Book Review - Shadowed Threads by Shannon Mayer

Shadowed Threads

by Shannon Mayer

 

Rating *** (3 stars)

 

I really do not like how unthought out Mayer is with this series. I think really great series authors know what will be happening a few books ahead, even if it is not specifically plotted they know their characters well enough to know. However, as I have already mentioned this is not a great series. If it is a good series is still up for debate. This is a bit sad considering this is the fourth book.

 

If you have made it through the first three books then you should continue on with the fourth. It is the best so far. It clears up a lot of screw ups in the previous books and has some good character development. Do not buy it though, just borrow it, unless you like urban fantasy no matter how poorly written it is.

 

I suppose I should not be so hard on the book. . . except I like a story that I can escape into. I like the writing to be so smooth that it does not make me think about it - unless it is to repeat it in my head and marvel at the quality of a sentence. I like characters that I can believe actually exist, and a world that makes since even if it plays by a different set of rules. This series has none of that. I think I am going to officially stop reading the series here.

 

Maybe I will try again later when I am despite for something to read. Then again, maybe not.

Book Review - Raising Innocence by Shannon Mayer

Raising Innocence

 

by. Shannon Mayer

Rating **1/2(2 1/2 stars)

If this was the first book in the series Rylee Adamson series I would not be continuing on. As it is, this is the third book in the series. Many series seems to have a time when they are a bit dried up, and you can see the writer struggling to continue the series. In Raising Innocence it seems that Mayer hit an period of adolescence instead.

She made completely irrational decisions in the plot, and then tried to backtrack and connect them to what has happened in the first two books - in most cases completely unsuccessfully.

The vulgarity is absolutely horrible in this book. While the series never was clean, it was at least semi appropriate. In this novel Rylee basically tells the reader that she is going to speak like she wants to, and screw anyone who does not like it.

Along the same lines Rylee's attitude has downgraded to that of a thirteen  year old book with authority issues. Yes, she always had issues, but not to this degree.

The saving grace is that Mayer is able to put two words together without making the reader cringe - unless those two words are actually a whole string of unnecessary profanity. Even then it does no good unless the plot and charactors are worth investing time in reading.

I was so excited when the third book in the series finally came to Kindle Unlimited. Then I read it, and wished I would have just skipped to the fourth book. However, I would have probably had a hard time understanding what was going on in the fourth book since the third book took everything from the first two books and threw them out the window.

Overall, not impressed but hopeful that Mayer took feedback and improved in the forth book.

Book Review - The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

The Woodlands

by Lauren Nicolle Taylor

Rating ****(4 Stars)

I love the dystopian genre. I think there is something about tarring down the system and making the world a better place that resonates with our current society. Just look at the protest in Hong Kong. We are living in a world that needs to be fixed. I think that is why dystopian literature is so popular at the moment, and why it is mostly geared towards young adults.

I had no idea what to expect when I first picked up The Woodlands. It was free and looked interesting. I had no idea that it was going to be such an amazing series, well book since I have not finished the series.

The writing is good, allowing you to forget the words and get lost in the characters. The characters have their flaws, but that is what helps make them real. I found them to be realistic and agreeable given the society.

The plot is interesting. It is not majorly unique in dystopian literature. However it is not boring and overdone as well. I cannot wait until I get book two and continue on in the series.

The best part is the book is still free (check before purchasing) so you have nothing to loose and everything to gain!