Intro
Hello beauties!
Welcome again to my own brand of mini reviews! I never thought I'd do minis, until I recapped a few of my long reviews in some digest post in 2014, and then guest-posted some shorties for a blogging event in 2015. And Karen from For What It's Worth started praising my short recs/recaps 😊. Just to be clear, I'm NOT taking a break from writing long reviews - no such luck LOL (though for anthologies, shorter books or books that I didn't enjoy/I don't have enough to say about, I decided to stick to minis). But while I'm making up my mind about a new book I've read, I might as well give you the short version 😉. Just be warned - this feature will be VERY random!
Note: all the mini blurbs (in italics) are of my own creation.
The Dark Place by Britney S. Lewis (ARC Review)
A 17 y.o. girl whose older brother disappeared nine years before finds herself time-traveling to the night of the incident, but also to a dilapidated and creepy version of her world, and turns to a new crush for the answers that her family isn't willing to give her, all while trying to save her sibling.
***
When a book promises to "investigate the truth about time, space, and reality" and involves sibling love (especially in the form of one of the siblings trying to save the other), I get super-excited. And I did get what the blurb promised in both respects...though "investigate" might be too strong a word, since we aren't given a scientific reason for the protagonist's ability to time/space/reality-travel, other than a vague "genes thing". (Then again, The Dark Place is more of a soft-sci-fi novel, and the science itself feels a bit like magic, so that's excusable). I would have liked an explanation for the dark alternate reality Hylee visits, too...but I did enjoy spending time in it and getting creeped out by the twisted version of the night her brother Bubba vanished, and I loved to watch her trying to change the past, fucking up and trying again. I also found the horror aspect and the sibling relationship to be satisfying - easily the best part of the story. Conversely, I wasn't so keen on the whole "family secret" thing - and I don't mean the one that started the chain of events culminating in Bubba's disappearance (also...Hylee's folks aren't the only ones keeping secrets for no valid reason here). The "there's a thing that runs in the family but we won't talk about it and will sweep it under the rug instead" angle has been done to death, and frankly, it never feels believable - plus, Hylee's parents' and grandmother's cold-shoulder attitude here is way over the top. Lastly, the ending feels rushed and resolves the family conflict far too easily (not to mention, for the wrong reason).
(One note about the lead's inner monologue: the abundance of verbs without the "I" subject was probably supposed to make the protagonist's "teen voice" sound more natural, but if anything, it got the opposite effect - it felt way too deliberate. Maybe I'm just a grammar purist, but it did nothing for the story IMO, either than irritate this reader...).
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
The Girls from Hush Cabin by Marie Hoy-Henny (ARC Review)
★★
Four former friends from sleepaway camp, now 17, reunite for the first time in four years at their camp counselor's funeral, and decide to investigate her death - even if doing so might expose their darkest secrets.
***
I'm starting to see a pattern with teen thrillers...at least the ones I happen to request: I think it's fit to call it the Pretty Little Liars syndrome. They're full of shallow characters who simultaneously act much older (but not in the sense of "wiser"...not at all) and sound much younger than their age, have unspeakable secrets and are horrible to one another. It's funny, because YA books in every other genre are mostly immune to this disease (especially the mean streak - there's a lot of girl solidarity and found family going around, and it's awesome), so I wonder why thrillers can never seem to stray much further from it. Anyhow, I keep looking for the one that will rock my socks off...and an all-girls camp mystery sounded promising. Alas, I made very little progress with this book before I decided to call it quits, and for the usual reasons - the ones I stated before. Also, for a story with four POVs, they sounded very much alike. I'm sure that TGFHC has at least a few redeeming qualities, but after meeting the four protagonists, I didn't have the patience to get to the point where they would (maybe) manifest.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later, and of course I don't plan to reread this book).
Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
(Wayward Children #8)
★★★★A child running from her manipulative stepfather finds refuge in the shop where lost thing go - also a nexus for a variety of alternate worlds - but ends up exchanging her safety for a different kind of betrayal.
***
I'll be honest...while Antsy's experience in her abusive environment is a story that will always need to be told, and I applaud McGuire for telling it, I found the first half and counting of the book - up until Antsy takes shelter in the magical shop - less than exciting. Part of it might be due to her being much younger than the kind of protagonist I enjoy; but I guess I was mostly underwhelmed by the shop itself, which didn't seem to live up to the potential of an interdimensional lost-items warehouse coupled with a multiverse portal. The last section, though, made up for that with a number of (heartbreaking) twists and turns and a perfect, if bittersweet, ending. Ultimately, LITMAF brings a different perspective to McGuire's portal fantasy universe, paves the way for a sequel (or a revisitation) of the story it tells, and warns its potential younger readers about a very real danger...though on the other hand, I'm not sure its reading level and angsty content makes it suitable for middle graders.
Full review to come.
So, have you read/are you planning to read any of the above? And if you have, what do you think of them? Do you post mini reviews? Do you like to read them?
Well dang, The Dark Place had such a good premise for a book that I was hoping you were going to say that it was really good.
ReplyDeleteLOL, right? But I was glad I got the chance to read it.
DeleteRough batch here, but at least McGuire came through for you. I am trying to think back to the last teen thriller I read. Are McManus' books thrillers? I consider them more mystery, but I think they are great.
ReplyDeleteThe reviews for her books are all over the place...from "genius" to "predictable"...I'm a very exigent mystery/thriller reader, what with having grown up on an Agatha Christie diet, so I'm afraid they won't work for me...
DeleteYou know, you make a VERY good point about the characters in YA thrillers. Why is that!? And you are so right- that this doesn't seem to be the case in other YA genres! I can't read those kind of characters either, makes me dislike the book, so I feel you with that. The Dark Place sounds like it had some promise, but lacked in execution, which is a shame. Glad that the Wayward book worked for you mostly!
ReplyDeleteYay! Thank you for validating my point 😅.
DeleteI think The Dark Place will work better for a teen demographic - it has less of an adult appeal (though it IS dark), because the older you get, the pickier you become LOL.
I never considered the Wayward Children books middle grade. Hmm. I mean the writing style is certainly on the younger side. I did enjoy Lost in the Moment and found as well. And the next book follows Antsy too, almost like a sequel!
ReplyDeleteNo, you're right. The series isn't MG, only this particular installment veers on the younger side, since Antsy is just a kid when the story starts - and the first chapters could work as a cautionary tale for other kids, except the book as a whole is probably too complex for a reader in that age range.
DeleteI got an eARC of the next book! I'm excited!
Now I'm curious what you mean about not using "I". I would be expecting a lot from the lost things multiverse shop too, it does sound neat. But at least that one was good in the end. Sometimes twists and/or a good ending can really make a story. Too bad about the second book!
ReplyDeleteShe literally only uses the verb without the subject a lot...that is, she starts sentences with the verb (like, I don't know, "Pressed my face against Grandmommy's chest" or "Pressed pencil to paper and drew" or "Took a step forward"). It's odd. I mean, for style purposes, it may be a valid choice, but if it takes over the narrative, it becomes jarring and irritating. Also, why?
DeleteI have the next Wayward Children book on my hands right now (or, on my PC, since it's an eARC 😂) and it sounds like the shop makes another appearance, so I hope there will be more of that? Anyhow, there are most certainly dinosaurs 😂. I'm starting it in a few days, so I'm excited!
Eh...I must be more careful about requesting YA thrillers 😅.
I liked reading your versions of the blurb. You made them all sound so good.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you! 💚
Delete"trying to change... and trying again" I love that i time travel sometimes. Bummer about Hush Cabin.
ReplyDelete"interdimensional lost-items warehouse"
Reason #1,375 why I should be reading this series ha
"Reason #1,375 why I should be reading this series ha"
DeleteLOL! Though as I said in my review, I would have loved to see more of that. But seriously...try the series? There are "only" 8 books so far (plus 3 short stories), and they're tiny.
I know I've asked you already in my latest comment, but where are Ch. 31 and 32 of The Sands of Time? They never posted...
I do plan to read them. From what you've told me there are so many concepts that she explores related to portal fantasy that I really want to explore 'em. Plus I know there's a centaur/ grassland world in there somewhere and I need to get it.
DeleteThey did post briefly but I realized I had editing issues and had to pull 'em back. And then posted ch 33 without first fixing and reposting 31 and 32. Organized, aren't I? *rolls eyes* In fact, several people commented before I un-posted em and I felt bad about that. I think you were one. You, Lark, Tanya... so i'll get my act together and hopefully no more snafus. I think I'm going to repost 31 and 32 either this week or on my Sunday Post.
Yay! I'm so curious to hear what you'll think of them when you manage to get to them.
DeleteYou need a secretary! and I need a job. I'm applying 😂 😉.
Hired! I'm sure you'd straighten out my posting...
DeleteI'm thinking of binging them? Like, reading and reviewing them all in a row would probably be way fun and help me keep the stories staright also. :)
👍
DeleteSorry these were so disappointing. You've really got me thinking about that YA thriller thing. It's like Riverdale or One Of Us Is Lying where there's always like a hot mean girl, a jock, a nerd, etc. Maybe it's to make who-dunnit scenarios more straight forward and easy to follow? I'm not quite sure.
ReplyDeleteIt might very well be...plus there are archetypes that come with that kind of story...but it's 2023, maybe things could be shaken up a little?
Delete'shallow characters who simultaneously act much older (but not in the sense of "wiser"...not at all) and sound much younger than their age, have unspeakable secrets and are horrible to one another.'
ReplyDelete--- This is an excellent description of teenagers in general though (lol) ;)
You may have a point here...but on paper, they're not interesting LOL.
Delete