bookyloo

The problem with audio books is that it is far too easy to quantify how much time you have wasted on a story you didn't really enjoy. Ten hours, five minutes. Ten painful hours of wondering why I can't give up.

 

I had a lot of issues with this story; it was a struggle to finish. The only characters I could get invested in were Bennie, Sasha, and (because of Sasha) Ryan (was that even his name? I can't even make myself remember). There were so many characters, so many individual stories and perspectives. Yes, they were connected one way or another, but I feel there were just too many perspectives. It felt to me like Egan took snippets from several different books and threw them together into this one and created a way to tie them together for the heck of it. Each story being an interesting moment in the life of characters we will never truly be able to see go anywhere. The characters occasionally had closure to their story but only with a lot of their story left out.

 

I like to make a connection with the main characters but there are just too many to become fully invested. There were too many perspectives I didn't care to hear from and too many situations I didn't care about. Why should I get invested in a character who will be forgotten by the next chapter? I also could have done without the entire section from Jules' perspective. It was painful and not in a poignant way.

 

If I squint my brain, I can understand why some people really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately for me, I feel like William from Mallrats trying to see the sailboat in the Magic Eye picture. So many people see this novel's greatness and I'm just left staring and trying my best to understand why.

 

 

.

I'm going to try and do this without giving anything away...

 

 

One of the greatest aspects of Karina Halle's writing is that there is no fluff, no wasted words, no unnecessary scenes. If her stories were ever turned into movies there would be nothing to cut because everything is relevant, every scene important, and each story is efficient. I say efficient even though I know that sounds worse than it should. I appreciate characters that aren't naive about what's happening around them longer than most normal people would. I love that the scenes flow smoothly and never drag. Reading The Devil's Reprise was on par with watching a great movie and being surprised when it was over, not because it ended too early, but because it was so easy to get wrapped up in the story and not realize time continued to pass.

 

There are so many great lines in this story, as is typical with Halle. They aren't just corny zingers, but great gems:

 

"The rock and roll played somewhere in the background, a reminder of where I came from. But I didn't even know if it was where I was headed."

 

"I felt like Paris was the closet and we were two awkward teens thrust into a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven."

 

"I hoped to God she couldn't see me blushing like a f*cking girl because what I'd just said was borderline hokey."

 

There are just so many great moments. Every time I forgot that this story is more than just a love story I was swiftly reminded of the suspense element involved. The imagery of some of the scarier moments makes me shudder. It's awesome.

 

And let's not forget the return of Ginger Balls!

 

"And I really did not expect for Red Potato to be a motherf*cking redheaded notary public of the angelic kind."

 

Can anyone really get enough of ginger Elvis? I loved seeing him in a different setting, knowing what I know about him from the Experiment in Terror series. He fit right in with Jacob (man, I love that guy) and Dawn, forming the "ginger triefecta."

 

I find myself reviewing Halle's writing more than the actual story more often than not because she consistently offers so much to appreciate that I feel it deserves a lot of attention and praise. The characters she creates are believable. They are real and relatable without being over the top or perfect. Realistic trumps perfection and idealistic and I love that. My only negative comments are that I didn't get as wrapped up in the musical aspect as I did in The Devil's Metal and the epilogue was brief. With that being said, I think that is more my hang-up than a problem with the story. I had a ridiculously strong connection with the music in The Devil's Metal and I think I had overly-high and unfair expectations for the same with The Devil's Reprise. In regards to the epilogue, I wish I knew a little more about what we are told but it really is finished in a satisfying fashion. This story is suspenseful, terrifying, endearing, and 100-percent rock and roll.

I'm going to try and do this without giving anything away...

 

 

One of the greatest aspects of Karina Halle's writing is that there is no fluff, no wasted words, no unnecessary scenes. If her stories were ever turned into movies there would be nothing to cut because everything is relevant, every scene important, and each story is efficient. I say efficient even though I know that sounds worse than it should. I appreciate characters that aren't naive about what's happening around them longer than most normal people would. I love that the scenes flow smoothly and never drag. Reading The Devil's Reprise was on par with watching a great movie and being surprised when it was over, not because it ended too early, but because it was so easy to get wrapped up in the story and not realize time continued to pass.

 

There are so many great lines in this story, as is typical with Halle. They aren't just corny zingers, but great gems:

 

"The rock and roll played somewhere in the background, a reminder of where I came from. But I didn't even know if it was where I was headed."

 

"I felt like Paris was the closet and we were two awkward teens thrust into a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven."

 

"I hoped to God she couldn't see me blushing like a f*cking girl because what I'd just said was borderline hokey."

 

There are just so many great moments. Every time I forgot that this story is more than just a love story I was swiftly reminded of the suspense element involved. The imagery of some of the scarier moments makes me shudder. It's awesome.

 

And let's not forget the return of Ginger Balls!

 

"And I really did not expect for Red Potato to be a motherf*cking redheaded notary public of the angelic kind."

 

Can anyone really get enough of ginger Elvis? I loved seeing him in a different setting, knowing what I know about him from the Experiment in Terror series. He fit right in with Jacob (man, I love that guy) and Dawn, forming the "ginger triefecta."

 

I find myself reviewing Halle's writing more than the actual story more often than not because she consistently offers so much to appreciate that I feel it deserves a lot of attention and praise. The characters she creates are believable. They are real and relatable without being over the top or perfect. Realistic trumps perfection and idealistic and I love that. My only negative comments are that I didn't get as wrapped up in the musical aspect as I did in The Devil's Metal and the epilogue was brief. With that being said, I think that is more my hang-up than a problem with the story. I had a ridiculously strong connection with the music in The Devil's Metal and I think I had overly-high and unfair expectations for the same with The Devil's Reprise. In regards to the epilogue, I wish I knew a little more about what we are told but it really is finished in a satisfying fashion. This story is suspenseful, terrifying, endearing, and 100-percent rock and roll.

I am very pleased with how this series ended. Yes, I am one of Karina Halle's many superfans, but I like to think that only played a small role in my enjoyment. Halle has a knack for developing her characters to their full potential. Does that always take them where we want them to go? No, and it shouldn't. She takes the characters where they need to go and where they realistically should go. There are no big surprises here with the characters, perhaps just some broken fan hearts. I have to admit, however, that for a little while there I wasn't confident about which guy would get the girl. I thought I knew but I was not convinced anyone's fate was solidified until it was obvious. The series does lead us to an obvious conclusion (and in my opinion the right and realistic one) but there was this lingering feeling of, "my world could be flipped at any time." 

I know many people were upset that 

Ellie and Camden

(show spoiler)

 ended up together. Here's why I believe this was what needed to happen with as little rambling from me as possible. 

Javier is a bad, bad man. Incredibly sexy but very selfish to the core and depraved. He will never change and doesn't want to. That's okay, for him. I do believe he loved Ellie the best he could, but that was nothing compared to how much he loved power. 

Ellie is the "grey" that is frequently mentioned in the series. She has been in the black but mainly hovers in that in-between. She wants to be better. She wants to stay out of the black. She wants more for herself and from love. Doesn't everyone deserve to be redeemed? To be loved genuinely and fully? Yes, she has treated people badly in the past, even Camden, but she is not a lost cause. We have seen her evolve from someone who took what she could and called it love, called it enough, to someone who discovered what it truly meant to find that person who is your home, your "moon." 

I believed in his love without remembering what kind of love it was."

This says it all! This is why Javier and Ellie could never truly be, never last. Javier may have loved her in his own way but it was and always would be selfish and self-serving. I don't care how many shady and hurtful things Ellie has done in her past, no one deserves to be shorted when it comes to love.

I've read a lot of uproar about Camden deserving better than Ellie. Does he really? He hasn't exactly been a Boy Scout throughout the years. Is his depravity on the same level as Ellie's? Not before he met her, no (I know, that says something in itself, but still...). I can't believe I'm going to quote John Mayer here, but..."you can't make yourself stop dreaming who you're dreaming of if it's who you love then it's who you love."Camden loves Ellie with his whole self and Ellie reciprocates that. Sometimes it takes one person longer to realize what is already there. 

Ellie wants redemption and love and hope and all things good and Camden can give that to her better than anyone else. Ellie would never survive as Javier's "Queen." She would either self-destruct or Javier would do it for her. What is love if it isn't the foundation? What is love if your partner isn't your home?

(show spoiler)

This entire series has played out like a movie and it was quite the ride. I felt like the characters developed realistically and fully. I wasn't left thinking, "That just happened for no good reason." There was action, suspense, hot "romance," and closure. Karina Halle continues to deliver and I am forever a fan.

It felt nice to be back with Ben, Chon, and O. I found myself clinging to whatever I could of them because I know what I know from Savages. I also enjoyed revisiting Winslow's writing style and wit.

 

Sad Fact of Life--Smart people sometimes get stupid, but stupid people never get smart.
Never.
Ever.
"You can come down the revolutionary ladder," Chon has observed to Ben and O; "you can't climb up."

 

I enjoyed reading The Kings of Cool, even though I felt like I was reading Cliff Notes, in a way. I don't mean that negatively. In fact, I appreciate what this book does for the Savages story as a whole. Were there gaps in Savages that needed to be filled? No, but it is nice to have a stronger foundation to the story. This story wasn't as suspenseful and it didn't necessarily pull me in as much, but it did help me understand the characters better and increase their appeal (or lack-there-of, depending on their role).

 

The story was interesting, compelling, and exciting, just not on the same level as Savages. With that being said, it would have been a mistake for Winslow to try and match the intensity and magnitude of Savages. This book is truly a prequel, an accompaniment, not competition or an attempted repeat. I feel it was well-executed and well worth reading.

 

I only have two issues with this book. The first is that I feel like perhaps it was written more for the purpose of making the movie tie in better with Savages the novel. I have no way of knowing which came first. Perhaps The Kings of Cool came first and the movie was Winslow's way of bringing the two together in one place. What I do know is that this story did help redeem the movie a bit in my eyes.

 

My other issue, and it's a small one (not even much of an issue, but a wish), is that the start of Ben and O's romantic relationship is not discussed. We get to see Chon and O take the leap into something more, but how did the three of them take the bigger leap together? I am not interested in reading about it for the romantic aspect, but because it is clearly a big part of who they are and would show some interesting insight into the characters.

Overall, great follow-up and a nice revisit to some of my favorite antiheroes

This is my first encounter with Don Winslow and if his other novels are anything like Savages, I plan to devour them all. Winslow's writing style is definitely one that people are going to either love or hate. It is a style that has been attempted by many but rarely pulled off, often becoming annoying and distracting. Winslow manages to make it feel organic and I doubt this story would be so great if it had been written in a more standard format.

Ben and Chon are antiheroes to the core. Ben is a complacent super-cannabis creating genius with significant philanthropic urges that take him all over the world, while Chon is an unapologetic ex-SEAL with chronic "PTLOSD: Post-Traumatic Lack Of Stress Disorder" and an unexpected love for language. Chon is the Yang to Ben's Ying, if you will. They balance each other very nicely and in a believable fashion. I was never left wondering "Why are these guys so close?" This balance also explains how O can love them both simultaneously and so thoroughly.

I can understand how some readers feel like the jargon gets a little out-of-hand but I feel like it helps more than harms. No, people in suburbia don't consistently speak this way, but people in other places and situations do. I'm guessing Don Winslow has a better grasp on the culture he writes about than I do.

There are a lot of literary moments in this novel that made me stop and reflect. Moments that are often easy to gloss over and pretend aren't happening. Moments that I may be tempted to sweep under the rug. I liked that. I liked the fact that I was forced to think instead of simply roll through. It wasn't anything that forced me to get all philosophical, just briefly reflect and, inevitably, become more invested in the story.

"What ever happened to morality?" Ben sighed.
"Same thing that happened to CDs."
Replaced by a newer, faster, easier technology."

I cannot say I was able to relate to many of the aspects of this story (thankfully). That didn't matter. I found myself rooting for Ben, Chon, and O. How could I not? Their pasts heavily influenced who they are, just like everyone else. They do the best they can with the cards they were dealt. I wanted to like them despite our differences in opinion and I wanted good things for them. I was even pleased with the ending. It was believable, realistic, and stuck to who the characters truly are. They were never compromised for the reader's sake. They are who they are and that's why I loved them.

Claire DeWitt lives a life lacking shame. Or perhaps, it is just the opposite. Perhaps she just wants us to believe she is shameless in order to enable her to believe it herself. To care less about herself and those around her. The negative views others hold against her are her excuse for continuing the destructive behavior towards herself and those around her. Or not. I don't think Claire quite knows herself. Or she knows the truth all to well.

Silette wrote: "The detective who pretends not to see the truth is committing something much worse than a mortal sin, which can only ruin her own soul--she is committing all of us to lifetimes of pain. The truth is not just something we bring to light to amuse ourselves; the truth is the axis mundi, the dead center of the earth. When it is out of place nothing is right; everyone is in the wrong place; no light can penetrate. Happiness evades us and we spread pain and misery wherever we go. The detective above all others has an obligation to recognize the truth and stand by it; the detective above all, the detective above all."

Sara Gran has a knack for making her readers root for the bizarre, drug-addicted, toxic heap that is Claire DeWitt. She should not be a likable character. Somehow, Claire is selfish and selfless all at the same time (or at least back-to-back). She has bizarre methods in life and detection and somehow manages to consistently come out on top, even when the world around her falls apart.

Claire is brilliant and crazy and it all works so very well. I enjoy her process and her line of thought. I understand her drug use and consistent acts of self-destruction. I understand so much more about Claire DeWitt than I would have thought possible. I really felt for Claire and wanted so much for her throughout this story. There are so many moments in the book that are meant to be confusing and crazy. That's just Claire. There were a few times when I was a little too confused to give this five stars. It is very possible that it's just me and I may change my mind on a second read-through.

I really enjoy reading about Claire DeWitt. Her life is dark but not without hope. The stories are crazy and twisted and irresistible. The abundance of intertwining stories can often be obnoxious and boring in too many other stories, but it somehow worked here. Even when I was able to figure things out early on in the story I wanted to keep reading because in the world of Claire DeWitt, there's no telling what you really know.

I find myself wishing I could give this more than three stars but just can't bring myself to do it. Perhaps it's a case of "it's not you, it's me" and I'm just a different type of reader these days. Kathy Reichs always writes very clearly and concisely, always detailed, well-planned and executed. I don't mind that Tempe's personal life is so rarely the focus. In fact, I appreciate this series for the science and the procedural plots. I feel like Reichs never underestimates my intelligence. It's refreshing.

So, what is my problem? I feel like each book in the series follows an all-too similar outline. Tempe always gets buried or trapped somewhere dark. She always goes off-grid alone and gets hurt. The list goes on. The only thing missing from this installment that has so consistently occurred before is that Tempe wasn't kidnapped.

My other issue is that I wasn't feeling any suspense until the last few chapters. Nothing prior raised my pulse or made me want to peek ahead and find out how things were going to resolve. I missed that during the first 80-90% of the book and therefore had a hard time motivating myself to keep reading.

I liked the story and the writing (why can't more authors have so few typos and errors?!). I will definitely read the next installment but perhaps with less enthusiasm than I'd like.

I do not give 5-star reviews often. I'm even less likely to read a review over 3 stars in effort to avoid over-excited reader babble. With that being said, you should trust me on this one.

I think the quality of writing is as equally important and notable as the characters and story in this series. The story is captivating and edgy but would not be nearly as amazing coming from another author.

Karina Halle consistently writes stories that make me feel like I am watching a very well-made movie (a legitimately well-made movie, not some popular fluff ball of a movie). The amount of detail given is vibrant without being flashy. We learn just enough to feel like we are present in the story without feeling like details are being thrown at us just to fill a page or to make the author or character sound more insightful.

In regards to the story, whoa. Reading Shooting Scars was like watching a three hour movie and feeling like it only lasted one hour. I feel compelled to immediately start reading it again just because I liked the rush. The twists were just big enough, the conflicts battled just long enough, and the emotions poured out just enough to make us feel for every one at once. How is it so easy to love and despise all three main characters so much and all at once? And Gus...so many things I want to say about that storyline but can't without spoiling things. Team Gus, all the way!

So I've turned into one of those five-star babbling readers I often find myself glossing over. And I've done it without saying much of anything of worth. If I must filter myself and condense my thoughts like a grownup, I must say that Karina Halle is a phenomenal writer with the knack of telling (showing, really, if that makes sense) a story in a unique and captivating way. Her characters are flawed and no one is in denial over it or blindly excepting of it. The conflicts are believable and a far cry from anything in a flowery romance (this is a good thing). The reader is easily left conflicted on so many fronts (again, a good thing). Camden or Javier? Is Ellie redeemable or hopeless? Are any of them worthy of the love they crave from another?

Shooting Scars is intense, fluid, captivating, and very well-written. I definitely recommend this and the entire series (read On Every Street second! ). I am very thankful that Bold Tricks is being released so quickly after this one. One of the beauties of this series is that everyone is fair game. Something bad, or good, could happen to any one at any time. I have no idea who will come out on top or come out alive. It's an exciting time to be a reader.

1.5 stars

It is a very rare day when I cannot finish a book. Especially a book I purchased. It is also a rare day when I write a consistently negative review. With that being said, I could not finish this book despite having my stubborn self fighting to make it through.

I do not understand the glowing reviews for this book. This is my first by Kristen Ashley, and according to so many GR reviews, the professional editing for this is great. I was left wondering what the editor's qualifications are. I know I do not display spectacular grammar skills, but isn't my job to. The significant amount of run-on sentences is borderline offensive. All too often I found myself breaking down a marathoner and trying hard to figure out what I just read. I was not always successful.
I took issue with the schizophrenic tendencies of the two main characters, as well. I felt like half of the time they spoke and acted like who they really are. I generally enjoyed those personalities. The other half was more like either the author's voice or the "traditional romance novel" character voice. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Regardless, things did not feel consistent. I found myself wondering if I was going to encounter the young, naive Tab or the mature, wise Tab. I had the same problem with Shy.

Another major issue I had was with all of the time jumps. I understand the need for the jumps; I can even appreciate it. The problem lies in how it is executed and it is not executed well in this book. I wish I knew ahead of time how extensive the jumps were before I started because I would have started taking notes. It was hard to keep track of how old Tab and Shy were and how long since major events occurred without keeping a tally. I really do appreciate it when authors don't waste time on unnecessary events, but there is a smoother way to do it.

I tried very hard to finish. I don't set my standards high. I don't feel like I expect too much. I'm not looking for anything life-changing or prolific; I just want to enjoy the story. I didn't take offense to the language nor did I care that Shy was misogynistic as some reviews have labeled him. I really am easy to please and passive towards so many things. This book just tried my patience and tolerance too much on what are apparently hot buttons for me. I hate to quit before I finish, but I'm left not caring enough about what happens. I feel this even knowing that Lee Nightingale has yet to resurface. Perhaps I'll finish it another day.

Even better than the first. This time around, both main characters worked on their issues to a fair and respectable degree, which was nice to see. This installment didn't have as many cheesy/sappy parts as the first, which is saying a lot because the first didn't have a lot. The author seems to have a knack for writing real characters with real problems and lets them work them out like real people. I find it to be refreshing. Yes, the male lead is dominate, but he isn't overbearing and the female lead is equally as strong. I wasn't left wondering what Gabe and Maddy see in each other or wondering what they actually have in common besides raging hormones. The characters and relationships are believable, which seems to be a rarity these days. Courtney Cole isn't afraid to put her characters through the wringer and to show what they are made of when it counts.

3.5 stars A nice change of pace and definitely more daring. There were a few cheesy parts but nothing over the top. Overall, the very good balanced out the tolerable. I would have liked to see Mila work on her issues as little more, especially at the end. We hear about how Pax had so much to work on, but Mila had her issues, too, but they were apparently fixed with just a dream.

2.5 stars. Not bad, not great. It is better than most free books I've encountered.

Great storytelling and character development, as always.

I feel bereft now that I'm done with this. I miss the characters and relationships. This is not a normal reaction for me. I cannot wait for the white years!

4.5 stars. even more suspenseful and emotionally gripping.

3.5 stars. not quite as suspenseful as the others but still great.