In The Hollow of Fear, Charlotte Holmes is back again, this time to save her close friend Lord Ingram from a murder charge. This is the third book in the Lady Sherlock series, and it just keeps getting better. It picks up right where the second book left off, so if you are thinking of starting this series, I recommend reading the books in order for maximum understanding.

Everything I love in the first two books are back, including Holmes' intelligence, courage, spirit, and loyalty to those she loves. She consults under the assumed name of Sherlock Holmes, whom she pretends is her brother, working hard at a time when women are expected to stay at home and look pretty. It's so refreshing and heartwarming to read a series with a strong and capable female lead at a time when it seems like books are teeming with silly, paranoid, drug-abusing ones.

I also love the setting of the Victorian era. There's something about the way Thomas writes that captures the prudishness and formality of that time, making it come alive. Her dialog is witty and charming, and I often find myself reading passages multiple times just to soak it all in.

As far as the mystery, it looks like Thomas tried to simplify things down in this book, which is a good thing. I thought the mysteries in the first two books were overly complicated and convoluted, with so many characters to keep track of. There weren't many new characters in this one and they all fit in nicely with each other, so it was easy to remember who they all are. The conclusion wrapped everything up nicely, and even contained a few surprises.

Ah, now I can't wait for the next book! I hope Thomas writes fast and puts me out of my misery.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

In Origin, Edmond Kirsch is about to announce a discovery that will change the face of science and religion forever. Before he can do so, crazy things happen, and it's up to our professor Langdon to step in and make sure this discovery isn't lost forever. The premise is outstanding, though it immediately made me weary that the book can't possibly deliver on such high promises. And it doesn't really, though parts of it were entertaining enough.

For me, the part of the book that was most interesting and actually paid off was the mystery surrounding who is working against Kirsch to prevent his announcement of his discovery. Towards the end, I could guess what was going on, but it was still satisfying to read the full explanation.

Otherwise, the book was quite boring and slow. The problem is that Brown includes every little detail of everyone and everything, so that often we are treated to multi-page-long explanations of irrelevant art, buildings, religion, science, and history. Kirsch's discovery is a video, and it is described in its entirety in the book. Broken over two sections, it felt like 100 pages of the book went into covering it. I wish Brown had just summarized it, along with the rest of the irrelevant info he included. It easily could have cut the book down by half.

It also has short chapters which cut in and out between different characters. So just as you are getting into what is going on with one person, it immediately switches to a different person. It feels like I'm constantly trying to get into the book, with my attention pulled many different, sometimes pointless directions.

And as for Kirsch's discovery itself, just keep your expectations low. To be honest, I'm not sure why anyone would be upset by it, whether they are atheists or religious people. Or why anyone would want to hurt Kirsch or prevent him from making it public. After all the buildup, it's an understatement to say the discovery was completely lacking in epicness.

Maybe Dan Brown and I no longer mesh. His books are so well-received, yet whenever I read them in recent years, they feel so tedious to me. While there are parts of this book that are interesting, I can't help but compare how this book actually turned out to the promise of how amazing this story could have been, and it just fell short.

Readaroo Rating: 2 stars

I'm always up for a good, mind-bending story, something unique and complex I can just sink my teeth into. But even though I enjoyed The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I actually found it a bit too complicated, which is something I never thought I'd say.

Evelyn Hardcastle will die at 11pm. Aiden Bishop has eight chances to relive the same day, inhabiting a different body each time, to discover who kills her. Only then will he be set free. He has many enemies working against him and also some who claim to be his allies, but who can he really trust? Such is the premise of this story, and it is an intriguing one.

There was so much I liked about this book. The plot is unique, fresh, and interesting. The writing is believable and riveting, and you can tell the author went to great lengths to keep track of everything so that he can correctly weave it all together. And the mystery itself is multi-layered; the more we discover, the more we realize is still hidden beneath the surface.

Yet, this is a case where the story's complexity is a bit too much and works against itself. It was really hard to keep track of everyone and to understand all that is going on. You really have to pay a lot of attention while reading not to feel lost. This was especially so in the first half of the book while we are getting to know all the characters.

The complexity also made revealing the solution in the end confusing, since it wasn't straightforward. Rather, more and more are added to the mystery while bits of it are solved. Even now that I have finished the book, I'm still not sure I understand everything.

I also found the implications of a sequential but also simultaneous timeline to be hard to grasp. Aiden lived sequential days in different bodies while the different bodies (with Aiden in each of them) interacted with each other simultaneously. It raises the interesting question of whether Aiden has control over his actions or is he predestined to do them because he has already observed himself doing so (from a different body). Too bad the story never satisfactorily explores this fascinating dilemma.

Still, even though the book had a few things that fell short for me, I found it entertaining nonetheless. This looks to be Turton's first book, so I look forward to seeing what he comes up with in the future.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Muse of Nightmares is an appropriately grand sequel to Strange the Dreamer, though it doesn't quite touch the lofty magic of the first book. This one picks up right where the first book left off, and all my favorite characters are back. We are also introduced to some new ones, and we slowly learn how they tie into the world we already know.

Just like the first book, I had a hard time putting this one down. The world that Taylor creates is so real and detailed that it feels like you are immersed in it. Even though a lot of crazy things are happening, they're easy to believe. The plot continues to be unique and interesting, and it kept me glued to the book until the final pages.

Compared to the first book, I would say this one is a little less compelling. I really enjoyed the mysteries that surrounded Weep in the first book, with Lazlo slowly discovering and piecing them together. While there are some mysteries in this book, they just weren't as central to the plot, and as a result, were less captivating. One of the side stories involving Kora and Nova felt a little long and unnecessary, added to keep the drama and plot going rather than contribute to the overall world.

Another thing that aggravated me a little more in this book is how goody goody everyone is. No matter the instance, our main characters are always trying to turn bad people into good people. While that is sweet in little doses, when this happens again and again, even if their lives or their loved ones' lives are gravely threatened, it can get a little silly. But those are small grumbles.

I'm so happy I picked up this lovely series. The fairy tale of good versus evil, boy meets girl, boy and girl save each other is ubiquitous and timeless, but Taylor has put such an amazing and unique spin on it. Along the way she created a truly memorable universe. While this series has definitely ended, there are hints that more books could be written in this universe. If so, I can't wait to read them.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

Strange the Dreamer swept me away to a story and a world filled with magic and wonder.

Growing up an orphan, Lazlo Strange becomes a lowly librarian in the city of Zosma. But in his heart, he longs to discover the lost city of Weep. One day, an opportunity presents itself that opens the door to a world he had previously only dreamed of. Along the way, he'll uncover the mysteries of Weep, come face-to-face with magic, and find himself too.

This story reads like a fairy tale. The world that Laini Taylor creates is astonishing in detail and completeness. If feels so real, with mystical creatures, rich histories, and conquering heroes. It's easy to fall into this world and be swept away in its enchantments.

I thoroughly enjoyed its array of complex main characters. They are all likable, and I can relate to them and feel for them, even when they have to do bad things. The plot is so twisty and turny, leaving me at the edge of my seat. As the mysteries of Weep are slowly uncovered, there were surprises at every corner. And the ending left me stunned and amazed.

However, I did have a heck of a time getting into this book initially. I found the first 50 or so pages to be tortuously slow and confusing, and I often had to read sentences multiple times to understand them. Maybe it just took me a while to acclimate to Taylor's lyrical and descriptive prose. While her writing is beautiful, it isn't necessary to describe every building or hillside at depth. Or it could be that the initial pages tries to hint at all that is to come, and it's just too much when we haven't yet been properly introduced to the world. Whatever the cause, once I got over that initial big hump, the story grabbed me and didn't let go.

This is a duology, and I'm happy I don't have to say goodbye to this wonderous world just yet. I can't wait to see what magic the sequel holds.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

In Still Life, an old woman named Jane Neal is found murdered in the woods in the small town of Three Pines. In steps Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, who understands that to solve the murder, he has to get to know the hearts of the people of Three Pines.

The mystery itself is on the cozy side, without too much gruesomeness or suspense. But that's how I prefer my murder mysteries. I like to sit comfortably with a warm beverage and not feel like my heart is about to leap out of my chest for fear of what I will read next. Yet, for a cozy mystery, it's still plenty riveting and even has moments of humor. There are lots of twists and turns, and when the reveal happens in the end, it's clever and satisfying.

What I liked the most about this book is Gamache. There's a real sweetness in how he approaches the crime and how he treats the detectives helping him on the case. It's heartwarming that after seeing and solving so many murders, he hasn't become cynical or arrogant. And his group of detectives are competent and fun, with the exception of one annoying person who I hope isn't in any further books.

This is my first exposure to Armand Gamache, and I'm definitely going to keep going with this series. I want to read more of the kindness and heart of Gamache that has so drawn me in on this first book.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars