The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
I felt like the story was just getting started all through this book. Then, there was an incredibly abrupt ending, basically in the middle of a scene. I was actually startled when the “you’ve finished this book” page popped up, because I was expecting the next page of the scene. There were some really good parts, and I loved the descriptions of small town living, but I was left feeling like I didn’t get a full story.
The Lost Girls: A dark and twisty supernatural thriller by Sarah Painter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m only giving this three stars because it was really disjointed in the beginning. There were a lot of jarring jumps between scenes throughout, but they started making more sense later in the book so weren’t quite as bad, but it was hard to track what was happening. I had to work a little harder than I usually like to keep going. That said, I really enjoyed the characters and the premise and the undercurrent of magic in modern places.
The Pearl King by Sarah Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my favorite of the stories so far. I feel like things are really moving and yet getting more complicated. Lots of fun, and I can’t wait to see what happens next! And I’m so sad there’s not a next book to roll right into yet, darn it!
The Fox’s Curse by Sarah Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was another fun read. One of the things I especially like about this stories is the little hints of things going on underneath the main story. Hints about the Families and other possible magic. The hints make me try to guess what these bigger stories might be and keep me reading to see if I get any more hints.
The Silver Mark by Sarah Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another fun story. I love how fast these are even if it makes them really hard to put down so going to bed at a reasonable time is out of the question. The ending was a little abrupt and left a couple of cliffhangers (I really don’t like cliffhangers!), though, but at least the next book is out so I can jump right in and see what’s happening next.
The Night Raven by Sarah Painter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this. It’s fast and fun, and I love a mystery mixed with magic. It was light enough to be relaxing comfort reading, but it wasn’t empty and pointless so I didn’t get bored or frustrated with it. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was gothic perfection! Eerie and unsettling and dark and full of atmosphere and menace. It was a wonderful gothic nightmare.
White Pines by Gemma Amor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This story kept pulling me along, sometimes dragging me to the next part, sometimes just encouraging me to get there. But it was always hard to find a stopping point. There was such a rhythm, such an ebb and flow to the whole thing, and the slowly unfolding depths kept emerging. It was somehow slow moving and intense all at once. Very worth reading.
You know, I meant for this to be about the stories I love and the people who write them and the myths and folklore that inspire them when we’re talking about that kind of story. But then I never got around to writing up any of those story reviews. I always wanted to write so much about each and every one of them, and it seems overwhelming.
Today, though, as I finished my current book (and now the joy and angst of deciding what’s next!), I realized I’ve been ignoring the thing on Goodreads where you can blog your reviews.
It’s not what I initially had in mind, but at least it’s moving into the territory I hoped this blog would cover when I started it.
So here’s the first step. I may even go back and share reviews of favorite books over the years here to fill things out and move a little further toward what I’d like to be doing here.
The Girl in the Green Silk Gown by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the poetry of the language and the story–stories, really, because we got so many stories here. This is one of those book I wish I could read for the first time again.
I want my writing life to be cozy. I don’t entirely (or really even a little bit) know how that would look in my world. But I want it.
I have some other, more measurable goals, too. Maybe best to talk about those while I try to figure out that cozy thing.
These are longer term goals, I think, not just for ROW80 Round 1, but I don’t have a specific ending date. Or maybe I do. I’d like to have this story finished (and named!) and first pass edits done by September. That way I can spend some time planning and getting ready for this year’s NaNo.
That’s it. I’m trying to have goals but not have them so tight that I don’t have breathing room. This feels like where I want to be–doing some writing practice, working on a story, going to writing group. And going to the day-long writing retreats when I can. It feels like a good writing life. Now to figure out that cozy part.