Net Galley Round Up #1
What: Eyes Ever to the Sky (The Sky Trilogy #1) by Katie French
Who: Katie French Books
When: May 2013
How: A copy of this novel was provided for review via Net Galley.
Rating: ★ ★
Pro tip: if you’re an alien … you don’t have superpowers – that’s just your genetic makeup. I know the whole “Hugh is an alien” thing is supposed to come as a surprise but I mean this guy fell to earth in a crater. I don’t think his being an alien is all that plot twisty.
To be honest, there wasn’t anything I really liked about this novel. There were random chapters from random people’s POVs that added nothing to the story. For example: two chapters were of people being murdered. I didn’t need to read about “Little Mack” and how his mother sang to him and how he’s a drunkard. I just really didn’t need to know that, or that some other guy missed his dog. Make the words count. I also didn’t like Cece or Hugh, or their severe case of the instalove. They knew each other less than five days and were way too into each other and throwing around couple terms before they’d even gotten to know each other.
I also wasn’t a huge fan of the way Cece’s best friend, Fer, was portrayed. There were constant comments about her weight and her stomach bulging, and I really disliked it. Also the way her sexuality was tackled in this book? Not a fan. I found it all kinds of rude.
I won’t be reading the next book in this series.
What: A Study in Ashes (The Baskverville Affair #3) by Emma Jane Holloway
Who: Del Rey
When: December 31st 2013
How: A copy of this novel was provided for review via Net Galley.
Rating: ★
This book was just too much. There were too many POVs, too many backstories that led absolutely nowhere and did nothing for plot development. There were too many words. There were too many scene settings. There was just too much of this entire novel. I wanted to DNF terribly, but I had already invested so much time in this series that I wanted to know how everything turned out.
And then I’m hit with a semi-ending that just invites more books that I definitely will not be reading. I just feel that the potential of this story was seriously not met. There were just too many turns and not enough mystery, and just too much excess crap that I had absolutely zero interest in reading about. Everything just dragged on and on and on, and I found myself cringing when I had to pick this book up again.
Even Niccolo, my darling saving grace from the first two novels couldn’t save A Study in Ashes. I’m afraid it was doomed from the start.
What: Thin Space by Jody Casella
Who: Simon Pulse/Beyond Words
When: September 10th 2013
How: A copy of this novel was provided for review via Net Galley.
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Oh my goodness. I have no idea why I took so long to read Thin Space! I thought the premise sounded interesting, which is why I requested it so long ago on Net Galley, but then it slipped my mind (as things tend to). I’m glad I finally picked it up, and without really knowing anything about it, as well. Because only knowing the bare bones about Thin Space made it all the more amazing read.
From the moment Thin Space started, I was one hundred percent hooked. I absolutely LOVED Marsh’s voice. He was so broken, but witty, and everything about his thoughts was completely captivating.
Almost everything is left a mystery in Thin Space, and most of the time you don’t even realise it. And I think that is the best part of this story. The entire time I was reading it I was wondering how the book would turn out, and it turned out so well. I am incredibly glad I finally picked up Thin Space because I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time to come.
© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
I should start doing a couple of Netgalley roundups seeing as my ratio is so embarrasingly low xD But wow the first two books you reviewed seem so bad I don’t want to read those. I requested Thin Space, too, so I’ll have to get around to this one if it’s so good :)
Right? I have so many books to read for NG, and I thought these might be a good way to get that ratio up, haha XD
Thin Space is really good, Marianne! I hope you like it :D
Oh. Oh I loved Thin Space! I think I read that like nearly a year ago now but ajfkdlsafd I still have feels. I totally sucked me in from the first page too. But those other two books. Ugh. I’m not feeling intrigued about them at all. Too many POVs is a big big no no imo.
YAY! :D I’m so glad I eventually got around to reading Thin Space because I really enjoyed it. There were many feels to be had.
Yeah, the other two books were not very good >.>
Oh dear A Study in Ashes doesn’t seem appealing AT ALL. I hate too many POVs. It never ever works out well :| Thin Space looks really good though! I’m gonna check that one out on GR.
Lovely mini reviews, Chiara <33
It wasn’t. It was truly painful to finish, Mel D:
Yes, check out Thin Space! It’s very good.
Thanks, lovely <3
Ah I should really be dong one of these too. It’s a great idea doing this netgalley round up!
I’m sorry you didn’t like the first two, and glad you enjoyed the last one. Have heard a lot of great reviews about Thin Space, actually. So I might pick it up next time. Great mini reviews! :)
Thanks! I thought it might help boost my ratio + give feedback for the titles. :)
Thin Space was really good, so I am super glad I gave it a chance!
Thanks, Kimi :D
I requested Thin Space on NG too & got approved, but it’s already archived :'( dang it. I guess I’ll just buy it because you gave it a high rating! I feel like it’s going to be a sad read :(
I ended up buying it, because it was archived by the time I got around to it, haha. But it was worth it :D It was a sad read, but not too sad!
I’m really glad I didn’t decide to request those first two! “this guy fell to earth in a crater.” LOL. Yeah, definitely no surprise there that he turned out to be an alien. Ugh, too many POVs and unnecessary backstories… not fun. I’m liking the sound of Thin Space, though!
You should be, Alise! They were a little insufferable :/ I KNOW. I was like … was that really supposed to be a surprise? And I’m not a fan of multiple POVs on a good day. Sigh.
Thin Space was really good :D
Those first two books, ack! Thanks for the heads-up about those. I would end up facepalming so hard if I actually read those, I bet.
Glad to see that one was good for you though! :D
No problem! You have been warned :D
Yes, I’m glad that Thin Space was a good read, especially when I wasn’t a fan of the other two!