Books read: week 10

I have a habit of re-reading books, especially those I love (like this one and the second one in this list) that it slowed down the number of books that I devour.

 

1. Guilty Pleasures by Laura Lee Guhrke

 

 

Hero: 3/5 stars

Heroine: 2/5 stars

Storyline: 4/5 stars

Pacing: 3/5 stars

Fun Factor: 2/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 1/5 stars

 

I heard good stuff about Ms Guhrke and she was recced to me by a friend on Goodreads. I really want to like her books, I do. After all, I need new authors to follow to feed my insatiable reading habit. Alas, though the premise was interesting, the follow through was disappointing. The hero was okay to me, but when the heroine suddenly devolved into this fishwife after being no more exciting than a doormat, the book just lost its lustre for me. The bits that pulled the heroine's bacon out of the fire was a bit too pat for my taste, but in the absence of other readables (and the fact that I forked out money to rent it), I consumed it till the end.

 

2. Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

 

 

Hero: 3/5 stars

Heroine: 3/5 stars

Storyline: 3/5 stars

Pacing: 3/5 stars

Fun Factor: 3/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 1/5 stars

Again, another recced author. Premise was all right, lousy follow through and the development of characters and plots were meh. Pity since she is quite prolific.

 

*sigh*

 

3. Set the Dark on Fire by Jill Sorenson

 

 

 

Hero: 5/5 stars

Heroine: 5/5 stars

Storyline: 4/5 stars

Pacing: 4/5 stars

Fun Factor: 5/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 3/5 stars

 

This book was a pleasant surprise. I picked it up because I had a few more bucks of rental money, but it was a nicely constructed book with interesting characters and great plot development. I adore how "real" the characters were, flawed and yet still striving to do the right thing. 

 

It was a little disconcerting in places because of the shifting POVs, but once you kept track of the major players, it was a breeze. The character interactions were fluid and realistic, the imagery crisp and descriptive that you feel the head of the dry lands of south east California.

 

I will look for her other works next time. 

4. Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

 

 

Hero: 5/5 stars

Heroine: 5/5 stars

Storyline: 5/5 stars

Pacing: 4/5 stars

Fun Factor: 5/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 4/5 stars

 

Eloisa James is one of the rare authors whose work I did not enjoy in the beginning, but then grew to love. I came across something she wrote way back in the late 90s but somehow it just didn't appeal to me. But now, I devour anything new that she produces.

This book is a reinterpretation of the classic Cinderella tale, except that this time around, the heroine doesn't wait around waiting to be rescued. Oh, and the prince wasn't really that charming.

Great banter, great characters, great plotting.

I hope that the butler gets his own story too.

 

5. Blood Royal by Jonathan Green

 

 

Hero: 3/5 stars

Storyline: 4/5 stars

Pacing: 4/5 stars

Fun Factor: 3/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 1/5 stars

 

Sherlock Holmes meet Phileas Fogg with mutant insect people and Victoriana. This is a fun and adventurous read, reminiscent of the style made popular by Jules Verne and Arthur Conan Doyle. Very deux-ex-machina and the dialogue is a little clunky at times, but over all a nice way to spend your reading hours.

 

6. Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

 

Protagonists: 5/5 stars

Storyline: 4/5 stars

Pacing: 5/5 stars

Fun Factor: 4/5 stars

Repeat Reading Factor: 3/5 stars

 

This is book 1 of the Kane chronicles, a new series by young adult author, Rick Riordan. I started reading him courtesy of my friend Iztoy who lent me the first three of the Percy Jackson series. It was about how Carter and Sadie Kane worked to save their father (and incidentally, the world) by stopping the god Set from unleashing the forces of chaos. Based on Egyptian mythology, the vivid characterisation and storyline really captures you from page one.

 

Now, to find book number two ...