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ladyazulina's reviews
30 reviews
Nothing Between Us by Manda Mazanec
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was part of this fabulous book’s ARC team and am writing a review because I loved it. A new addition to my comfort reading shelf.
The title line appears one time in the book and then it seems to appear again but it’s different. And I loved it. I also loved a lot of the story details, if not all.
Meera gave me clumsy girl vibes at the start, but she’s just an unlucky woman and with that I can relate. Her past is heavy and hasn’t finished with her yet, and though I haven’t experienced many of her circumstances, it wasn’t an obstacle to relate with her (finally, because it’s a common struggle with female protagonists).
Gabe… sighs. It was love at first encounter. And it was hard not to fall in love again each time he reappeared in the scene. And his POVs?! To die for. He can try to lie to himself (and Meera too, given the case), but, as the cover says, one only can do it for so long.
I love, I love, I love soulmate hints. Just special conditions like this one for second opportunities. I haven’t dived enough, but it’s just so much enjoyable when he’s a single dad (and the daughter is so lovely). When the kid gives their permission and consent because the person the parent wants is just so right, for the kid, for the parent, for both of them, it’s just so… beautiful and fulfilling. When he’s so stubborn to admit it, but has obviously fallen hard, and is showing it so much for everyone but is so blind to notice it themselves. I will always love a bit more communication, but one can only do so much, and we are never perfect as humans. Oh! Of course, the protective man, and not just because he’s such a good boy, but because he just doesn’t want you to touch her. Even when she’s fighting for her independence, she accepts that the feeling he gives her is so empowering.
And there’s so much forgiving and proper healing that I haven’t seen before! You can be a bad person and not deserve it, but they will do everything in their power to make you go on the right path. Not only that, they will try to help everyone they can to not pass through what they lived through. There’s no reason to not help each other. We’re all here trying to do the best we can and we don’t have to do it alone, we can do better and reach farther with help.
This book gives so many pieces… I find courage, peace, support, and healing. It was so empowering and inspiring. So endearing and dreamy. A bit frustrating, because c’mon! But happy. Happy and calm and satisfying. It’s so much more than just a romance. It’s fresh air.
The title line appears one time in the book and then it seems to appear again but it’s different. And I loved it. I also loved a lot of the story details, if not all.
Meera gave me clumsy girl vibes at the start, but she’s just an unlucky woman and with that I can relate. Her past is heavy and hasn’t finished with her yet, and though I haven’t experienced many of her circumstances, it wasn’t an obstacle to relate with her (finally, because it’s a common struggle with female protagonists).
Gabe… sighs. It was love at first encounter. And it was hard not to fall in love again each time he reappeared in the scene. And his POVs?! To die for. He can try to lie to himself (and Meera too, given the case), but, as the cover says, one only can do it for so long.
I love, I love, I love soulmate hints. Just special conditions like this one for second opportunities. I haven’t dived enough, but it’s just so much enjoyable when he’s a single dad (and the daughter is so lovely). When the kid gives their permission and consent because the person the parent wants is just so right, for the kid, for the parent, for both of them, it’s just so… beautiful and fulfilling. When he’s so stubborn to admit it, but has obviously fallen hard, and is showing it so much for everyone but is so blind to notice it themselves. I will always love a bit more communication, but one can only do so much, and we are never perfect as humans. Oh! Of course, the protective man, and not just because he’s such a good boy, but because he just doesn’t want you to touch her. Even when she’s fighting for her independence, she accepts that the feeling he gives her is so empowering.
And there’s so much forgiving and proper healing that I haven’t seen before! You can be a bad person and not deserve it, but they will do everything in their power to make you go on the right path. Not only that, they will try to help everyone they can to not pass through what they lived through. There’s no reason to not help each other. We’re all here trying to do the best we can and we don’t have to do it alone, we can do better and reach farther with help.
This book gives so many pieces… I find courage, peace, support, and healing. It was so empowering and inspiring. So endearing and dreamy. A bit frustrating, because c’mon! But happy. Happy and calm and satisfying. It’s so much more than just a romance. It’s fresh air.
Welcome to Potion Con by R.K. Ashwick
This was pretty short in comparison, but it was as good. My favorite character wasn’t around (?), but there was the same exact reason why I fell in love with the gang, Sherry, Banneker and Grim, though Grim weren’t around. I mean, I knew a scene with something like that will be there and was waiting for it, all quiet and calm and giggly because I knew it was coming. And was so good. I loved it and treasure it dearly because it’s so good, it’s so great that I’m able to feel that love as if it were written for me.
Our potioneer is little here, in a moment from the past (that at least for me feels like a spoiler from the future), but I didn’t think- well, I knew he was kind of like that, but really didn’t expect him to be able to do what he did in a situation like that. Though all the necessary requirements for him to just do it were met, so wasn’t that much of a surprise. More like an expected delight.
How something so short can bring me so much joy, how? I should have read it sooner, but it was there just when I needed it. And it’s free, what are you waiting to give it a shot?
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I knew, the moment I was reading A Rival Most Vial, that I will love whatever R.K. Ashwick writes about those characters. And so far it has been real, because you don’t have the slightest idea of how much time I passed reading on Tumblr a, what it was, a 60k words AU / Crossover with some pirates? And a story with criminals? And all the short stories she had lingering around, of them being college students and whatnot. And it was delightful, I was in paradise. Except for the fact that it was an obsessive reading and I left aside everything I should have been doing… heheh
This was pretty short in comparison, but it was as good. My favorite character wasn’t around (?), but there was the same exact reason why I fell in love with the gang, Sherry, Banneker and Grim, though Grim weren’t around. I mean, I knew a scene with something like that will be there and was waiting for it, all quiet and calm and giggly because I knew it was coming. And was so good. I loved it and treasure it dearly because it’s so good, it’s so great that I’m able to feel that love as if it were written for me.
Our potioneer is little here, in a moment from the past (that at least for me feels like a spoiler from the future), but I didn’t think- well, I knew he was kind of like that, but really didn’t expect him to be able to do what he did in a situation like that. Though all the necessary requirements for him to just do it were met, so wasn’t that much of a surprise. More like an expected delight.
Ah, oh. I also felt so delighted when an unexpected moment arrived, where I saw why my favorite character is so special. That exact situation play again in the future as to say to you “look why it didn’t work then” and, well, I’m happy about it.
How something so short can bring me so much joy, how? I should have read it sooner, but it was there just when I needed it. And it’s free, what are you waiting to give it a shot?
The Last Ever After by Soman Chainani
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is, the climax. And the end, too. Finally. Though it wasn’t a bad journey for me.
It has been a time since the moment I finished reading the book and the moment I’m writing the review, so it won’t be as fresh as it would have been then. But I kind of liked it. Kind of because it was pretty hurtful for a girl feeling identified with the lot of emotions shown there, especially Agatha’s. For when she thought she was right. And for when she noticed she was wrong. I felt like Sophie too, when she was desperately looking for someone that loved her. So it was painful.
But it also showed me that I was right to think that one of the things this story was teaching me was to be true to myself. They weren’t and that’s why everything happened (uhm, Tedros was truer to someone else than himself, but I liked that, he was soft and cute and open and loyal to the person he loved, trusting them a lot more than himself, and for that I forgive him). Also because they don’t communicate, I really don’t understand! You’re honest and open from the start and you save a lot of that. It was maddening, a bit, but that’s how that story is.
At least it had a happy ending for everyone, but the villain. Well, the Big Bad Villain and his league, because it has lots of villains and not all of them deserved bad. I like happy endings. Though honestly I didn’t expected the book to finish right were it did, thinking that it would show us some of what it talked a lot during the three journeys, but that’s okay. I can be content with it.
Even when my friend didn’t read it with me this time, she didn’t even start it at all.
It has been a time since the moment I finished reading the book and the moment I’m writing the review, so it won’t be as fresh as it would have been then. But I kind of liked it. Kind of because it was pretty hurtful for a girl feeling identified with the lot of emotions shown there, especially Agatha’s. For when she thought she was right. And for when she noticed she was wrong. I felt like Sophie too, when she was desperately looking for someone that loved her. So it was painful.
But it also showed me that I was right to think that one of the things this story was teaching me was to be true to myself. They weren’t and that’s why everything happened (uhm, Tedros was truer to someone else than himself, but I liked that, he was soft and cute and open and loyal to the person he loved, trusting them a lot more than himself, and for that I forgive him). Also because they don’t communicate, I really don’t understand! You’re honest and open from the start and you save a lot of that. It was maddening, a bit, but that’s how that story is.
At least it had a happy ending for everyone, but the villain. Well, the Big Bad Villain and his league, because it has lots of villains and not all of them deserved bad. I like happy endings. Though honestly I didn’t expected the book to finish right were it did, thinking that it would show us some of what it talked a lot during the three journeys, but that’s okay. I can be content with it.
Even when my friend didn’t read it with me this time, she didn’t even start it at all.
A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It doesn’t get better, it’s just getting worse.
The first book has an end, but they weren’t Happily Ever After. They needed more. And though I’m good with the idea of princesses –or just girls– not needing princes, what this book is about isn’t exactly what I was expecting.
How will be the world if there weren’t any prince—any resemblance of a prince at all? That I was expecting.
How will be the world if the princes were seen as-? Uhm… I think that will be a spoiler.
The point is that I was expecting what the title was hinting: a world without princes. And I think we had even more of them than before.
If there’s something those books are teaching me is that I better be true to myself, because even if the world is ending, I will find some sort of peace. I still think that a bit of communication for every part will have made all that rollercoaster smoother, but they’re stubborn people, each and every one of them. They all took the impulsive, rash decision, and everything went complex, harder than needed. And to what end?
Yeah, I’m taking it better, not looking at it too close nor looking for meanings, just reading, and I’m getting invested with the story. I feel like everything until now has been accumulated tension and is finally time for the climax. Is finally time for every piece to fall in place. I mean, not in this book, this book is the harder part of a hella, steep climb, where you’re exhausted and able to see the desired top. The next book is the climax, or at least that’s what I hope for. All this build-up tension is maddening.
Forked by Ruth Cardello
At first, I thought this was a joke. (And it is!) But the more time that passed after watching the reel, the more curious I was. I’m not gonna lie, I was all in just for the spice. I needed a good, and silly, moment after all the accumulated stress, and doing so with a fork isn’t the worst idea that has come to mind, if I can be honest. So I grabbed the book!
The author’s note totally got me and I welcomed the strange story with open arms. It was weird, silly, and short, which I appreciated. I have been in a reading slump for so long, it was hurting me, but this was a quick read and I had a great time and I believe that was the intention. Something silly to brighten an already dark day. I may even be good to read again!
Again, to not lie, I was mostly trying to not get frustrated because I wanted to reach one scene and one scene only, and it’s near the end. But on the way there I got to fall in love with the super soldier and get invested with his story. So here’s my thinking: the whole trilogy was just one book divided into three parts with different protagonists and the sort, but separated into three books to make it easier.
It worked on me.
I’m totally into reading the rest, especially if they’re as short. But if the last one is about that character… I dunno, I don’t feel as inclined for him. Just to end the story? Just to end the story.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I found this trilogy thanks to an Instagram reel and I feel so bad to not have saved it because now I would like to thank that person.
At first, I thought this was a joke. (And it is!) But the more time that passed after watching the reel, the more curious I was. I’m not gonna lie, I was all in just for the spice. I needed a good, and silly, moment after all the accumulated stress, and doing so with a fork isn’t the worst idea that has come to mind, if I can be honest. So I grabbed the book!
The author’s note totally got me and I welcomed the strange story with open arms. It was weird, silly, and short, which I appreciated. I have been in a reading slump for so long, it was hurting me, but this was a quick read and I had a great time and I believe that was the intention. Something silly to brighten an already dark day. I may even be good to read again!
Again, to not lie, I was mostly trying to not get frustrated because I wanted to reach one scene and one scene only, and it’s near the end. But on the way there I got to fall in love with the super soldier and get invested with his story. So here’s my thinking: the whole trilogy was just one book divided into three parts with different protagonists and the sort, but separated into three books to make it easier.
It worked on me.
I’m totally into reading the rest, especially if they’re as short. But if the last one is about that character… I dunno, I don’t feel as inclined for him. Just to end the story? Just to end the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Sistah Samurai: A Champloo Novella by Tatiana Obey
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Meeting Tatiana was one of the brightest things that the Universe could have done for me. After her duology, I knew I would want to read anything she writes. After coming into contact with her, I knew I would want to keep in touch for as long as possible. Even when we both knew that I wouldn't be the best reader for her new novella, she let me be part of her ARC team. And if I wasn't grateful enough then, I am now.
Sistah Samurai could be the story that changes your life.
It’s also exactly what Tatiana says it is: a love letter for her people. Yeah, it’s destined for a certain audience, and though I am not part of it, I felt the love and the embrace as if I were. So that’s not an obstacle for you to not get it. Everyone should have and everyone should read Sistah Samurai, only to feel and experience that kind of feeling.
It has a lot, and I’m not kidding when I say it. A LOT. The words are telling you a story while the background is weaving another, though both of them are related and intertwined and it would be hard to tell them apart. I loved it. I loved both, I loved the hundreds of thousands of different stories that are flowing together in this short novella.
I loved the protagonist and how she was annoyed at everything and everyone but was unable to ignore them anyway. I loved how I knew some things were about to happen and how uncertain things slapped me in the face. I had a smile even in the saddest moments and my heart was always filled with the love that was coursing through every word. I love how I couldn’t foresee things and how those things came hugging me from the back.
What I didn’t love, though, was that it finished when I wanted to continue knowing and reading more, and this is a weird part because that’s also something I love. How it got me to want to know more and read more even when the story was finished. And like I told Tatiana when I reached her to talk about this story, I also love the sense of reality that kind of ending gave me, because that’s usually how real life feels sometimes, when you don’t get to know what happens next, when that’s the end you get about another person. It grounded me. (But she knows I’m totally up if and when she wants to dive into this universe again.)
This is a story about love and that was the only emotion I felt while reading, so I recommend you that, if you are trying and looking for a story like this, you read this one.
Sistah Samurai could be the story that changes your life.
It’s also exactly what Tatiana says it is: a love letter for her people. Yeah, it’s destined for a certain audience, and though I am not part of it, I felt the love and the embrace as if I were. So that’s not an obstacle for you to not get it. Everyone should have and everyone should read Sistah Samurai, only to feel and experience that kind of feeling.
It has a lot, and I’m not kidding when I say it. A LOT. The words are telling you a story while the background is weaving another, though both of them are related and intertwined and it would be hard to tell them apart. I loved it. I loved both, I loved the hundreds of thousands of different stories that are flowing together in this short novella.
I loved the protagonist and how she was annoyed at everything and everyone but was unable to ignore them anyway. I loved how I knew some things were about to happen and how uncertain things slapped me in the face. I had a smile even in the saddest moments and my heart was always filled with the love that was coursing through every word. I love how I couldn’t foresee things and how those things came hugging me from the back.
What I didn’t love, though, was that it finished when I wanted to continue knowing and reading more, and this is a weird part because that’s also something I love. How it got me to want to know more and read more even when the story was finished. And like I told Tatiana when I reached her to talk about this story, I also love the sense of reality that kind of ending gave me, because that’s usually how real life feels sometimes, when you don’t get to know what happens next, when that’s the end you get about another person. It grounded me. (But she knows I’m totally up if and when she wants to dive into this universe again.)
This is a story about love and that was the only emotion I felt while reading, so I recommend you that, if you are trying and looking for a story like this, you read this one.
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Don't take it too seriously and you will not suffer much. Before I started reading, I did something I don't do often: I read other reviews, and thought they were kind of contradictory with people loving it and a lot of people that didn't, but it also helped me to do exactly that: not take this story too close to heart.
It helped me to just read something without any other purpose than to read. It's awful and ridiculous and incredibly weird in a lot of parts, but I let the weirdness be and just read.
This was a journey I made with my best friend, and to me, it was easy to connect with Agatha, we were... similar in some kind of ways. My best friend was Sophie, so we crashed into a lot of arguments about what this is fair, what this is unfair, what this shouldn't be that way, before I reached the enlightenment view of just don't do it. We weren't Sophie and Agatha, though being on opposite sides was sort of fun. I don't see myself as Good, but I will not survive in the School of Evil. She's not pure Evil, but she will love to attend the School of Good.
Well, it can be annoying, and have no sense, and have sense, and follow no kind of physics law, and grow overly depicting in the wrong things and bizarre for a lot of parts, but I suppose that its charm. It's outside of the usual kind of fairy tales, so if you don't want anything going weird, then save it and read something else. But I believe you should be the one doing your call, try it yourself. You can leave the journey at any point anyway.
It helped me to just read something without any other purpose than to read. It's awful and ridiculous and incredibly weird in a lot of parts, but I let the weirdness be and just read.
This was a journey I made with my best friend, and to me, it was easy to connect with Agatha, we were... similar in some kind of ways. My best friend was Sophie, so we crashed into a lot of arguments about what this is fair, what this is unfair, what this shouldn't be that way, before I reached the enlightenment view of just don't do it. We weren't Sophie and Agatha, though being on opposite sides was sort of fun. I don't see myself as Good, but I will not survive in the School of Evil. She's not pure Evil, but she will love to attend the School of Good.
Well, it can be annoying, and have no sense, and have sense, and follow no kind of physics law, and grow overly depicting in the wrong things and bizarre for a lot of parts, but I suppose that its charm. It's outside of the usual kind of fairy tales, so if you don't want anything going weird, then save it and read something else. But I believe you should be the one doing your call, try it yourself. You can leave the journey at any point anyway.
A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I'm writing this review because I had the luck to be part of this book's ARC team and I loved it and need to share this love in a review format.
I already said the most important part: I loved it. Since I found out about the cover reveal on Tumblr, I felt drawn to it and I'm glad I didn't let my shyness stop me from signing up as an ARC. I was curious about how characters in the background of adventure D&D stories can make their own, and what they would be about. This was a great example to satisfy my curiosity and give me the spark to look for more of this kind. There's no reason to lie, I love calm and quiet, cozy, love stories... though the calm and quiet part is pretty relative...
Who knew wand and potion makers can have that much fun? I'm not saying they exactly had fun, it wasn't fun for them, but even for their undisturbed kind of lives, they had maybe too much action and drama for a lifetime. At least that was what I thought. For not adventurers kind of people, they're also full of adventures. And it's satisfying. We don't always have to venture to the woods and slay dragons (please, do not slay dragons, dragons are friends!) to have a fulfilling, enriching life.
And what a potion maker needs to spice up their almost boring and not exactly fulfilling and enriching life more than another potion maker opening a potion shop right in front of their own? It's war, baby. And people don't always think this through, but war, wanting it or not, always leads to love. And I'm here for all the love.
Goddess, this book broke me and healed me in ways I'm still unaware of. Because of the love. Here are so many kinds of love and each and every one of them touched me differently. But don't let me forget to tell you, this annoying potion maker didn't want any kind of love.
I think I have said enough already. Why you don't dive into the Scar and meet these amazing people? At first, I thought I wasn't going to love them, but on the journey, all my thoughts changed. That's what usually happens when you pass enough time, everything you thought about tends to change. Well... I'm glad. This is one of my favorite books so far.
I already said the most important part: I loved it. Since I found out about the cover reveal on Tumblr, I felt drawn to it and I'm glad I didn't let my shyness stop me from signing up as an ARC. I was curious about how characters in the background of adventure D&D stories can make their own, and what they would be about. This was a great example to satisfy my curiosity and give me the spark to look for more of this kind. There's no reason to lie, I love calm and quiet, cozy, love stories... though the calm and quiet part is pretty relative...
Who knew wand and potion makers can have that much fun? I'm not saying they exactly had fun, it wasn't fun for them, but even for their undisturbed kind of lives, they had maybe too much action and drama for a lifetime. At least that was what I thought. For not adventurers kind of people, they're also full of adventures. And it's satisfying. We don't always have to venture to the woods and slay dragons (please, do not slay dragons, dragons are friends!) to have a fulfilling, enriching life.
And what a potion maker needs to spice up their almost boring and not exactly fulfilling and enriching life more than another potion maker opening a potion shop right in front of their own? It's war, baby. And people don't always think this through, but war, wanting it or not, always leads to love. And I'm here for all the love.
Goddess, this book broke me and healed me in ways I'm still unaware of. Because of the love. Here are so many kinds of love and each and every one of them touched me differently. But don't let me forget to tell you, this annoying potion maker didn't want any kind of love.
I think I have said enough already. Why you don't dive into the Scar and meet these amazing people? At first, I thought I wasn't going to love them, but on the journey, all my thoughts changed. That's what usually happens when you pass enough time, everything you thought about tends to change. Well... I'm glad. This is one of my favorite books so far.
Upon a Waking Dream by J.S. Bailey
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was lucky, I won a giveaway on StoryGraph and received this book in my inbox and, well, I said to myself that I had to read it before its release date, but you’re reading this review because I wanted to write it.
You should know by now that this is a collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories, and this is what I have to say about each one of them:
The first was unbelievable… The nerve of the people- or maybe is the hypocrisy? It’s just… You still find this kind of person anywhere. And I liked how the mind can expand due to knowledge, but… Agh, I say that it was karma. I can’t say anything more without spoiling.
The second was… infuriating. Yeah. The protagonist had the thing that wanted most and was unhappy! Does it surprise me? No! People never are happy when they have what they want and seeing this happening when they were having a pretty beautiful outcome brought out the worst in me. I don’t remember feeling that annoyed 😂 I find funny how mad I felt with this. If it hadn’t had a happy ending, I wouldn’t find it that funny…
The third was… a fresh breeze. While reading, I had the same conclusion the author shares in her notes at the end and I had the “AHA! I knew it!” moment. Though what happens in the story is a bit very much intense. I think that has the most action of all the stories. But I loved it. What if…?
I still feel bad for the luck of the dudes on the fourth one, I wanted them –or at least one of them– to go on with their lives and do all the things they wanted to, but… I think this was the story that grounded me the most because… no matter how dumbfounded you are with the occurrences, that’s life… And I will not deepen more on this because I will sadden myself and no thank you.
The fifth one was… the poor guy. What would your life be like if you were living like that? For no good reason on top of that. I don’t know, it seems unlikely (to be able to live) for me, but he’s doing a great job. Goddess bless his reflex sometimes.
In the sixth, I saw so much stubbornness and boldness that I almost wasn’t able to believe it! It was ridiculous! Well, at least to me. This story helped me to remember the length the human being goes to when we’re mentally set on things… There’s nothing that can change our minds, uh?
I share the author’s opinion (on her notes) about the seventh one. I don’t understand, it doesn’t make sense. But what is worse is that… well, this story moved things inside me and wasn’t really positive. I was repulsed by how things were there and I will be happy if I’m able to forget it someday.
Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little? I did! His name was Leo, short of I-no-longer-remember-what-was-his-name. But this eighth story is about them and what could happen if they [Redacted] and [Redacted]… Yeah, right, no spoiler 😂
I don’t want to know what could happen if each and every one of us were right about what gives luck and what does not, even- no, especially if we contradict each other. I think something very close to the ninth story. I understand the lady's thought, but I wanted to know!
The tenth story goes around an object I didn’t know I needed until I found it there! And I LOVED its use. It was like… it can bring two people that are very far away, pretty close… And I really liked it.
The eleventh one was bittersweet. If you don’t think TOO much about it, you probably will like it. I liked it… until I get too drawn to the depths of it and I start feeling bad. But it’s a great story, just be a bit cautious, your mental health will appreciate it.
I’m finishing now, I swear. I found the last one sad in a nostalgic way, but it was a beautiful story nonetheless. I can say a lot of things about that one, but then you probably wouldn’t find the beauty of it on your own way, so let’s leave it til here ^^
It was a journey I loved, upon a waking dream.
You should know by now that this is a collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories, and this is what I have to say about each one of them:
The first was unbelievable… The nerve of the people- or maybe is the hypocrisy? It’s just… You still find this kind of person anywhere. And I liked how the mind can expand due to knowledge, but… Agh, I say that it was karma. I can’t say anything more without spoiling.
The second was… infuriating. Yeah. The protagonist had the thing that wanted most and was unhappy! Does it surprise me? No! People never are happy when they have what they want and seeing this happening when they were having a pretty beautiful outcome brought out the worst in me. I don’t remember feeling that annoyed 😂 I find funny how mad I felt with this. If it hadn’t had a happy ending, I wouldn’t find it that funny…
The third was… a fresh breeze. While reading, I had the same conclusion the author shares in her notes at the end and I had the “AHA! I knew it!” moment. Though what happens in the story is a bit very much intense. I think that has the most action of all the stories. But I loved it. What if…?
I still feel bad for the luck of the dudes on the fourth one, I wanted them –or at least one of them– to go on with their lives and do all the things they wanted to, but… I think this was the story that grounded me the most because… no matter how dumbfounded you are with the occurrences, that’s life… And I will not deepen more on this because I will sadden myself and no thank you.
The fifth one was… the poor guy. What would your life be like if you were living like that? For no good reason on top of that. I don’t know, it seems unlikely (to be able to live) for me, but he’s doing a great job. Goddess bless his reflex sometimes.
In the sixth, I saw so much stubbornness and boldness that I almost wasn’t able to believe it! It was ridiculous! Well, at least to me. This story helped me to remember the length the human being goes to when we’re mentally set on things… There’s nothing that can change our minds, uh?
I share the author’s opinion (on her notes) about the seventh one. I don’t understand, it doesn’t make sense. But what is worse is that… well, this story moved things inside me and wasn’t really positive. I was repulsed by how things were there and I will be happy if I’m able to forget it someday.
Did you have an imaginary friend when you were little? I did! His name was Leo, short of I-no-longer-remember-what-was-his-name. But this eighth story is about them and what could happen if they [Redacted] and [Redacted]… Yeah, right, no spoiler 😂
I don’t want to know what could happen if each and every one of us were right about what gives luck and what does not, even- no, especially if we contradict each other. I think something very close to the ninth story. I understand the lady's thought, but I wanted to know!
The tenth story goes around an object I didn’t know I needed until I found it there! And I LOVED its use. It was like… it can bring two people that are very far away, pretty close… And I really liked it.
The eleventh one was bittersweet. If you don’t think TOO much about it, you probably will like it. I liked it… until I get too drawn to the depths of it and I start feeling bad. But it’s a great story, just be a bit cautious, your mental health will appreciate it.
I’m finishing now, I swear. I found the last one sad in a nostalgic way, but it was a beautiful story nonetheless. I can say a lot of things about that one, but then you probably wouldn’t find the beauty of it on your own way, so let’s leave it til here ^^
It was a journey I loved, upon a waking dream.
Crossing the Line by Heather Garvin
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I think I’ve been pretty lucky, getting to be part of the ARC teams of amazing writers. Heather Garvin is another of those and since the first moment I crossed with her book, I knew I would have an exceptional time. I just didn’t know how great it would be. So for that I’m doing a review now in exchange.
This is a book I will not only have in my favorite shelf but in the one of my comfort readings too. But it is that I’m weak for men like Aiden Lewis, Claire Ackerman is a lucky girl. They have a long journey, being this a story about second chances. It made me hopeful about second chances. Not all of them are bad and not because they’re a second is doomed. Well, the conditions are always important for the outcome, and at least to me, they had exceptional conditions.
It doesn’t even seem romantic, very fateful and coincidental, but not strictly romantic. It felt like an adventure, and each step an opportunity of now or never (as all opportunities really are). They did go through almost all the steps consecutively, and I was surprised at how willing they (he in special) were to talk about things. If you read the book, you will say I’m lying, I know, but I said they were willing, and they were. They really tried to do so. Because, well, misunderstandings happen, too often, and in an equally stupid way; in that we had an experience very close to reality, so close it hurts. That’s why communication is key and we not only have to be willing and try, but really make it happen to avoid outcomes like those.
Even with all that they both made me go through, I love them. I’m sorry I have favorites, but it is that Aiden Lewis… sigh. He doesn’t seem like it, but he’s worthy, especially if he’s with the love of his life (because I don’t steal other people’s men, that’s low, no matter they’re all fictional -cry-). It’s not only a figurative journey, this book. If you board this train, I’m warning you will go through all the emotions you can feel paired with love, and not only the good ones. The positive part about it is that that’s the way we grow.
This is a book I will not only have in my favorite shelf but in the one of my comfort readings too. But it is that I’m weak for men like Aiden Lewis, Claire Ackerman is a lucky girl. They have a long journey, being this a story about second chances. It made me hopeful about second chances. Not all of them are bad and not because they’re a second is doomed. Well, the conditions are always important for the outcome, and at least to me, they had exceptional conditions.
It doesn’t even seem romantic, very fateful and coincidental, but not strictly romantic. It felt like an adventure, and each step an opportunity of now or never (as all opportunities really are). They did go through almost all the steps consecutively, and I was surprised at how willing they (he in special) were to talk about things. If you read the book, you will say I’m lying, I know, but I said they were willing, and they were. They really tried to do so. Because, well, misunderstandings happen, too often, and in an equally stupid way; in that we had an experience very close to reality, so close it hurts. That’s why communication is key and we not only have to be willing and try, but really make it happen to avoid outcomes like those.
Even with all that they both made me go through, I love them. I’m sorry I have favorites, but it is that Aiden Lewis… sigh. He doesn’t seem like it, but he’s worthy, especially if he’s with the love of his life (because I don’t steal other people’s men, that’s low, no matter they’re all fictional -cry-). It’s not only a figurative journey, this book. If you board this train, I’m warning you will go through all the emotions you can feel paired with love, and not only the good ones. The positive part about it is that that’s the way we grow.