The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe Published by Voice (5.22.2009)
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Audiobook, 371 pages
Length: 12 hours, 44 minutes
Narrator: Katherine Kellgren
Source: Library
Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she can't refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest--to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.
As the pieces of Deliverance's harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past then she could have ever imagined.
My thoughts
I was leery about picking this one up because it was Historical, but my girl Kayla (@rheya_reads on Insta) picked it for me last year for the 12 recs challenge (12 friends pick 12 books for you to read). I’m so sorry Kayla, I let you down!! I was really hoping to enjoy it, because it was a witchy novel, but sadly I just didn’t. The concept and the way the story was told were both really cool, though! I liked that it switched back and forth and that we got little pieces of each story in a manner that slowly put the puzzle together.
Unfortunately, that was where my enjoyment ended. I didn’t care about any of the characters, least of all the main character (who I actually quite disliked); which means I didn’t care about the romance either. The plot moved pretty slow other than a few interesting tidbits thrown in here and there to keep you going. The writing, though, was what I really had a problem with. It was very sophomoric and grated on my nerves – it felt very young for the content. The narrator was pretty meh. It was also not memorable – I know there was a twist in there somewhere, and I can’t even remember what it was now. Oops.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 3/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 2/5
Originality: 3/5
Characters: 1/5
World-building: 2/5
Pace: 1/5
Feels: 0/5
Narration: 3/5
Cover: 2/5
Overall rating: 2/5
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson Series: The Reckoners #2
Published by Delacorte (1.6.2015)
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Format: Audiobook, 416 pages
Length: 12 hours, 5 minutes
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews
Source: I own it
Babylon Restored, formerly Manhattan, may give David answers. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David's willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David's heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic—Firefight. And he's willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.
My thoughts
Why are Brandon’s books so hit or miss for me?! I LOVED Skyward and Starsight. I’ve DNFed Way of Kings (which I tried again on and finished but didn’t really like much) and Mistborn. Steelheart was good, not great – the concept was amazing but I hated the main character. I had the same problem with this book. David is one of the most annoying MCs I’ve read in a while. He’s immature, his inner voice grates on my nerves (I can’t figure out if it’s Sanderson’s writing style or just David – his writing style isn’t annoying like that in Skyward, so I’m guessing it’s just that David sucks), and my biggest gripe: His metaphors. Good LORD. I was ready to rip my earbuds out and throw them across the room by the end of the book because I was just that fed up with his constant metaphors. I think Sanderson was going for cute and cheeky, but it was just fucking annoying. They never made ANY sense and were completely stupid. EVERY TIME. It made me want to bash my head into a wall. If I hadn’t hated the main character so much, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. At least it had good narration.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 3/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 2/5
World-building: 4/5
Pace: 3.5/5
Feels: 1/5
Narration: 3.5/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 3/5
Chasing Power by Sarah Beth Durst Published by Bloomsbury (10.14.2014)
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Format: Audiobook, 368 pages
Length: 11 hours, 32 minutes
Narrator: Suzy Jackson
Source: I own it
Lies, secrets, and magic — three things that define Kayla's life.
Sixteen-year-old Kayla plans to spend her summer hanging out on the beach in Santa Barbara and stealing whatever she wants, whenever she wants it. Born with the ability to move things with her mind — things like credit cards, diamond rings, and buttons on cash registers — she has become a master shoplifter. She steals to build up a safety net, enough money for her and her mom to be able to flee if her dad finds them again. Well, that, and the thrill of using her secret talents.
But her summer plans change when she's caught stealing by a boy named Daniel — a boy who needs her help and is willing to blackmail her to get it. Daniel has a talent of his own. He can teleport, appearing anywhere in the world in an instant, but he lies as easily as he travels. Together, they embark on a quest to find and steal an ancient incantation, written on three indestructible stones and hidden millennia ago, all to rescue Daniel's kidnapped mother. But Kayla has no idea that this rescue mission will lead back to her own family — and to betrayals that she may not be able to forgive... or survive.
My thoughts
My feelings for this one were very hit and miss. On one hand, the concept was cool and I liked the heist feel it had going for it. The narration was decent, too. On the other hand, the main character was quite annoying and the writing style was pretty sophomoric. I was also underwhelmed by the ending. And I’m going to be honest, I don’t really remember much of this book because it didn’t stick with me at all. It wasn’t bad, it was interesting enough to keep me going – but it wasn’t memorable.
Overall Assessment
Plot: 3/5
Premise: 4/5
Writing style: 2.5/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Characters: 1/5
World-building: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Feels: 0/5
Narration: 3.5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 2.5/5
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