Review: Westside Saints

Westside Saints by W.M. Akers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway.

Is resurrection possible? According to the Byrd family preachers it is. When Gilda Carr’s dead mother walks through the door, she goes on a mission to find out how it is possible.

The book is somewhat slow paced. The book’s twist comes from nowhere, really. It was not even on my radar. I was somewhat disappointed because it was almost like a (somewhat) plausible explanation was needed, so this particular explanation was picked out of a hat and put into the story. I had to read it twice to make sure I read it correctly. Once I got over that disappointment and kept reading, I was pleasantly surprised with how well it was weaved into the story.

I have not read book 1 of this series, but I am putting on my TBR list. There are references to the previous book, but this can be read as a standalone without being confused.

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Review: The City of Tears

The City of Tears by Kate Mosse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a advanced reader copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

The Burning Chambers series is a historical fiction series based on the Wars of Religion in France and Amsterdam. The series is supposed to span three centuries. So far, only the prologues have taken place in the 1800s. Book 1, The Burning Chambers covers a ten-year period 1562 – 1572. Book 2 picks up where Book 1’s epilogue left off in 1572 beginning with the Royal wedding of Henry de Navarre and spans to 1594. While you could probably read this as a standalone book, I do not recommend it. You will need the character development and background of Book 1 to understand the references in Book 2.

This book was slow to start, but turned into an emotional roller coaster. The further along into the book, the more I read in a sitting. I think I read the last 60% in 2 sittings. While the story itself was decent, the prologues of both books are keeping me going in this series. There is a lot of mystery surrounding them and I cannot wait to see how the series will circle back.

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Review: Bright Shards

Bright Shards by Meg Pechenick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a rare instance where the second book is as good as if not better than the first book in the series. You are pulled into the story from the start. Each book so far has been a book that I think about long after a reading session (and now long after I finished the book). Going back to reality after this is so depressing. I hope book 3 comes out soon!

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Review: The Burning Chambers

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book at the same time that I was reading a non-fiction book about WW2.

From page 409:

Following the old Cathar trail, they rode south, passing other refugees on the road. Bedraggled columns of oxen and carts, traps loaded high with meagre possessions, Huguenots fleeing Catholic troops and neighbours who had once been friends.

This is a similar line from the non-fiction book I read only it was the Jews fleeing from the Austrians/Germans. While this book was a historical about the religious war between Protestants and Catholics in France, it would seem we are bound to repeat history only with different groups of people. I digress.

The book itself was great. It had quite a bit of mystery which I enjoyed. I have an ARC of book 2 waiting for me and I am looking forward to reading it.

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Review: The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz: A True Story of Family and Survival

The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz: A True Story of Family and Survival by Jeremy Dronfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

This book was very educational. While reading this I realized just how much teachings about the Holocaust in school is sugar coated. Notwithstanding the the subject matter, this book was written in a way that made it an enjoyable read. Sometimes I find that non-fiction books read like a boring history text book, but this was good.

Each point of view change is denoted with a Hebrew phrase. I had to go to a translator to find out what the phrases meant. To assist anyone else wondering what the phrases are, I have included them below:

אבא – father
משפחה – family
בת – daughter
בן – son
אמא – mother
דוד – uncle
אח – brother
בן דוד – cousin
אחים – siblings
אם וכת – if so
אכ וכן – oh yes

** Please note: I do not speak, read, or write Hebrew. I am neither a linguist nor an expert in languages. If anything is inaccurate, please let me know. **

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2020 - A book with more than 20 letters in its title.

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Review: Ascending (The Vardeshi Saga)

Ascending (The Vardeshi Saga) by Meg Pechenick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a free copy of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

This book was a slow paced read, but by the end I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. I am glad the second book it already out because I need to find out! I really enjoyed this book.

I read this book as part of the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2020 - A book with a main character in their 20s.

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Review: The Girl with No Shadow

The Girl with No Shadow by Joanne Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I probably would have enjoyed this book a little more if I did not have to keep trying to figure out which point of view I was reading from constantly. One reviewer mentioned there was some kind of art at the beginning to indicat which point of view the particular chapter was in. Unfortunately, the Kindle edition I was reading did not have any such markers. I also found the story to be slow going. It started going faster once Roux entered.

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