The Zeuorian Awakening

The Zeuorian Awakening
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of NetGalley!

Lexi’s no ordinary teenager. She was born with the ability to read minds and sense danger. But on her seventeenth birthday, she realized how different she was after transforming, literally that is. Now she’s developing powers stronger than a superhero. But she’s no superhero.

Far from it.

She has no control over her abilities and causes accidents every time she’s nervous or upset, which being a teenager is hard to avoid, especially when the most popular boys in school are fighting to be with her.

If that isn’t bad enough, a stranger is following her. She doesn't know who he is or what he wants, yet he knows all about her abilities and that she’s developing more. And . . . he’s her only hope of understanding why she’s changing and others are after her. What she learns will send her life into overdrive.

Okay so, this was out back in March, and before you all go crazy thinking I have the worlds biggest TBR (I mean, mine is pretty hefty but I prioritise review books) I've been having Kindle issues. My Kindle is kind of old, and for months now it's not been working, and I have no other way to read Kindle books because I kinda prefer, like actual books, you know, so I was pretty screwed. The NetGalley piled up and now it's June, and I'm about to start working my way through all of my NetGalley books from March. Some are going to be hella late, but I'll still review them anyway. Now that my Kindle is fixed and has finally decided to cooperate, I thought I'd delve in to what was next on my list. 

Just looking at the book on GoodReads it seems to get a lot of negative reviews, but I actually really enjoyed this book along with a few others. Alright, yeah, there were a few bits that were a bit like "really" but to be honest, I'm in the kind of mood were a bit of cliche and a bit of cheese is exactly what I need, and everyone has times like that so I'm not counting it as a negative. Towards the end, I will admit, it did get a bit much towards the end trying to work out who the Watcher was out of these two boys, because boy one was convinced he was this boy and I'd like to know why so hopefully we'll find out in the next book, especially as boy two is so obviously him, but there was a lot of back and forth between who it was and did get a bit repetitive at the end, but it was when the suspense was building so I was like "whatever". 

This book is all about aliens which was a nice surprise as I wasn't entirely sure what her deal was, and it's always great to read a book with a creature, shall we say, that you don't really see much. The book had a really cool, thought out mythology to go with it as well, and a great background for these people and complex politics and yeah. It was pretty damn easy to delve in to the world and the politics. But all this background on Lexi and what she is, is saved until nearer to the end and you still get a lot of information about her and her people without it being an info dump. 

I couldn't really put the book down to be honest, because once I started to read and started to connect to Lexi and got sucked in to the plot and the whole "who is the Watcher" "who's after her" "what's going to happen with her powers" and various other intrigues, I was hooked and couldn't get the pages to turn fast enough on my Kindle. I mean that literally, like, my Kindle is really slow right now because it's still being a pain in the ass even though it's fixed and so I'm clicking next and waiting and then clicking it a million times like "MOVE FASTER SHIT'S GETTING REAL" and then I have to go back because it suddenly decides to move it's ass and goes too far forward, and I have no patience when it's all tensiony and suspense and everything. 

There was so much backstory that's gradually revealed to you as you read because Lexi has some memory issues shall we say, and each time you learned a new thing, it added to the intrigue, especially if, like me, you were trying to work out who the hell the Watcher was, what the hell she is and what the hell was going on. Literally, I was totally wrong on all counts and I literally had no idea who the Watcher was, I mean, I suspected, but then I suspected everyone and his dog. If it was male it made my suspects list. So I was surprised but also like "oh yeah" at the same time. 

The main chunk of the book is all about Lexi and her powers and who's after her and her trying to come to grips with everything but there's a nice little romance plot going on. Lexi has like three guys after her, and rather than it being annoying it was actually just funny, especially with two of them being Watcher suspects it made the whole thing more interesting and more complicated. I enjoyed the romance to be honest, I felt like it wasn't the main focus, I wouldn't say it was entirely subtle, but it wasn't all up in your face every five seconds and it did keep you guessing. 

I actually really liked Lexi like I said, I found her easy to connect with and root for and sympathise for, I was entirely on her side as I was reading and I can't wait to see more of her in the next book. I liked Everett, he's an interesting character and I'm excited to see and learn more about him in the next book, and I loved the chemistry between him and Lexi. Tyler I actually liked, and I ALSO enjoyed his relationship/chemistry with Lexi....right up until he started being shady af and literally being the epitome of dodgy. I mean, I shrugged it off in the beginning because he was a great character but then he went straight to creepy town and I was like "woah okay". Having said that, I can't work out what his deal is because at the end it just made me go "hang on....why are you so convinced" but at the same time I think Everett is who he says he is so I'm just like "I KNOW SOMETHING IS GOING ON BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT" so I kinda need the next book like.....now. I mean.....it's going to be an interesting love triangle from what I can tell, I'm just hoping the next book explains why Tyler is so cray cray because I'm really hoping he's actually still a nice guy. 

Now, I'd like to make a little mention here. As I said, I scoped out some other reviews and there were plenty negative (sorry to keep mentioning it) but what really got me is the ones that are saying this is a rip off of Obsidian. Now. I LOVE Jennifer Armentrout. We all know it because I mention it every time I get to review one of her books or a book that's like hers. Have you noted how I have not yet mentioned how much I love her and how much this reminds me of her Lux books? That would be because it doesn't. It's entirely different. I mean yeah there's aliens pretending to be humans and everything but unlike in Lux Lexi knows about her powers she just doesn't know what she is. It's entirely different. 

Anyways, the plot was fairly complex, the narrative was entertaining and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Lexi because she does undergo some development over the course of the book, not much, but some, like I don't think she's going to be as gullible/easy to pull the wool over her eyes because so many people have lied she's got wise to it and everything. 

The Zeuorian Awakening (sorry, I'd have mentioned the actual title more but it's really tricky to spell because my Mac keeps changing it without me realising and then I'm like "whaaaat") is a fast paced, paranormal story that will grab you and keep you in the throes of suspense and intrigue until you finish the book. You'll actually be racing to finish it and then be totally gutted it's over because of how much you liked the world and characters and how much there still is to find out. There's a decent dose of romance, but there's also lots to that plot that isn't romance so it has something for everyone. I for one am super excited for the next books and to see what happens. 

Disclaimer

Disclaimer
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!

Finding a mysterious novel at her bedside plunges documentary filmmaker Catherine Ravenscroft into a living nightmare. Though ostensibly fiction, The Perfect Stranger recreates in vivid, unmistakable detail the terrible day Catherine became hostage to a dark secret, a secret that only one other person knew--and that person is dead.

Now that the past is catching up with her, Catherine’s world is falling apart. Her only hope is to confront what really happened on that awful day even if the shocking truth might destroy her. 

So, I've gone with the standard synopsis with this one, because if I try to do my own I will give too much away and ruin the book before you guys have even started! We all know I fail at doing my own synopsis half the time! 

I can't even with this book, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the book slowly sucks you in until you realise it's been hours and you're glued to the book and your stomachs growling because you lost track of time lost in the pages of the book. It's incredibly compelling and dark and emotional. 

We get alternate POV's and you're not entirely sure what happened, what the big secret it is, but as you read it becomes apparent there's two versions of the story here, throughout the course of the book your perspective and view of the characters changes, and your feelings towards the characters changes. I went from feeling sorry for Catherine, to hating her, then to kind of understanding but still disliking her to fully feeling so much sympathy for her and rage at Stephen. Although I will admit, I never actually liked Stephen, I thought he was dodgy from the beginning and then I understood his grief but he was kind of going the wrong way about it. So yeah. It's emotional as hell! 

The two POV's where done very well, with Stephen becoming more and more sinister as the book goes on, and Catherine losing control very swiftly over her life, while I felt for Catherine she was kind of kept at a distance from the reader, most likely done to keep you guessing about what really happened, did she really have an affair? And so on. 

This might be a bit weird, but the book had a kind of nostalgic feel to it, in the sense that memories of going on holiday, and whining for any inflatable water device....seats...lilo's....dinghies, and inevitably being denied and sitting there longingly staring at all the kids with them, all came flooding back. I never was allowed a dinghy, now that I think about it, and at the end of every holiday they would always be left behind for others to use. 

The book is plainly written, and it makes it so easy to read, and allow the book to suck you in and take you along for the ride. The suspense practically oozes off the page, and you're unsure who to believe, who's story is correct, while trying to work out your own theories and then never coming close. 

There is an uncomfortable scene, that should probably have a warning about for people who would be triggered by it, but I thought it could have gone very wrong, but was written quite well, with respect and care. The book will definitely stay with you after you've finished reading. I mean I couldn't believe the husband and his behaviour. Like seriously? The book is kind of haunting really. 

Disclaimer is a compelling read, atmospheric and will suck you in to the story bit by bit until you've finished the book, and will haunt you for a while after! 

Wolf Winter

Wolf Winter
Rating: 4/5
Buy or Borrow: Buy
Source: Copy courtesy of the publisher!

There are six homesteads on Blackåsen Mountain.

A day's journey away lies the empty town. It comes to life just once, in winter, when the Church summons her people through the snows. Then, even the oldest enemies will gather.

But now it is summer, and new settlers are come.

It is their two young daughters who find the dead man, not half an hour's walk from their cottage.

The father is away. And whether stubborn, or stupid, or scared for her girls, the mother will not let it rest.

To the wife who is not concerned when her husband does not come home for three days; to the man who laughs when he hears his brother is dead; to the priest who doesn't care; she asks and asks her questions, digging at the secrets of the mountain.

They say a wolf made those wounds. But what wild animal cuts a body so clean? 

Okay so GoodReads synopsis to retain the air of mystery because if I do my own synopsis it's going to be like "gush gush gush, actual information, gush gush, gives away entire plot accidentally, gush gush guussh" and no-one wants that! It's not often I get surprise book post, but man I could hug Hodder for sending me this. 

I LOVED this. As soon as you start reading, you're intrigued, you're drawn in and as you carry on reading you fall deeper and deeper in to the story until it's been hours and you've finished it and you have no idea what the time is or any sense of anything but the book. I was so involved in the story, I was pretty much useless to anyone trying to talk to me! 

The world engulfs you, so it's kind of perfect to read curled up by the fire with a blanket because there's lots of snow and you feel the snow, the atmosphere starts to effect you and you feel the suspense, the danger, you feel the mood of the book, you can feel how haunting and dark it is. Said darkness, not to mention the cold, are practically physically real while you read. It's so incredibly vivid, I feel like I hopped in the Tardis and spent my afternoon in Swedish Lapland circa 1717. It's truly a book you can get lost in. 

The world building is simply breath-taking, the book is so beautifully written and described with such beautiful turns of phrase, the book just makes you keep wanting more, you keep wanting to read the beautiful words on the page, stay in the world, and the ending....you kind of decide for yourself, but I'm just desperate to be lazy and have another book! 

I love history, so I loved this, I loved the setting, I loved reading about it, seeing the way of life of the time, what was normal back in that time period and the superstitions, tales, and so on. I seriously can't get enough of it and I'm currently obsessed with finding out more about this time and this particular area of the world. 

The characters are beautifully created, they where each strong, you connected to each of them, they where so full of depth, it was a strong cast! It was fascinating to read the dynamics of the community, the relationships, the people of the time. We have three groups in this book, the Lapps aka natives, the settlers our homestead occupiers, and the people who live in town. We mostly see the settlers world, as it where, because Maija and her daughter are the main protagonists, and the murder was in their territory, but you get a good look at all three groups, a feel for them, and an understanding of how they all connect together, and to see how they all trust each other when someone comes prying in to things. 

I had no idea what was going to happen next, where the story was going, who the culprit was, I was pretty much along for the ride, going with whatever conclusion the character had....convincing myself it was right because of certain evidence, then, like the character, being wrong. I love books that are unpredictable! Nordic Noir Thriller indeed GoodReads! The plot was rich and intricate and was about so much more than a murder. Survival is a huge them of the book, you may have already guessed this from the title, but ya know...there's a seriously hardcore winter going on. 

Wolf Winter should be read by YOU, yes you, because it is utterly, incredibly atmospheric, beautifully written and imagined, utterly breathtaking, and truly fascinating as well as intriguing. Full of suspense, it combines two genres, historical and thriller, smoothly and with a smidgen of darkness making it original. Not to mention the unique and vivid setting!