dbrown2017

Beyond the Veil by Pippa DaCosta My rating: 4 of 5 stars Beyond the Veil creates a world where demons and humans coexist, with the emphasis on those who cross the veil from the netherworld into the human world. The protagonist, Muse, is half-blood, so she can reside on either side, having characteristics of both races. Unfortunately, half-bloods are usually killed or tortured on the other side of the veil, so she seeks peace on the human side. Tranquility is not her nature, however, and the lust of Mammon, one of the Seven Princes of Hell, sweeps Muse back into … Read More

The Changing Tide by K.A. Dowling My rating: 4 of 5 stars KA Dowling builds a relatively contemporary world where two races compete for dominance on an island where few leave, and only pirates visit. Readers learn the history of the enmity in book one, The Changing Tide. We are also introduced to Emerala the Rogue, whose value to her people is obviously significant based on the intrigue around her, but deliberately unclear heading into the second book.The cast of supporting characters includes Emerala’s family members, the rival Chancey king and military guardsman, and pirates, one of whom was born … Read More

Dylap by A.C. Salter My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book. The premise involves a land of fairies with a complex social hierarchy living in a magically protected city. Our protagonist, a fairy who cannot fly, is rescued from the river Twine by a one-winged night watch captain. He then seeks his own future among these tree dwellers, while simultaneously trying to discover his forgotten past. Being different then the rest, he is nearly universally despised (or feared). He meets and befriends other outcasts, but despite proving himself on multiple occasions, he is still resented. When … Read More

The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger My rating: 4 of 5 stars This story touches on many aspects of complex young adult life, including teenage romance, alcoholism in the family, and most importantly, self perception. Bianca tells the story from the first person perspective, but she never describes her own appearance very well. For all we know, she is absolutely gorgeous, but she doesn’t see herself that way. She takes the viewpoint of the boy she despises, and feels that she is the DUFF. She spends the majority of the book coming to grips with other people’s … Read More

Private by James Patterson My rating: 5 of 5 stars James Patterson does not disappoint with Private, the first in a new series featuring Jack Morgan. Jack owns the investigative firm Private, a multinational agency that specializes in discovering secrets for a price. Jack himself, an ex-Navy pilot, is haunted by secrets of his own past, and the novel starts from his first person point of view. Patterson develops several other key characters, including Morgan’s twin brother, the memory of his father, a love interest or two, and a series of employees, bad guys and clients that captivate the reader. … Read More

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green My rating: 2 of 5 stars This book, no matter how extremely well written, is not for me. I read fiction to escape from reality. Green pens a fine novel that expertly mirrors reality. His descriptions of the protagonist’s debilitating anxiety disorder captures much of what she must be feeling and transforms it into a written word. That’s no small feat. However, the main story line itself lacks substance, and I am disappointed by the way Green minimizes the plot in favor of character development. This book feels like a homework assignment. … Read More

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas My rating: 5 of 5 stars A connoisseur of young adult literature, you stumble onto your reading queue and realize that nothing in your “read” pile contains the author Sarah J. Maas. This needs to be rectified. Picking up the Throne of Glass and seeing the attractive teenage protagonist on the cover, your mind gives you the imagery of what to expect. It should start with a kick-ass female, who not only is physically skilled and attractive, but also highly intelligent. The setting appears to be bronze age, plus or minus magic, and … Read More