who done it’ as the saying goes. From a murder mystery perspective I really enjoyed it, but from a fantasy perspective there just wasn’t enough world building etc. to make it full on fantasy. I would say it’s a classic murder mystery with a sprinkling of fantasy thrown in. I gave it 3 stars which in my books makes it a really good story. I wouldn’t re-read it, but I’d pick up the second book to see where the story continues and this novel set up for a series very well.
I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. I struggled in the beginning as the prose was a bit awkward, and I couldn’t tell where this book was going. I also got some Harry Potter vibes at first. That vanished fairly quickly and the book developed into a good rhythm. I would have liked a little more character development for the main characters, but all the other secondary characters are completely shady acting from the jump so you can’t be sure ‘who done it’ as the saying goes. From a murder mystery perspective I really enjoyed it, but from a fantasy perspective there just wasn’t enough world building etc. to make it full on fantasy. I would say it’s a classic murder mystery with a sprinkling of fantasy thrown in. I gave it 3 stars which in my books makes it a really good story. I wouldn’t re-read it, but I’d pick up the second book to see where the story continues and this novel set up for a series very well.
The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict
3.0
This was a good book, but not one I’d come back to again. I came into it not knowing anything really about Hedy Lamarr other than she was an actress who also helped create our modern day Bluetooth technology. It was an interesting story, but I wasn’t consumed by it. I enjoyed the first half (pre coming to America) a lot more than the second half. The first half focused on her being Jewish in Austria leading up to WW2, her first marriage, and how she escaped. The second half felt rushed, and there was very little focus on her inventing but more on her foray into Hollywood and her struggles there. The author sort of talks about it, but largely glosses over it and rushes through it.
Mostly I came away feeling sorry for her and with a sense that being a woman in the 30’s-40’s was terrible no matter what country you were in. Definitely not a happy go lucky story, but historically interesting even though it’s largely fiction.
Mostly I came away feeling sorry for her and with a sense that being a woman in the 30’s-40’s was terrible no matter what country you were in. Definitely not a happy go lucky story, but historically interesting even though it’s largely fiction.