Scan barcode
ellelainey's reviews
2502 reviews
Mismatched by Anne Camlin
4.0
Emma was never my favourite Austen, but I thought maybe a modern interpretation and a graphic novel would be the best way to explore the story in another element.
This has some great, really cute artwork, and the story is nicely executed. For me, it's a 4* because Evan was - as he's supposed to be, I think - self absorbed and whiney at times. I liked the cast of secondary, background characters more than I liked Evan, but he did have some good character growth as the story progressed, though it was minor and a little late. I'm also not a fan of the whole mix-up of falling for his sister's husband's brother, which is literally his in-law. Though they're not related, it's a little close for comfort.
This has some great, really cute artwork, and the story is nicely executed. For me, it's a 4* because Evan was - as he's supposed to be, I think - self absorbed and whiney at times. I liked the cast of secondary, background characters more than I liked Evan, but he did have some good character growth as the story progressed, though it was minor and a little late. I'm also not a fan of the whole mix-up of falling for his sister's husband's brother, which is literally his in-law. Though they're not related, it's a little close for comfort.
Project Nought by Chelsey Furedi
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
TROPES: forced proximity, cloning, forced confinement, experimentation on teens, grumpy/sunshine, tech geek
This was okay, but I'll be honest - from the hype this book gets, I was expecting more. I'm disappointed at how slow the pacing was, that it didn't really lead anywhere, the ending was...confusing.
One of my favourite things about books is understanding where the title comes from. This book's title references a part of the plot that is actually never explained. There is a literal project called Project Nought, but there's no explanation of what that means. Is it "nought" because it's before the start, or the start or something, or because they're creating something from nothing, or it is just another way of saying Project Not, because it's not what it seems? I'll never know, and that is both irritating and confusing.
For me, I found the initial concept interesting - Ren is in 1998, falls and wakes up in 2122 as part of a future program where people from the past are brought to 2122 for five months, so that students can learn history from first hand sources. Sure, sounds great.
Except...the entire first half is SO boring. It flits about, trying to introduce too many characters, and I don't connect with any of them. There's no explanation for the 5 months, and the fact that these people from the past have to help fill out HOMEWORK - projects, talks and basically be a living, breathing science project - is so wrong in so many ways and a total waste of time, IMO.
There was a heavy emphasis on this Project taking place in New Zealand, but absolutely NO explanation of why that was overly emphasised. Where were the other people, who kept mentioning this, because I assume they were NOT in New Zealand. Either I missed it or it's just never mentioned.
Maybe it's a UK vs NZ thing, but I couldn't help but read all the stuff about 1998 and cringe! It was written as though 1998 was in the Dark Ages. I don't know about the authors, but the basic terms and behaviours displayed by the future kids - which the 1998 kids had no concept of - was overly emphasised as being "unusual" when it was pretty much part of life, from what I experienced in school in 1998. I mean, the concept of various genders - using they as a pronoun - and sharing bathrooms between sexes was treated by the 1998 students as cringey and completely foreign. That was never my experience - back in 1998, we just didn't care! People were who they were and I, personally, knew quite a few LGBT people in high school during the mid-to-late 1990's.
When it comes to characters, I REALLY didn't connect to any of them. For me, I didn't "like" any of them, even in the smallest way. Phoebe was flighty and pushy, getting an instant crush on Jia. Mars was pretty similar, only WAY more flamboyant and exuberant. I thought his being a super tech geek might come in useful, but it really didn't go anywhere other than his little robot pets. For the main love interest, I actually find Mars quite irritating, selfish and materialistic, so focused on his own wants and ideals that he can't see the bigger picture. Jia is rude, obnoxious and wrapped up in her own problems to the extent that she causes more trouble than she helps. Ren is just constantly all doom and gloom, the stereotypical loner loser, who has no friends but ends up everyone's favourite.
I didn't buy Phoebe and Jia's romance, or Mars and Ren's. While the story supposedly took place over months, it just didn't feel like anything but insta-love from both Mars and Phoebe, with Jia and Ren putting up VERY little resistance.
By the end, I saw ZERO character growth.
And...sorry, but Twilight references in 2122?? Seriously? I'd have thought there would have been better options by then...
In the end, I found the ending of the story to be confusing and unnecessarily complicated. When investigating Project Nought, they discover files stating that the government are "creating" from scratch (I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers! Sorry!) yet later, there's a word constantly bandied about that says they're not creating, just copying. But...copying what? Memories, genetics, date? Where did they get access to all of that? How? Why? When did it start? What was the end goal? We'll probably never know, because the two main bad guys escape and are never seen from again.
The addition of the last few pages - showing Ren finally meeting Georgia - were completely unnecessary and confusing, because it threatens to undermine and complicate the plot twist they've just spent about 20 pages revealing!
For me, it was a mix of trying too hard and taking too long to get to the point. If the whole first half had been condensed, they would have had more time and energy to spend on fleshing out the ending. I should really be giving this a 2*, for all its faults, but it's 3 for a few reasons -
1) I finished it. I could have DNF'd, but I didn't.
2) The art was really well done and well presented.
3) There are far less picky people who will probably love this for the twists, unique plot and diversity.
Sadly, I just couldn't look past the execution issues.
This was okay, but I'll be honest - from the hype this book gets, I was expecting more. I'm disappointed at how slow the pacing was, that it didn't really lead anywhere, the ending was...confusing.
One of my favourite things about books is understanding where the title comes from. This book's title references a part of the plot that is actually never explained. There is a literal project called Project Nought, but there's no explanation of what that means. Is it "nought" because it's before the start, or the start or something, or because they're creating something from nothing, or it is just another way of saying Project Not, because it's not what it seems? I'll never know, and that is both irritating and confusing.
For me, I found the initial concept interesting - Ren is in 1998, falls and wakes up in 2122 as part of a future program where people from the past are brought to 2122 for five months, so that students can learn history from first hand sources. Sure, sounds great.
Except...the entire first half is SO boring. It flits about, trying to introduce too many characters, and I don't connect with any of them. There's no explanation for the 5 months, and the fact that these people from the past have to help fill out HOMEWORK - projects, talks and basically be a living, breathing science project - is so wrong in so many ways and a total waste of time, IMO.
There was a heavy emphasis on this Project taking place in New Zealand, but absolutely NO explanation of why that was overly emphasised. Where were the other people, who kept mentioning this, because I assume they were NOT in New Zealand. Either I missed it or it's just never mentioned.
Maybe it's a UK vs NZ thing, but I couldn't help but read all the stuff about 1998 and cringe! It was written as though 1998 was in the Dark Ages. I don't know about the authors, but the basic terms and behaviours displayed by the future kids - which the 1998 kids had no concept of - was overly emphasised as being "unusual" when it was pretty much part of life, from what I experienced in school in 1998. I mean, the concept of various genders - using they as a pronoun - and sharing bathrooms between sexes was treated by the 1998 students as cringey and completely foreign. That was never my experience - back in 1998, we just didn't care! People were who they were and I, personally, knew quite a few LGBT people in high school during the mid-to-late 1990's.
When it comes to characters, I REALLY didn't connect to any of them. For me, I didn't "like" any of them, even in the smallest way. Phoebe was flighty and pushy, getting an instant crush on Jia. Mars was pretty similar, only WAY more flamboyant and exuberant. I thought his being a super tech geek might come in useful, but it really didn't go anywhere other than his little robot pets. For the main love interest, I actually find Mars quite irritating, selfish and materialistic, so focused on his own wants and ideals that he can't see the bigger picture. Jia is rude, obnoxious and wrapped up in her own problems to the extent that she causes more trouble than she helps. Ren is just constantly all doom and gloom, the stereotypical loner loser, who has no friends but ends up everyone's favourite.
I didn't buy Phoebe and Jia's romance, or Mars and Ren's. While the story supposedly took place over months, it just didn't feel like anything but insta-love from both Mars and Phoebe, with Jia and Ren putting up VERY little resistance.
By the end, I saw ZERO character growth.
And...sorry, but Twilight references in 2122?? Seriously? I'd have thought there would have been better options by then...
In the end, I found the ending of the story to be confusing and unnecessarily complicated. When investigating Project Nought, they discover files stating that the government are "creating" from scratch (I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers! Sorry!) yet later, there's a word constantly bandied about that says they're not creating, just copying. But...copying what? Memories, genetics, date? Where did they get access to all of that? How? Why? When did it start? What was the end goal? We'll probably never know, because the two main bad guys escape and are never seen from again.
The addition of the last few pages - showing Ren finally meeting Georgia - were completely unnecessary and confusing, because it threatens to undermine and complicate the plot twist they've just spent about 20 pages revealing!
For me, it was a mix of trying too hard and taking too long to get to the point. If the whole first half had been condensed, they would have had more time and energy to spend on fleshing out the ending. I should really be giving this a 2*, for all its faults, but it's 3 for a few reasons -
1) I finished it. I could have DNF'd, but I didn't.
2) The art was really well done and well presented.
3) There are far less picky people who will probably love this for the twists, unique plot and diversity.
Sadly, I just couldn't look past the execution issues.
Wynd Book Three: The Throne in the Sky by Michael Dialynas, James Tynion IV
5.0
The start of this was a real emotional gut-punch, with an awesome flashback of Molly, who I've always loved.
I can't believe there's another volume! I was so sure this was the last one. Unfortunately, there's no hint of when the next volume will release, but I do have the next two single issues and the third - final issues - will release in a few weeks. I can't wait!
I can't believe there's another volume! I was so sure this was the last one. Unfortunately, there's no hint of when the next volume will release, but I do have the next two single issues and the third - final issues - will release in a few weeks. I can't wait!
Wynd Book Two: Secret of the Wings by James Tynion IV
5.0
I've been waiting a long time to read this, mistakenly thinking that Volume 3 was the last, so I held off intending to binge.
Volume 2 was everything I hoped for and more. Basil and the Queen were so smart, to see the danger looming and actually act on it, rather than wait for the worst case scenario. The King isn't that smart to have never noticed.
There are some new characters introduced here: Yorik's brother, Bastian, and his assistant/friend Teek.
There are new threats, new characters and a whole lot of drama and action. Poor Thorn is literally bearing the brunt of the danger and violence! With lots of twists and adventure, betrayal and emotions running high, this is a great volume.
Volume 2 was everything I hoped for and more. Basil and the Queen were so smart, to see the danger looming and actually act on it, rather than wait for the worst case scenario. The King isn't that smart to have never noticed.
There are some new characters introduced here: Yorik's brother, Bastian, and his assistant/friend Teek.
There are new threats, new characters and a whole lot of drama and action. Poor Thorn is literally bearing the brunt of the danger and violence! With lots of twists and adventure, betrayal and emotions running high, this is a great volume.
The Embrace of Evergreen by Rayne Hawthorne, D.W. Michaels
slow-paced
1.0
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
~
The Embracing of Evergreen (Unexpected Love, Book 2)
by Rayne Hawthorne, D.W. Michaels
★☆☆☆☆
307 Pages
1st person, dual character POV
Triggers: intense grief and depression; loss of past love; suicidal ideation; self-neglect; historic domestic abuse
~
DNF'd
The Embracing of Evergreen is a hurt/comfort, slow burn romance within the Unexpected Love series. As Book 2, it actually continues right after the end of Book 1, with a letter from Ken – the funeral home guy from Book 1 – explaining that he, Jayce and Namid are leaving their small town because of the attack on Namid. So, right from page 1, it makes it clear that this book cannot exist as a standalone. Fine, I knew that going in.
Full disclosure: I did not enjoy Book 1. Long-winded, overly floral and less hurt/comfort more full on depressive.
Sadly, Book 2 was just more of the same. Before I even got to the end of Chapter 1, it began with a letter in Ken's POV, which surprised me. Then I kept reading and...this wasn't Ken from Book 1. I don't know why or how, but this Ken didn't speak like the serious, 60 year-old funeral home director of Book 1, instead talking like a teenager who was unfamiliar with complete sentences. So many sentences ended with “or something” and “or anything”.
Then we get into the crux of the story, with Ethan's POV.
On page 1 alone, we get FIVE instances of paragraphs starting with “Maybe this time...” which makes me want to break out into Cabaret. Turn the page and we get SIX more. Then we start with repetitions of “I've stopped counting...” where we get three on page, turn over and get SIX sentences IN A ROW that all start with “I know...”. Turn the page and we get SEVEN sentences that start with “I miss...”
Now, I get it. Repetition at the beginning of a sentence can be a good thing. However, when we get THREE separate instances within the first 3%, that is what you call overkill. It's unnecessary and it loses the magic of the formula that is supposed to make that repetition work.
Just as with Book 1, there were endless pages of thoughts and emotions, with the first dialogue at 5%. This was an improvement upon Book 1, but it still took far too long to get to the point.
~
Overall, I'm just seeing the same problems with this book as there were with Book 1. I'm bored. It feels endless because of the countless repetition, paragraphs that fill an entire page or half a page, all to talk about ONE thought process, and memories mentioned that I have no connection to, interest in or that have any impact on the plot or character. Yet again, this is about intense grief and I just don't have the desire or invested interest in either the characters or the plot to continue reading something that – if it follows the formula of Book 1 – will be so draining and depressing that it makes me want to cry for the wrong reasons.
So, to spare myself the pain and the author the negative review, I'm bowing out – of this book and this series.