Book Review: Red Sparrow

Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading this, I seriously don’t know if I can watch the movie, despite my major love for J Law. I just don’t know how the movie will be able to translate the steely demeanor of Dominika, her relationship with the American CIA agents, the trauma of her training, not to mention the scenes that were fraught with, “Is this it?”

I read the book after reading a not-so-great review of the movie, which stated that the book was much better (when isn’t it, really?) and my library happened to have the digital version available. 3 days later, it was finished, and I’m so ready for the next installment.

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Book Review: Battledoor: The Golden Slate

Battledoors: The Golden Slate by Brian Wilkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you know that I am truly a sucker for books about books, books that are “love notes” to books, and so on. This is no exception! Battledore: The Golden Slate, is the first book of the series, and it ends in a cliffhanger that definitely made me say, “GAH!”

Unlike Wilkenson’s other book that I’ve reviewed, Paramnesia, the character development is strong from the beginning of the book, and he doesn’t rely on pop culture references to describe characters or situations. Owen, one of the “main” main characters, stumbles upon a “Battledoor” and corresponding hornbooks in an old bookstore that he and his friends have stumbled across in their quest to escape a sociopath of a bully. (The Battledoor is described as an old type of book and I will forgive Wilkenson for his fake definition of it, lol.)

The Battledoor is activated and thus begins a “Choose Your Own Adventure Book” involving Owen, his friends, and the bullies that drove them to the bookstore in the first place. As someone who grew up reading the Choose books, this was definitely a nostalgic treat. However, the updated storyline, the positively evil villain (named Vellum, how perfect is that?) and a world that is amazing and awful at the same time draws in the reader and keeps the action going until the completely unsatisifying cliffhanger of an ending that will make even reluctant readers clamoring for the next installment.

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Book Review: Once a Gypsy

Once a Gypsy by Danica Winters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I think I kept forgetting that this was a “supernatural romance” so it shouldn’t have been surprising that the two characters from different worlds (hey, cliche much?) fell in love almost immediately. From what I know of Pavee culture, the book portrayed that accurately, and the addition of the Forshaw was culturally appropriate, I just felt like there was a lack of “world building” and everything just happened too quickly for me to truly appreciate the story. I don’t think I’ll read the next book–from what I can tell Helena and what’s his face fight the whole time–damn you culture clashes!!!–and I just don’t feel like it.

Easy and quick read to pass the time, but I didn’t get super invested in the characters.

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