Título em Português:-- Série: Rokesbys #2 Autor(a): Julia Quinn Editora: Piatkus Páginas: 352 Data de Publicação: 30 de Maio de 2017
Sinopse:
While you were sleeping...
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...
I told everyone I was your wife
When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.
If only it were true...
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
Opinião:
Depois de ler o primeiro livro da prequela, não aguentei e fui logo comprar o segundo. Porém, este ficou claramente atrás do primeiro livro da série.
Sou sincera, não gosto de um romance baseado em mentiras. É verdade que foi em parte por uma boa razão, mas não caiu desde logo muito bem.
Celia é uma personagem que ainda não sei muito bem se gosto dela ou não – estou mais inclinada para a negativa. Edward sim, agora Celia… Teve tantas oportunidades para dizer a verdade e no fim foge?!?!? Não, acho que posso dizer claramente que não gostei dela.
Não me ri com este livro, tirando um sorriso vago com uma ou outra piada que Edward tentava dizer.
Foi uma pena que o tenha lido logo a seguir a um livro que achei tão bom. Este nem lhe chega aos calcanhares. Não é mau, mas quase nem parece escrito pela mesma autora. Acabou por ser uma desilusão.
Title: The Girl With The Make-Believe Husband Serie: Rokesbys #2 Author: Julia Quinn Publisher: Piatkus Pages: 352 Publication date: May 30th 2017
Synopsis:
While you were sleeping...
With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...
I told everyone I was your wife
When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.
If only it were true...
Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.
Review:
After reading the first book of the Bridgerton’s prequel, I couldn’t wait to go and buy the second one. But this one was, clearly (and sadly), behind it.
I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t like romances based on lies. It’s true that this one had a real valid reason for its lies, but it didn’t start very well for me.
Celia is a character that I’m not sure I like…. I’m more inclined for the negative. Edward, yes, Celia… She had so many opportunities to tell the truth and in the end she runs away?!?! No, I think I can clearly say I don’t like her.
I didn’t laugh with this book, I didn’t have fun with it… I might have had a smile or two for Edward’s jokes, but that was it.
It was just bad luck that I read it right after such a good book like Because of Miss Bridgerton. This one doesn’t even come close to it. It’s not bad, it just didn’t seem written by the same author and the story didn’t do it for me.
Título em Português:-- Série: -- Autor(a): Fiona McKellar Editora: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Páginas: 112 Data de Publicação: 17 de Fevereiro de 2017
Sinopse:
Sarah is struggling to direct a theater production of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It doesn’t help that Glenn Sinclair, a prominent young landowner in Nairn is demanding the lead male role. But the play isn’t the only thing Glenn has his eyes on. He’s after Sarah’s heart too. With no other marriage prospects, she can hardly do anything but submit to his advances, but is it Sarah he's after or is he just playing?
~ Recebemos este livro directamente da autora Fiona McKellar. Obrigada! ~
Opinião:
Mais um livro da Fionna McKellar de seguida!
É com pena que digo que este sofre dos mesmos problemas que The Laird's Son... Apesar de ter sido um pouco melhor, continua a precisar de ser mais desenvolvido. É como se ao chegar a um certo ponto, a autora quisesse despachar a história e temos logo o final. E é uma pena, porque acho que podia ser tão melhor...
Neste livro temos Sarah, a personagem principal, que não gosta de Glenn, até este lhe começar a prestar atenção – ainda que saiba que a melhor amiga o acha atraente e tenha uma paixoneta por ele. Por comparação, Benjamin, que é um querido e sempre gostou da Sarah (até os pais dela sabem), não é olhado duas vezes, a não ser para ela pensar, mais uma vez, que ele é muito tímido.
Não gostei muito da tentativa de triângulo amoroso e, apesar de Glenn dar um bom vilão, gostava de ter visto mais da maneira como ele era. E a relação com o Benjamin...foi tão repentino.
Sarah não foi a minha personagem favorita. Apreciei a sua paixão pelo teatro mas a maneira como ela e Tess, melhores amigas, se trataram uma à outra, não gostei nada. Menos ainda do facto de Tess não a apoiar, especialmente quando Benjamin o faz. Seria uma maneira de ver as verdadeiras amizades? Se assim fosse, triste será casar com Benjamin, e ter como cunhada a Tess.
A história acabou por me prender algo mais que o livro anterior da autora, mas quando cheguei ao fim foi desapontante, porque podia ter tido tanto mais – dizer só que haverá tempo para Sarah e Benjamin se conhecerem e apaixonarem (mais) para mim não chega, eu queria ter visto esse amor desabrochar, queria que Benjamin mostrasse verdadeiramente como era, queria que Sarah aprendesse a respeitá-lo como mais que um jovem tímido que gostava dela e...“vamos namorar, talvez casar, logo se vê como corre”. Ficou a faltar um verdadeiro final.
Digo exactamente o que disse na crítica do seu primeiro livro: “Acontece e resolve-se tudo rápido de mais para o meu gosto. Não é, no entanto, um livro mau. Precisa apenas de ser desenvolvido e mais explorado. Confio que a autora veja esta opinião como encorajamento para continuar a sua escrita e melhorar a cada livro. Espero, no futuro, voltar a ler algo de Fiona McKellar e poder elogiar mais as suas obras.”
Sarah is struggling to direct a theater production of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It doesn’t help that Glenn Sinclair, a prominent young landowner in Nairn is demanding the lead male role. But the play isn’t the only thing Glenn has his eyes on. He’s after Sarah’s heart too. With no other marriage prospects, she can hardly do anything but submit to his advances, but is it Sarah he's after or is he just playing?
~ We've received this book directly from the Fiona McKellar. Thank you! ~
Review:
Another book by Fiona McKellar, and right away!
I’m sad to say that this book suffers from the same problems as the previous book, The Laird's Son. Although the plot was a bit better, it still needed development. It’s if when reaching a certain point in the story, the author just decides to wrap it up and end it as quickly as possible. It’s too bad, because I think it could have been much better…
In this book, there’s Sarah, the main character, who doesn’t like Glenn Sinclair until the moment he starts paying some attention to her – even though she knows her best friend has a big crush on him. In comparison, there’s Benjamin, who is a sweetheart, who loved Sarah (even her parents know it) and who’s Sarah never even looked twice, unless to notice how shy he was.
I didn’t appreciate the attempt at a love triangle and, even though Glenn could be an excellent villain, I wish I had had the chance to see him more in action. And Sarah’s relationship with Benjamin… It was so sudden.
Sarah wasn’t my favourite character. I liked her passion for the theatre, but the way she and Tess, as best friends, acted and treated each other… I didn’t like it at all. I liked it even less when Tess didn’t support Sarah, even though her brother, Benjamin, did. Was it meant as a way to show that it wasn’t a real friendship? Because if so, it would be sad to marry Benjamin and have Tess as a sister-in-law.
The story ended up hooking just a bit more than the previous book I’ve read written by Fiona McKellar, but when I reached the end it was just disappointing. It could have had so much more! Just saying that there will be time for Sarah and Benjamin to get to know each other and fall (more) in love isn’t enough (quote: “she could hardly jump right in when yesterday she’d been mooning about another man, but give it some time and everything would fall into place.”). Instead, I would have liked to see their love blossom. I wanted Benjamin to show who he truly was (I wanted to fall in love with him as the main character would have fallen), I wanted Sarah to learn to respect for who he was and not just a shy boy who helped her family. It lacked a proper ending.
I’ll say exactly what I said in my review of Fiona McKellar’s first book: “Everything just happens too quickly and is sorted out to fast for me. It’s not, however, a bad book. It just needs to be a bit more developed and explored. I trust that the author sees this review as an incentive to keep on writing and improve with every book she writes. I hope, in the future, to be able to read another of Fiona McKellar’s books and be able to praise her work more and more.”
Título em Português: -- Série: -- Autor(a): Audrey Coulthurst Editora: Balzer + Bray Páginas: 389 Data de Publicação: 22 Novembro 2016
Sinopse:
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Opinião:
Confesso que se não fosse a Owlcrate e a comunidade bookstagram não teria conhecimento deste livro. A minha relação com Of Fire and Stars é um bocadinho complicada.
A premissa deste livro era bastante interessante e, por esse motivo, as minhas expectativas relativamente a este livro foram-se elevando, mas ainda antes de começar a leitura reparei que tanto na comunidade bookstagram (habituem-se porque vou passar a falar bastante sobre isto, já que actualmente faz parte da minha vida de forma bastante presente) como no Goodreads algumas críticas que variavam bastante entre o bom e o mau. Comecei a ficar com pé atrás, criando em mim alguns receios, mas tentei entrar no livro de mente aberta. Of Fire and Stars prometia um romance LGBT com fantasia e magia à mistura, e… bem, de facto, está lá isto tudo, mas podia ter sido tão melhor.
Relativamente à magia/fantasia, o que há não me satisfez. Dennaleia é uma jovem princesa que desde cedo estava prometida ao príncipe de Mynaria, de forma a estabelecer uma aliança entre o reino do seu pai e o de Mynaria. Por essa razão, toda a sua vida girou em torno desse acontecimento. O único problema é que Denna nasceu com a afinidade para o fogo, coisa que era considerada não só heresia como completamente proibida no reino em que seria futura Rainha. Pouco ou nada lemos sobre este assunto da magia e das afinidades. Só muito para lá do meio de livro é que começamos a ter alguns vislumbres, mas nada de satisfatório. O que para mim se tornou num aspecto negativo, porque queria MESMO saber mais sobre estas afinidades – saber como cada uma delas se desenvolvia e vê-las em acção. Eu queria a magia que me era prometida e que não a obtive!
Apesar de prometida ao Príncipe, assim que chega a Mynaria é Amaranthine – Mare para os amigos -, irmã do Príncipe, uma princesa irreverente e amante de cavalos, que arrebata o coração de Denna. É um amor que surge de uma amizade conturbada e eu gostei disso, pois não foi um daqueles instalove irritantes. Mas o que eu mais gostei não só no romance de Denna e Mare, mas no livro em geral, é que este não é a única relação LGBT presente na estória e é abordada com tamanha naturalidade que o leitor recebe este amor sem sequer pensar duas vezes no assunto – E É ASSIM QUE DEVERIA SER NA VIDA REAL. Uma relação heterossexual ou homossexual deveria ser aceite da mesma forma e naturalidade. Este é o aspecto positivo que mais saliento neste livro: naturalidade na abordagem de temas complicados como da comunidade LGBTQ+, sem pudores e tabus. Outro aspecto a salientar é a presença de várias personagens femininas em posições de poder. Só para dar um exemplo, em Mynaria é uma mulher que é a Capitã do exército do reino e que está à frente da defesa do mesmo – posição nunca atribuída a uma mulher. Apesar de se tratar de um reinado, há uma assembleia que se reúne com o Rei para melhor governar o reino, da qual fazem parte mulheres com peso nas decisões.
Apesar deste lado positivo que tanto gostei no livro, este livro não me satisfez por várias razões. Achei que a construção do mundo deste livro deixou algo a desejar, poderia ter sido melhor desenvolvido não só em termos de território, mas de magia e relações entre personagens. A autora focou-se imenso nas duas personagens femininas, e deixou as outras com pouco desenvolvimento – ainda que tanto Denna e Mare precisassem de ser mais complexas e desenvolvidas.
Ao terminar o livro senti-me verdadeiramente desfalcada. Na altura pensei que daria 3 estrelas, mas neste momento, sinto que não chega a isso. Foi relativamente desapontante. Pouco desenvolvido, prometeu e não cumpriu. Para ser sincera, pouco ou nada acontece neste livro e poderia ser resumido aos últimos capítulos quando algo remotamente interessante surge, desenvolve-se e é resolvido. É uma pena porque achava mesmo que este poderia ter sido algo bem mais interessante e satisfatório se a autora se tivesse focado mais na magia e fantasia associada do que a politiquices.
Title: Of Fire and Stars Serie: -- Author: Audrey Coulthurst Publisher: Balzer + Bray Pages: 389 Publication Date: November 22nd, 2016
Synopsis:
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Review:
I must confess, if it wasn’t for Owlcrate and bookstagram community I wouldn’t have known about this book. My relationship with Of Fire and Stars is a bit complicated.
The premise of this book was very interesting, and for that reason, my expectations were getting higher and higher; but even before I picked this book up I noticed several good, but also bad reviews on bookstagram community (get used to it, because I’m going to make lots of references to this in the future, since it’s something very present in my life at the moment) as on Goodreads. And that was when I started feeling aphreensive, but I tried to get into this book with an open mind. Of Fire and Stars promised an LGBT romance with fantasy…. Well, it was all there, but it could have been so much better.
About the magic/fantasy factor of this book, it didn’t satisfy me. Dennaleia is a young princess who is betrothed to Prince of Mynaria almost since birth, to strengthen the alliance between her father’s kingdom and Mynaria. All her life was trained towards that goal. The little problem was that Denna was born with a Fire affinity, which was not only a heresy, but also forbidden in the kingdom where she was to be Queen. There are almost none magic or affinities references in this story. Only halfway through the book we finally have little glimpses of this world, but not enough. For me that is a negative aspect of the book, because I REALLY WANTED to know about the affinities – to know more about each affinity, and see them in action. I wanted Magic that I was promised, and there were none!
Even though she was betrothed to the Prince as soon as she gets to Mynaryia is Amaranthine – Mare for friends -, sister of the Prince, an irreverent and horse lover Princess, who gets Denna’s heart. It’s a love that blossoms from a complicated friendship, which I liked, because it was not one of those annoying instaloves. Nonetheless, what I loved the most is that Denna and Mare’s is not the only LGBT relationship in this book; and everything is so natural in this book that the reader accepts everything without a second thought about it – WHICH IS WHAT SHOULD BE IN REAL LIFE. A heterosexual or homosexual relationship should be accepted equally and naturally. This is the best aspect about this book; it touched, what we may call, complicated themes as LGBTQ+ without taboos. Another positive aspect is the female presence in important positions of the state. Just an example, in Mynaria it’s a woman who is Captain of the military and who is in charged of the Kingdom’s defence – which is not a normal position for a woman. Even though it’s a kingdom, there is a Dictorate which gathers with the King to better rule the kingdom; and it that Dictorate there are women who are important in decision making.
Despite this positive aspect which I really like, this book didn’t satisfy me for several reasons. There were no world building whatsoever; it could have been so much better not only about its territory, but also about the magic and bonds between characters. The author focused on those two main female characters, forgetting the other – even though Denna and Mare needed to be more complexed and developed.
When I finished this book I felt truly let down. As soon as I finished, I was inclined to rate it 3 stars, but right now I can’t. It was disappointing. There were almost no development; it promised so much and didn’t deliver it. To be honest, almost nothing happens in this book and it could be summarised by the last chapters only. It’s a shame, because I really thought this book could have been so much better if the author focused more in the magic/fantasy world than politics.
Título em Português:-- Série: -- Autor(a): Fiona McKellar Editora: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Páginas: 78 Data de Publicação: 17 de Janeiro de 2017
Sinopse:
As if the rumors weren’t bad enough, now she’s been publicly accused of witchcraft. And it doesn’t help either that the accusations came from none other than the Laird’s own brother. Catriona Baxter is a commonplace Highland lass who’s just trying to mind her own business, but that doesn’t stop the Laird’s brother, Aodh, from making plenty of advances upon her. After rejecting him though, Catriona finds her life threatened when Aodh publicly accuses her of being a witch. To resolve the matter, the Laird orders Catriona to come live on his estate while a proper investigation is carried out. The Laird’s brother might want her dead, but his son, Bhaltair, has other plans. Seizing every opportunity Bhaltair pursues her endlessly. Sparks fly, but will his son’s love for her be enough to convince the Laird she should be saved from being burned at the stake?
~ Recebemos este livro directamente da autora Fiona McKellar. Obrigada! ~
Opinião:
Sempre que um(a) autor(a) está a começar a sua carreira como escritor(a) e me pede directamente se aceito fazer uma resenha da sua obra em troca de um livro – neste caso ebook -, sinto-me sempre feliz e ao mesmo tempo apreensiva. As críticas e opiniões têm sempre bastante valor para os autores e não seria a primeira vez que um(a) autor(a) dizia que a crítica A ou B tinha ficado muito marcada na sua memória – fosse ela boa, ou má.
Por isso, quando Fiona McKellar veio falar comigo, aceitei ler o seu livro em troca de uma opinião honesta mas, mais uma vez, tentei sempre ter em mente que isto era um primeiro livro, uma obra que poderia, possivelmente, precisar de ser melhorada de uma única maneira possível – experiência. E foi o que aconteceu.
The Laird’s Son é uma obra leve, curta (demasiado curta para o meu gosto) e querida/doce – no sentido que os ingleses dão ao descrever um romance “sweet” é um romance sem cenas mais eróticas ou de sexo explícito – e este livro enquadra-se nessa categoria. Para mim, os livros não têm de ter sexo para serem bons, longe disso. Apenas faço este apontamento pois é algo que costuma ter alguma importância nos romances (históricos).
O livro tinha uma boa premissa: uma rapariga que era injustamente acusada e um rapaz que acreditava nela e lutava por ela. Mas pouco mais aconteceu.
As personagens principais são adolescentes, por isso percebe-se perfeitamente que não houvesse mais algum tipo de contacto físico. Mas deveria ter acontecido algo mais. Mais aventuras, uma exploração maior das acusações feitas pelo tio de Bhaltair,... Uma história destas poderia ter tido um vilão muito mais desenvolvido e um enredo que acabasse por me prender mais mas, tristemente, ficou aquém das possibilidades.
Catriona poderia ter tido mais expressão, mais emoção. Uma rapariga que sempre viveu com o pai e estava muito ligada a ele, vai viver quase um mês para a casa do Laird e não sente sequer a falta dele? Ou comenta o quão diferente é o estilo de vida? A única coisa de que fala, poucas vezes e brevemente, é o medo de poder encontrar o tio de Bhaltair, Aodh, e este tentar fazer-lhe algo. Mas, convenientemente, ele está longe durante a maioria do livro e o problema da sua existência e acusação é resolvido num piscar de olhos.
Acontece e resolve-se tudo rápido de mais para o meu gosto. Não é, no entanto, um livro mau. Precisa apenas de ser desenvolvido e mais explorado. Confio que a autora veja esta opinião como encorajamento para continuar a sua escrita e melhorar a cada livro. Espero, no futuro, voltar a ler algo de Fiona McKellar e poder elogiar mais as suas obras.
Title: The Laird’s Son Serie: -- Author: Fiona McKellar Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Pages: 78 Publication date: January 17th 2017
Synopsis:
As if the rumors weren’t bad enough, now she’s been publicly accused of witchcraft. And it doesn’t help either that the accusations came from none other than the Laird’s own brother. Catriona Baxter is a commonplace Highland lass who’s just trying to mind her own business, but that doesn’t stop the Laird’s brother, Aodh, from making plenty of advances upon her. After rejecting him though, Catriona finds her life threatened when Aodh publicly accuses her of being a witch. To resolve the matter, the Laird orders Catriona to come live on his estate while a proper investigation is carried out. The Laird’s brother might want her dead, but his son, Bhaltair, has other plans. Seizing every opportunity Bhaltair pursues her endlessly. Sparks fly, but will his son’s love for her be enough to convince the Laird she should be saved from being burned at the stake?
~ We've received this book directly from the Fiona McKellar. Thank you! ~
Review:
Every time an author is beginning his/her career as a writer and asks me directly to write a review in exchange for the book – in this case ebook -, I’m always happy and apprehensive at the same time. Reviews are always important for authors, and it wouldn’t be the first time an author said the review A or B was almost carved in their memories, be they good or bad.
So, when Fiona McKellar approached me, I accepted the ebook in exchange for an honest review. And, once more, I tried to keep in mind that this was her first book, a book that might, possibly, need to be improved by only one thing – experience. And that’s what happened.
The Laird’s Son is a light book, too short for my liking and a sweet read – in the sense that the English usually describe a romance as “sweet” when it doesn’t have erotic scenes or sex in it (and this book fits in that category). For me, a book doesn’t have to have sex in it to be good, far from it. I’m just pointing this out because it’s usually something mentionable in a (historical) romance.
The book had a good premise: a girl who was being unjustly accused and a boy who believed in her and fought for her. But little more happens.
The main characters are teenagers, so you completely understand why there wasn’t a lot of physical contact. But something else should have happened in the book: more adventure, a larger exploration of Bhaltair’s uncle accusations… A story like this could have had a much better developed villain, and a plot that hooked me up a bit more… Sadly, it fell short.
Catriona could have had more expression, more emotion. A girl who had lived her whole life with her father, who was very attached to him, goes to live almost a month in the Laird’s house and barely misses him? And doesn’t even comment on how different their lives are, with the exception of the references about the reception balls? The only thing she briefly mentions in how scared she sometimes is of finding Bhaltair’s uncle, Aodh, and that he might do something to her. However, conveniently, he is away for most of the book and the problem of his existence and of the accusation he had maid are solved in a blink of an eye.
Everything just happens too quickly and is sorted out to fast for me. It’s not, however, a bad book. It just needs to be a bit more developed and explored. I trust that the author sees this review as an incentive to keep on writing and improve with every book she writes. I hope, in the future, to be able to read another of Fiona McKellar’s books and be able to praise her work more and more.
Título em Português: -- Série: The Great Iron War #1 Autor(a): Dean F. Wilson Editora: Dioscuri Press Páginas: 220 Data de Publicação: 15 de Dezembro de 2014
Sinopse:
In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.
Between these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.
When Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent. When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker, the world may find that one victory does not win a war.
~ Recebemos este eARC directamente do autor. Thank you! ~
Opinião:
Deitei-me à leitura de Hopebreaker sem saber absolutamente nada sobre estória. Dean F. Wilson entrou em contacto comigo, através do nosso e-mail (que está disponível para quem quiser entrar em contacto connosco, seja qual for o assunto), oferecendo o seu livro em troca de uma crítica honesta. Aceitei e atirei-me ao desconhecido.
Estou numa fase que tem sido um pouco complicada e isso tem se reflectido não só no tempo que demoro a ler os livros (independentemente de estar a gostar ou não) e também da minha abertura para eles. Alguns acabam por sofrer com isso, outros nem por isso.
Acho que Hopebreaker faz parte da segunda categoria, apesar de ter demorado quase um mês a ler o livro. Não posso, no entanto, dizer que adorei o livro. Gostei, até certo ponto, mas não consegui criar grande ligação com o livro. O enredo tem nuances interessantes, e o tema geral até é apelativo, mas não funcionou para mim.
Levei a leitura até ao fim, porque, primeiro, não gosto de deixar livros a meio (se bem que tenho direito como leitora) e, segundo, como se tratava de um livro cedido pelo autor eu tento sempre levar as leituras até ao final. Acabei por ler um livro sem qualquer tipo de conexão com as personagens; nenhuma delas puxou pelo meu interesse ou empatia. Ainda assim, a estória deixou-me curiosa. Quem são estes demónios? Como chegaram à Terra? Qual é o objectivo deles? Tenho várias perguntas, mas verdade seja dita, não sei até que ponto a minha curiosidade me fará querer continuar a seguir esta saga.
Pode parecer que não gostei de todo do livro, mas não é verdade. Ele está bem escrito e, em certas alturas, eu estava mesmo embrenhada no enredo, mas não foi um sentimento geral ao livro todo, e esses momentos eram raros. Tenho pena de não ter gostado mais deste livro, porque achei que tinha potencial para isso e foi o primeiro livro de steampunk que li.
É uma saga que ficará em standby, por uns tempos, e talvez venha a dar uma oportunidade ao segundo livro no futuro, para já não dá.
Title: Hopebreaker Serie: The Great Iron War #1 Author: Dean F. Wilson Publisher: Dioscuri Press Pages: 220 Publication Date: December 15, 2015
Synopsis:
In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.
Between these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.
When Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent. When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker, the world may find that one victory does not win a war.
~ We’ve received this eArc directly from the author. Thank you! ~
Review:
I started Reading Hopebreaker without knowing a thing about its plot. Dean F. Wilson contacted us through our email (which is available to anyone who wants to contact us, whatever the subject), offering his book in exchange for an honest review. I accepted and went to the unknown.
I’m going through a complicated phase in my life, and that has been influence any aspect in my life – even how much time I take to finish a book (it doesn’t matter if I’m enjoying it or not), and also my “openness” to them; some suffer from it, other not a all.
I think Hopebreaker is in the secont category, even though I took almost a month to finish it. I can, nevertheless, say that I enjoyed the book. I liked it, but I couldn’t feel any conection to this book. The plot has some interesting nuances, and in general it’s applealing, but it didn’t work for me.
I read it until the end, because, first, I don’t like to leave book unfinished (even though I have that right as a reader). And, secondly, since the author sent us the book in exchange for an honest review I like to give it a chance until the end. I finished the book without creating any kind of conection to any of the characters; they were not able to instigate my interest or empathy. Although I felt a bit curious about the plot. Who are these demons? How they arrive to the Earth? What they want? I have so many questions, but to be honest I don’t know how much my curiosity will be the reason I’ll keep reading this saga.
It may seem that I didn’t like the book at all, which is not true. It’s well written, and, in some points, I was really entangled to the story, but it was not a feeling that keep me through the book; and those moments were rare. It’s a shame I didn’t like this book as I expected, because I thought it had potentioal. This was my first steampunk book.
It’s a saga that I’ll keep on hold for a while, and maybe I’ll give it another chance in the future. But not now.
