Posted on by Hermione · 2 Comments

House of Hollow-A Book Review

Hey all people!

I hope none of you are getting stuck in other worlds or worlds of the dead or worlds between the lands of the living and of the dead or anything of this sort because I tell you…I have read enough about these to know that when you get stuck in some other world, it is very difficult to come back. So don’t go opening mysterious doors…

Well, the review shall not be forgotten haha.

  • Title: House of Hollow
  • Author: Krystal Sutherland
  • Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Magical Realism
  • Category: YA
  • Publisher/Publishing Date: April 6th 2021 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
House of Hollow
Source: Goodreads

Can somebody tell me? How many beautiful covers exist in this world? My god!! Just look at the ants, beetles and flowery pattern on this face! I mean, how can people draw so beautifully?

WOW.WOW.WOW.

And tell me? How can any author be THAT lucky to have a cover that beautiful in a book????

Iris Hollow and her two sisters are the human definition of ‘strange’. Strange in a way that all three possess a half-moon scar at the base of their throat and a mysterious connection that binds all three to each other…almost magically. Iris doesn’t remember how she ended up with a scar but something happened to her during her childhood that she can’t recall, not even put a finger on.

Iris has always wanted to be a normal person but fitting in is not what the Hollow sisters do best. When Grey Hollow, Iris’s eldest sister suddenly goes missing, Iris and her other sister, Vivi will do anything to find her. Life cannot get any weirder than that can it? Even for the weirdest people?

Following mysterious trails and unraveling secrets along her way, Iris and Vivi’s mission won’t be easy. Horned men start following the two sisters, and the corpse of a man is discovered in one of Grey’s apartment. It isn’t the end either. Memories unfurl…memories of the sisters’ childhood that Iris starts to remember in fragmented pieces…all Iris and Vivi can hope is that things don’t become more complicated, impossible to solve and most of all, that their sister isn’t dead…but probably, she is. Already.

About the Author:

Krystal Sutherland

Krystal Sutherland is an internationally published author. Her latest novel for young adults, House of Hollow, was released by Penguin in April 2021. Sutherland’s first novel, Chemical Hearts, was published in over 20 countries and was named by the American Booksellers Association as one of the best debuts of 2016.

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

Okay, if there is one thing I like, it is mystery thrillers with magical realism and in this book, the author blends those two EXTREMELY well. It was dark, mysterious and had the concept of ‘otherworlds’ (if any of you were wondering why I started this post with a very *hemhem* weird introduction). It wasn’t the sort of ‘otherworld’ that is about parallel universes and lands of the dead but rather the part between the land of the living and the land of the dead. And this place is mentioned under the name of the ‘Halfway‘ in the book. Unique I tell you.

Iris is the definition of weird, mysterious, dark, way-too-beautiful-but-doesn’t-know-how-to-take-advantage-of-it. The story is told in her point of view of course since she is our main character. She is a sort of person who wants to be NORMAL. Like lead a normal life where people don’t point at her wondering if she remembers anything about her childhood or thinking about whether she is a witch and if she is too dangerous. Haha, considering the fact that her and Vivi’s life fall upside down when Grey isn’t here. Like they are Grey’s fiercely loyal soldiers and Grey is the main commander and without her…well…upside down life it is.

This is why Iris and Vivi go nuts when their sister isn’t here. They have such a strong sister bond which I admire (considering the fact that me and my sister are constantly bickering and always have one major fight ever day)…

Vivi, is this person who almost HATES her beauty and even shaved her head for this. She has loads of tattoos and is the human definition of rock-n’-roll. She is that sort of person who wears crop tops, jeans, mini-skirts. And she ruins her health…okay…cannot live without smoking or drugs for a day and every day without is a day ruined for her😂. She is fierce, caring, a little clumsy when it comes to manners and loves her sisters very much.

Grey…the most enigmatic of all…she is a supermodel and owner of her own designer brand called House of Hollow where she designs clothes and being a very weird person, inserts secret runes or pieces of paper into the hems and all. She, unlike Iris, knows her worth very well and embraces her uniqueness. She uses her beauty as an advantage and is fiercely protective of her two smaller sisters (includes death threats to her own parents…and we see more things in the book.)

Other than that, the plot was unique and unlike any I have read before. Magical realism makes the book so out of the ordinary and you know what I explained above about the concept of the ‘otherworld’ which was definitely a different one. I have never read a book about an otherworld between life and death so that was an aspect that really liked.

There is just a way in which everything is explained in the book and nothing is left out. Like the childhood mystery wasn’t left unsolved. Like everything was part of of the main goal in the book.

Since I guess I have definitely talked enough, I should probably end this post and draft my August Wrap-Up since I haven’t yet done it and I cringe every time I think of it…😭

Well, I think that is all for today otherwise this post will become a very-long-post so bye for now!!!

Love, hermione!

P.S. Next post will be my August wrap up or a review of Tweet Cute by Emma Lord so be sure to stick around for more!!

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Wilder Girls-A Book Review

Hi all people! I really can’t believe almost half of August is gone yet! (I need time-travel powers right now!!). Well, never mind…Today I am posting a review on the second book I have read by Rory Power…bloop! What does bloop mean by the way?

A few days ago my lil’ sister was busy looking at pictures of German Spitz dogs and was dying of cuteness overload. Ugh, really? I probably have to find a book on ”How To Resuscitate People Who Died Of An Overdose Of Cuteness”. I think I managed to bring my sister back to life though because she went to school yesterday and is back to her usual self.

  • Title: Wilder Girls
  • Author: Rory Power
  • Genre: Horror, Mystery, Fiction, LGBT
  • Category: YA
  • Publishing Date/Publisher: July 9th 2019 by Delacorte Press
42505366
Source: Goodreads

OMG…the CCOOVVEERR!! EEEEEEE! I love it!!! Especially the green in the background! I have a thing for green because it is one of my favourite colours.

For more than a year, the Raxter School for girls have been put on quarantine. A disease called the Tox has ravaged the whole school. The teachers dropping dead one by one until only a few were left still alive. Then it spread to the students of Raxter, leaving many girls dead while others suffering from weird deformities on their body and flare-ups which can happen anytime leaving you screaming while changes to your body occur, slowly turning you into something that isn’t you anymore.

Their quarantine has been harsh. The Navy promised to find a cure but the food sent is barely enough to satisfy everyone’s hunger. They don’t dare venture beyond the school fence because once the quarantine is broken, they will be left on their own, to die if need be, and no cure will ever be provided.

Hetty has also been affected by the Tox, she is now blind in her right eye and always has the feeling that something that wasn’t supposed to be in her body is occupying her. Hetty has always been a fierce and caring person and when her best friend, Bryatt falls ill and goes missing, she promises to do anything to find her. Anything for her best friend even if it means breaking the quarantine and venturing beyond the school fence.

Hetty will learn many secrets, some devastating, some hopeful, some scary but if there is one thing on her mind right now…it is to find Bryatt, before the Tox or any other mysterious people take her away for good…because once you have the Tox inside of you, it will ravage you and leave you in pieces if it must. The Tox is a disease that doesn’t care whether you die or not, it only takes and takes and takes and leaves you with nothing.

About the Author:

Rory Power
Source of picture: Goodreads

Rory Power lives in New England and works as a crime fiction editor and story consultant for TV adaptation. She writes mostly Young Adult books and is the New York Times Bestselling author of Wilder Girls and Burn Our Bodies Down.

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

This book went way beyond my expectations (considering the fact that I hadn’t read the synopsis before adding it to my Goodreads TBR…).

The characters were full of personality, each so different from the other and enigmatic. Hetty was this character who would do anything for the people she loves. Reese, Hetty’s other best-friend is the one who interested me most. She is that person who pretends to be indifferent when she has this fierce protectiveness of her best-friends (she doesn’t show it). Reese has an interesting past which is mostly dark and mysterious. She has been affected by the Tox in a different way; one of her hands are silver with scales that seem to scare everyone.

Bryatt, I think is the one who is quiet and a little of the ‘thinker’ I assume. I think she is also a punctual person because EVERY morning she and Hetty go out for a short morning walk in the school garden. Because of this awful and mysterious Tox, SHE has grown another spine and I will spare you the teeny-weeny details…

I loved how the mysterious disease was portrayed in the book. It wasn’t just some monotonous illness where everyone falls ill, has some weird fever and just drops dead. It was different in a sense that almost every symptom in every human was different which made the Tox much more interesting to learn about and scary. I tell you this book isn’t for people who don’t stand gruesomeness, blood, weird deformities, abnormally-strong and scary animals like cats with teeth way too long and other scary features (the Tox also affects animals and all the girls of Raxter are trained on how to shoot just in case they come across a affected wild animal)

The plot was great and whatever happened in the book kept me on the edge, always wanting to know more and more. That is Rory’s superpower; she knows how to keep you wanting more and more from the story. This story had me immersed into it completely from the start till the end and if you liked Burn Our Bodies Down by the same author, then this book is definitely for you! I also recommend this to anybody who doesn’t mind creepy things, loves horror and any other book about wormy things, diseases, scaly hands, and you know what else.

If you have read this book…then do tell me what YOU think in the comments down below!

I guess that’s all for today and keep in mind…next review is Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson! I finished this book before yesterday and there is that one character who just can’t leave my mind…well, I will probably tell you all that next time with another post!

Love, Hermione🤍

Posted on by Hermione · 4 Comments

The Hollow Places-A Book Review

Well, obviously, hello! (I have no idea what to write in this first paragraph) *guiltily skips it*

  • Title: The Hollow Places
  • Author: Ursula Vernon (under the pseudonym of T. Kingfisher)
  • Genre: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
  • Publication Date/Publisher: October 6th 2020 by Gallery / Saga Press
The Hollow Places
Source: Goodreads

When Kara divorced her husband, she moved into her uncle’s museum, also known as the Wonder Museum. A museum filled with all sort of things like stuffed otters, raccoons, deer, elks and ”feejee” mermaids as well as stuff with ”Made in China” at the bottom. Everything goes fairly well for Kara since she is mostly busy the whole day, cataloging all the artefacts in the museum or suddenly bursting out crying because of her divorce.

When her uncle has to move in the hospital because he has to operate his leg, Kara is left in charge of the museum. This is when everything starts to become wrong. A tourist has punched a hole in the museum wall and curious Kara decides to poke her head into it and discovers something unexpected…

A mysterious passageway.

Uneager to explore it by herself, she calls to the barista of the nearby café shop, Simon who is also her friend. As they get into the passageways and investigate, they deduce it to be a bunker and further and further they walk until they reach a place with a hole on top….sunlight streaming in.

Kara and Simon discover alternate worlds where there are wicked willows that seem to come alive in the dark, emitting this strange silver light. They nearly get lost into that weird willow world themselves. Haunted place this thing is and evil creatures that hear your thoughts and with every thought, every fear, become stronger and stronger. Kara and Simon have to find a way to get out of this mess quick before that willow world takes a hold on them and never lets them go.

About The Author:

T. Kingfisher is the vaguely absurd pen-name of Ursula Vernon. In another life, she writes children’s books and weird comics, and has won the Hugo, Sequoyah, and Ursa Major awards, as well as a half-dozen Junior Library Guild selections.

When she is not writing, she is probably out in the garden, trying to make eye contact with butterflies.

[text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 3/5

Rating: 3 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

I liked this book but I felt that there were many things missing in the book. Maybe this is just me but I’m not sure. This isn’t a horror novel, it is a mild horror. I think I really did set my expectations a little to high. The aspect of ‘other-worlds’ was great but I wished we talked more about it in the book. You know, just to get a little deeper into the what I call ‘willow-world’ so we get to understand it better. It felt mostly hazy but more interesting things happen that clear of the haze a little but not fully. The ‘willow-world’ didn’t feel as scary and as bone-chilling as I wished it would be but it sparked my interest very much so I was constantly wanting to know more about it.

The author’s style of writing was significantly beautiful but I have the feeling that not enough things happened in the book. The ending explained a lot about the rest in the book and seriously it was way out of my mind. It was much more interesting than the other chapters and I was constantly wishing the book was as interesting as the ending itself.

Well, I haven’t talk about the characters a lot have I? Well, the author has a sense of humour which she expresses very well through the dialogues between Kara, Simon and Uncle Earl and the other people but they didn’t feel real enough to me. Sometimes, the adventures through the ‘willow world’ felt a little to easy but they definitely made me relax and say ”Finally!” *with huge sighs*

I am still unsure about what to write over here but I think I still have a lot to say about the book but it would just be spoil kingdom. This mostly sums up about what I think about it.

See you with another book!

-Hermione

P.S. I just finished reading Made in Korea by Sarah Suk and I seriously can’t wait to share my review with you guys because the book was beautiful and a real bagful of multi-coloured emotions and happiness. I mean, it cheered me up so much it left me smiling for a whole day after…*tells myself not to start rambling about this book over here and remembers that I have a whole post to look forward to and talk how much I want about the book*

Posted on by Hermione · 2 Comments

Mexican Gothic-A Book Review

Hello all people! Hope you are doing great. Today I am posting a review of Mexican Gothic, a book I really enjoyed so keep on reading!

Title: Mexican Gothic

Author: Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Genre: Horror, Gothic, Mystery

Publication Date/Publisher: June 30th, 2020 by Del Rey

53152636. sy475
Source: Goodreads

Sheeeeeeweeee! Isn’t this cover beautiful! I guess I really like the burgundy colour in the cover. *wait….does the first word in this paragraph even exist?* The cover gives me gothic vibes….

Noemí Taboada was busy enjoying herself at a party when her father calls her home. As she returns, she is given a letter to read that was written by her cousin, Catalina who is begging for her help.

Noemí’s father decides to send her off to High Place in order to try to bring Catalina back to Mexico City and cure her. As she heads for High Place, she is brought to the house by one of the family residents itself, Francis Doyle, the youngest son of the family and who is extremely kind.

As she enters the house, an air of doom and strangeness fills her. The air is thick and the darkness of the house is disturbing. She cannot believe that her cousin, so filled with happy stories of princes and princesses would ever want to live here. Noemí who can be so vain and caring about her looks is much more suited for happy days, beautiful dresses, perfect lipstick and cocktail parties than a dark house that looks like from a previous century.

Days and days pass with Noemí trying to find out more about the Doyles and why her cousin is feeling so ill and her continuous hallucinations she claims of having….until Noemí starts having disturbing hallucinations herself. They get worse and worse as if someone is trying to speak to her. With the mysterious residents of the house and herself going crazy with those dreams, Noemí has to act fast and get herself and her cousin out of the house before it is too late…but it is almost too late and escaping seems like a long lost miracle…

About the Author:

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and Untamed Shore. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination. 

[Picture and text taken directly from Goodreads]

My Ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

My Thoughts:

This is what I call a really good blend of horror, gothic and mystery and I recommend it to anyone who like horror or any of the genres above. It is also perfect for readers who love Darcy Coates’ books. You should definitely check out Darcy Coates as well, if you read Mexican Gothic.

Miss Noemí Taboada is the character which I would call suited for herself. She’s vain, stubborn, badass, brave, fierce and somebody who cares way too much about her looks. Like a person made out of all the personality traits in the world in small quantities. I can totally imagine her in a party stealing everyone’s attention with her superb lipstick, dress and well-chosen words with a cocktail drink in her gloved hand. And we could add a charming smile and perfect hair that will send every boy gaping😂.

The author did a really great job in describing the places so much I could almost vividly see everything in my head. The plot twist….was absolutely great…well, I didn’t expect anything of that sort and I didn’t even guess it. It has got a ghost-y and monster-y taste to the book that makes it more gothic and scary which I really liked.

The book also mentions a lot of plants and mushrooms but I can’t tell much it will totally ruin the story for you. I wish I could visit the Doyle’s house and live in it but I will first let some sunlight in there and deep clean everywhere. I found Francis Doyle extremely likable and if I was in the book we could have been best friends because we both love mushrooms. Francis was the only person in the Doyle’s house whom you could trust and who wasn’t like the rest of the family. I found him also very caring and gentle and smart and if you compare him to young Miss Taboada, they are very very different so you kinda get the idea.

(Did I ever mention I really like mushrooms! One day, if you go in your garden or in a forest, make sure to look in some damp and shady spot like the soil around a great tree and you’ll probably find some mushrooms! Mushrooms are fantastic fungus you know!)

Yay! I am done with the review! Next review will be When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk since I have just finished it….(before yesterday that is…)

So stick around for more!

Hermione💜

Posted on by Hermione · 4 Comments

Burn Our Bodies Down-A Book Review

Hey guys! Hope you are all fine! I finally read this book after so long! Let’s start with the review!

Title: Burn Our Bodies Down

Author: Rory Power

Genre: Horror. YA Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Publication Date/Publisher: July, 7th 2020/Delacorte Press

Burn Our Bodies Down
Source: Goodreads

Margot Nielsen has never known any other life other than living with her single mother. She also has no knowledge of the rest of her family. If there is one thing she longs for the most, is the truth, the truth about her family, her mother, her unknown father and where they all came from. Margot never got any of her questions answered so she learned to live with unanswered questions haunting her mind every single day.

In a stroke of luck when Margot visits the pawn shop, she comes across an old Bible book which belonged to her mother and in that book was an old photograph which should be her family. On the back of the picture was a phone number and Margot believes that she finally has the precious key to unravel all her family secrets.

As she calls the number, she talks with an old lady, Vera Nielsen who is surprisingly her grandmother. Having finally uncovered a part of her family, Margot decides to leave Calhoun and head for Phalene, the place Vera said where she could find her.

When Margot reaches Phalene, she expects to be happy to have found her grandmother and everything would become normal again and she and her mother would get along and there would be no secrets. What she didn’t expect was to discover that Vera isn’t what she really is and her family’s roots in Phalene go way deeper than she thought. Phalene isn’t safe and after a few days, she realizes that her family tree is just too much poison and if she stays here any longer, she might never get out.

About the Author:

Rory Power
Source of picture: goodreads

Rory Power lives in New England and works as a crime fiction editor and story consultant for TV adaptation. She writes mostly Young Adult books and is the New York Times Bestselling author of Wilder Girls and Burn Our Bodies Down.

My ratings: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

OMG! This book is so full of unexpected twists sometimes you don’t know what’s really coming. I never expected anything as such! Seriously! Ridicine! (I cannot tell more about this word because it would spoil everything and anyways you won’t find it on internet so if you are curious, you have to read this book). Vera looks so nice at the beginning, you almost hate Margot’s mom but then as you progress in the story, you have different thoughts about the whole thing.

Everything starts normally and then it slowly gets interesting and then very interesting and then you end up with your eyes glued to the pages at the end. It is definitely worth reading and you have to try it! Oh and BTW, the cover is beautiful!

Well! That’s all for today!

See you all next time ;D

~Hermione

P.S. I think I will read Beyond the Ruby Veil by Mara Fitzgerald next! So stay around for more! (Another fantasy book😁) See ya later!🧡

Posted on by Hermione · 1 Comment

The House Guest-A Book Review

Hey everybody! I am sooooo excited for this post/review. I can’t believe how much I loved this book! I finished it in a single day!

Title: The House Guest

Author: Mark Edwards

Genre: Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

Publishing Date/Publisher: June 3, 2020/Thomas & Mercer

The House Guest by Mark Edwards
Source: Goodreads

Adam and his girlfriend, Ruth are house-sitting for their friends, Jack and Mona who have gone on retreat to Mexico.

One stormy night, a woman knocks on the door drenched from head to toe in rainwater. She claims to be Eden, a friend of Jack and Mona’s. Seeing her state and believing her word, Adam lets her in and proposes that she stays with them since Mona and Jack are coming home soon.

Adam, Ruth and Eden soon get along very well till it almost seems like Eden isn’t such a stranger after all…

One night, Adam discovers a grey-bearded man staring at them through the window…Trying to shake off that feeling, Adam feels that they are being followed. Why? He has no idea.

It isn’t long enough before Adam, Ruth and Eden become seriously drunk. The next day, when Adam wakes up, Ruth and Eden are gone…

When Mona and Jack come back from Mexico, they don’t seem very disturbed by Ruth’s sudden disappearance since they are sure that Ruth will come back and to Adam’s astonishment, none of them know any Eden.

Now all alone and nobody to believe him, Adam is determined to find Ruth. Anything could have happened in a drunk night. He cannot help feeling a little guilty…He shouldn’t have invited Eden into the house…she was just a complete stranger.

About The Author

Mark Edwards (Author of Follow You Home)

Mark Edwards is an English author who writes psychological thrillers about very ordinary people who come across terrifying events. His first solo debut novel, The Magpies was published in 2013 and his most recent one, The House Guest was published in 2020. He has also written numerous other books; What You Wish For, Because She Loves Me and The Retreat just naming a few.

My ratings: 4.6/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

This is my very first book from Mark Edwards and it isn’t going to be the last either. It was beyond my expectations really!

Cheers!

Hermione

P.S. Currently reading: The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw;)

Posted on by Hermione · 1 Comment

The Whispering House-A Book Review

Hi! Well, since I am a bit at loss at how to start the first paragraph of this post, I guess I should just start with the review before I start rambling about everything that is happening just to fill up this first paragraph(and this is what I am actually doing right now)🤦‍♀️

Title: The Whispering House

Author: Elizabeth Brooks

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Gothic

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks
Source: Goodreads

Freya Lyell is still affected by the death of her big sister, Stella Lyell and hasn’t forgotten the day she went away from home, leaving her and her father, alone.

One day, her and her father go to attend a wedding at Byrne Hall, just a few miles away from where Stella threw herself from the cliffs and died.

As Freya enters the house of the Bryne family, which is out of bounds to all guests, to her absolute horror and shock, she finds a picture of Stella in one of the rooms, that looks like a mosaic with lots of pieces stuck together to form Stella. The mystery is that she has no hands…

Freya falls asleep in the dimly lit room and when she wakes up…the portrait had dissappeared. Freya is sure that she hasn’t imagined the portrait but she begins to doubt if she saw Stella or not.

When she returns home, she is determined to find out about the mystery portrait and for that, she will have to leave her father at home alone. When she reaches Bryne Hall, she meets Diana Bryne, the owner of the house and her son Cory Bryne.

Soon Fraya falls in love with Cory. Deciding to abandon her job in London, she stays at Bryne Hall with Cory who spends his time painting Freya.

Very slowly, as secrets begin to unravel themselves, Fraya learns that Stella DID set foot in this place, because it was Cory who drew that picture of her sister…

Freya begins to suspect Cory and Stella’s murder instead of Stella’s suicide seems like a good idea after all…

About the Author:

Elizabeth Brooks | Tin House

Elizabeth Brooks grew up in Chester but she lives with her husband and children on Isle de Man. She started by writing her debut novel, Call of the Curlew in 2018. Her new novel, The Whispering House is set in a manor house, that is, Bryne Hall.

Source of picture: tinhouse.com

My ratings: 3.7/5

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The book was really nice. It was eerie. I kinda liked Bryne Hall because I could actually imagine the staircases, the dark rooms, the portraits along the wall. The thing is I couldn’t actually connect with the characters very much (I couldn’t ‘step into Freya’s shoes’) and I think that the aura of mystery should have been greater but otherwise, it was an enjoyable read. There was also many flashbacks of Stella and I think they helped put a lot of sense in the book too.

Would I recommend this book? Well, I think yes, but I don’t really think you HAVE to read it…(if you get what I mean)

Well, have a nice day!

Love, Hermione

Posted on by Hermione · 1 Comment

Before I Die-A Book Review

Hello there! Well, I seriously don’t know what to write in this first paragraph but I can tell you that I immensely enjoyed this book. Well, I’ll tell you more below.

Title: Before I Die

Author: Jackie Morrissey

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

Publication Date: June 21st 2020

Before I Die: A psychological thriller full of twists and turns by Jackie Morrissey
Source: Goodreads

When Maureen gravely injures her ankle, her daughter, Alva is persuaded that her mother cannot take care of herself. Alva appoints a carer, a Spanish woman, Dolores Garcia (much to Maureen’s dismay) who really cannot keep her mouth shut when it comes to gossiping about the other neighbours which really annoys Maureen very much.

Maureen always thought that there was something wrong about Dolores and soon after her suspicions begin to prove right, just a little right…

One Maureen’s friends, Frank, mysteriously dies of a drug overdose. Maureen knows that Frank would never take drugs and her suspicions about Dolores become stronger since Dolores also worked for Frank as carer. Unfortunately, nobody suspects the caring and chatty Dolores, but Frank’s own son, Micheal, who is a drug addict.

Micheal knows hat he didn’t kill his father and Maueen knows that Dolores has something to do with it, even if not everything.

But who would ever believe a drug-addict and an old woman whom Dolores calls senile and confused?

Micheal and Maureen know what is hidden under Dolores mask and to reveal it, they will have to play at Dolores own game. It won’t be easy either because if Dolores finds out, Maureen can be her next victim.

My ratings: 4.3/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Well, I really liked the book and the characters as well, but I had a teeny problem with Maureen and Alva though. Maureen would rarely get furious with her daughter and I would just egg on Maureen to do something. Alva was a little stubborn and annoying at some times becuase she wouldn’t even believe her own mom. I mean how could Dolores poison her mind to such an extent that she began calling her mom irrational! Apart from those the book was overall very interesting. Maureen and Micheal’s friendship was like the sweetest thing. Micheal really liked Maureen and it was like Micheal was Maureen grandson.

I would recommend this book to any one who likes fast-paced stories and wierd friendships.

Haha!!

About the Author:

jackie_morrissey_photo_nov_2013
Source: Writing.ie

Jackie Morrisey lives in Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin, where she lives with her husband, three children, and her two dogs. The Irish author of Before I Die has also written many short stories and is also the winner of the Molly Keane award in 2004.

Hope you found a new book to read. (again, you HAVE to read this book)

Love, Hermione

Posted on by Hermione

To Tell You The Truth by Gilly Macmillan-A Book Review

Title: To Tell You The Truth

Author: Gilly Macmillan

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological fiction

To Tell You the Truth by Gilly Macmillan
Source: Goodreads.com

Lucy HARPER is the bestselling author of the ElizaGrey novels and unfortunately, her life didn’t always seem to be as perfect as it looks like. When she was very young, she had lost her little brother, Teddy in the woods of Charlotte Close and he was never to be found again. Because of this tragedy, Lucy changed her name from Lucy Bewley to Lucy Harper. She lives in a tiny little flat with her husband Dan always busy writing the next ElizaGrey novel.

Everything seems to go really smoothly until Dan gave her a very bad surprise. He had bought a large house at Charlotte’s Close. Lucy had experienced her worst memory over there and she had never thought she would be going back to the place where she had lost her little brother. Why on earth had Dan brought her to stay here? He was very well aware of Lucy’s painful past.

When Lucy goes to their new neighbours’ party welcoming the two she notices Dan with one of their new neighbours Sasha. Lucy knew a little about Sasha because Dan had spoken about her once. Sasha was flirting with Dan and Lucy was very suspicious about the two.

She didn’t understand why Dan brought her here….To be with Sasha? To find out more about her past? Or both? Things don’t seem to be going on very right…

My ratings: 4.6/5

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

(I really think I am running out of adjectives to describe books because I just keep on saying things like amazing and wonderful.🤣¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Well, it was a fabulously rich story. It was written very beautifully and and really had like a little bit of everything in life… you know like having doubts, sadness, anger, frustration, joy. It was like a colour wheel of emotions. I highly recommend this book and I hope you found joy reading this blog post or maybe even reading this book.

Please leave any comments below on anything you feel like whether its a book recommendation or if you have read this book(I would absolutely love to know how you feel about this book) feel free to type it down below!

~Hermione🤍

Posted on by Hermione

Final Friends Vol. 2-A Book Review

I am so sorry guys I haven’t been able to post for around three weeks. I was inactive since all this schoolwork and revision and tests is killing me and I am extremely busy. And we have our 2nd term exams starting in November and I have already started revising. I just hope that during the exams I do not have a black out…😂😂😂

So let’s begin.

Name: Final Friends-The Dance Part 2 and The Graduation

Author: Christopher Pike

Genre: YA Fiction, Mystery, Crime

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT READ AS IT MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK: FINAL FRIENDS VOL.1

Find link of Final Friends Vol. 1 here

The Dance, Part 2 / The Graduation: Pike, Christopher: 9781444901283: Amazon.com: Books
Source: Amazon

The Dance Part 2

Everything is supposedly back to normal. Jessica, still grieving for her dead friend, Alice. Michael Olson is still searching for the killer of Alice and his main suspect is Clark, Alice’s boyfriend, who is now Polly’s boyfriend. Michael is also not convinced that it was suicide and the police doesn’t seem to do much about that except closing the case deciding it was murder.

Meanwhile Jessica realizes that she has fallen in love with Michael Olson but she isn’t sure that he has the same feelings for her and he is too-good for such a girl like her. So instead, she tries seducing the football quarterback, Bill Skater.

Now, the homecoming dance was coming soon and Jessica, Maria, Clair and another girl, Cindy. Unfortunately, somebody tampered with the float and it seems that there will be another accident tonight or even death…

The Graduation

With Maria in a wheelchair with her useless legs Jessica is nearly depressed since Maria accused her for the accident.

With Michael still searching for Alice’s murderer, he seems to be getting nowhere expect suspecting Clark all along.

During the late-night cruise party everybody is present Michael, Jessie, Sara, Polly…and Clark as well…will the cruise be a big mistake? Will any more lives be claimed?.

My ratings:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

It was an amazing ending to the story. I wont tell you what happened otherwise I will spoil it but it had a really happy ending and a strange one as well especially Bubba’s ending and Clair’s.

It was amazingly written and the last moments in the boat was breathtaking and we finally know who is the killer…

Thanks for reading!

Hermione