Ellis Day

As a serious fangirl myself, I know how much of a struggle it can be to decide what exactly you want to waste your time on, so maybe my opinions can help guide to waste your time the best way possible! You are welcome, and thank you.

[ellis-reviews]

Sucker Punch (Anita Blake #27) by Laurell K. Hamilton

What I like so much about this series is how we see Anita grow, because she is not the same person we got to know in book one, far from it.

This one kind of made me want to reread the whole series again too, not gonna lie.

I think it’s the nostalgia of the first few books where most of the plot was about crime investigation, but this far into the series I also like that Anita isn’t only focused on her work, but her own life too — that’s some major character development, because at the beginning her work was her whole life.

So while this book did involve a lot of crime investigation, I loved how I could see and feel the difference from first-book-Anita to the current one.

I’ve mentioned before that when the sex was first introduced, it kind of took over — but as I read more and more of this series, it all feel very natural and logical.

This Anita is in a stage of her life where things are... semi-stable — as stable as things can be with all the supernatural going on and whatnot. So that there are less sex-scenes in this book makes sense — Anita Blake is a professional Marshal after all — but I do expect (and hope) they return in a more... appropriate situation.

I did kind of miss the lovey-dovey stuff, but there were still parts with it — but I also liked that we saw how Anita differentiated between work and personal.

Also, whenever Edward is on board, I’m down. I’m biased, what can I say?

But I think the whole thing with Olaf and Edward and Anita is really interesting, to say the least, and I’m really looking forward to see how it turns out.

I’ve been reading this series for more or less seven years, and I still get giddy whenever a new book comes out! Of course there are some I like better than others, but that just makes the ones I like the best so much greater!

This one is up there for me, mostly I think because we see so much difference in Anita from the start to here, but that might just be me.

I would definitely recommend this though (and the whole series)!

[ellis-reviews]

Sunburn by Darren Dash

★★★★☆

(Maybe more of a 3.5, but given how much I liked the second half I’ll put it at 4).

I’ve read almost all of Darren Shan, he was one of my favorite authors as a child/teen so I thought it was time to start reading some of his adult books!

Overall I did enjoy it, but I would definitely rate the first half of the book lower than the second half.

The beginning is kind of slow — there’s a lot of background to cover and explanation. We need to get to know the characters after all, but I found it a little tedious and slow. It took quite a while for anything to happen, and while it took a very long time before the monster and action appeared, the other things that happened were still interesting to me so I did like that.

The book is sectioned into six (6) parts; I think around part three (3) was when I started to really enjoy the book. I’m hesitant to say that everything up to that point was unnecessary, because I don’t believe that. I just think it might have been dragged out a little too much, but at the same time it did let us get to know the characters very well.

As for the characters, none of them was very likable, but I kind of liked them despite that too. Personally I think that made them more real to me, because while they weren’t likable, their flaws felt like what most people actually do think and do, we just try to hide it. On the other hand you never really knew when or if you wanted to root for them or not, but again, I personally kind of liked that, so it’s a preference thing.

We also got some insight from the monster too, and while I don’t usually like a change in the perspective, I did enjoy it in this one!

It wasn’t much we got to see, so I think that’s what made me enjoy it — in fact I found myself wanting to see a little more (which never really happens for me) so I think Dash did amazing with giving us just enough to making us wanting more!

For the plot it was indeed interesting, and very unique. Like I said, I liked the parts toward the end a lot more, mostly because more happened and the pacing changed.

I will say that I wished to see more of the ‘after’, but it also makes sense to end where it ended and then the readers can sort of decide what happened afterwards. Another preference thing, I guess.

Dash also delivered with the gore — as I expected. Once the horror and gore began, boy did it begin. It was horrible — but in a good way!

All in all I did enjoy the book! While it did take me quite a time to get through the first parts, once things started to happen it was so hard to put down!

It’s not my favorite, but I liked it, and would recommend it for those who like horror and gore — but I would also warn about the beginning being kind of slow, and that once you’ve gotten through that, it’s really good!

[ellis-reviews]

Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong

★★★☆☆

(Not sure whether this is a 3 or 4 stars, so I would probably give it a 3.5).

I’m still not the biggest fan of Olivia, though she is growing on me a little.

Overall I liked the book, but I was a little disappointed by the lack of investigation or just merely mention of her biological parents (the Larsens). In the first book I felt like that was the main mystery, though there were a lot of other mysteries that kept getting in the way to sort out the main mystery.

In this book it did feel similar (a lot of other mysteries coming in the way) but it also felt like Olivia just... didn’t think about them a lot of the time, which to me is a little strange.

At some points the book feels very dragged out too, and I’m not really sure about the romance going on (it’s hinted that it’s not the “main romance” and that it’s not going to last, so even that makes it harder to get into).

I like the characters overall, they’re interesting and intriguing. Gabriel is probably my favorite, but I feel there’s a lot more to see.

The plot is still really interesting, and while I do like the way Armstrong writes, the pace is sometimes a little off. Sometimes it goes very slowly, then at other times it moves very fast. This of course can be on purpose, but I feel on the faster scenes especially it’s a little hard to keep up because it just moves that fast, and I keep questioning myself if I lost or skipped something.

I’ll definitely continue the series, but it’s mostly to see how the Larsens case will evolve, and a little to see how Gabriel evolves. The rest interest me, but not as much as those two plot points.

I’m also very curious about the omens and visions, so that’s definitely something I’ll look forward to as well!

[ellis-reviews]

Sin Eater by Megan Campisi

I really, really liked it.

The Sin Eater concept intrigued me so much, so I was glad there was a lot around that. There is a lot of repetition when it comes to the sins and the food that represented them, but honestly there was so many that I actually liked it because I kept forgetting them, and it was nice not having to go back to check every time.

The writing was also very interesting to me. I haven’t read that many books set back in time, so I found the language very refreshing and interesting. And it wasn’t too heavy, it still had a nice flow and wasn’t hard to read. I had to look up a few words I wasn’t familiar with though, but I thought that was fun too — it felt like it was learning something!

The only choice I’m questioning with the writing is that all the information we got was mostly learned from gossiping townsfolk or maids, which I kind of can see (people love to gossip after all) but after a while it felt a little off when the people talking saw the main character, startled and just kept talking. In some sense it did make sense (given how they treated the protagonist) but she really was at the perfect time and the perfect place every time.

The characters were interesting, though sometimes I found a few lacking. There’s quite a few I feel like we only got to know on a surface level, which is understandable since we didn’t interact with them as much — but I also felt like we could have learned a little more about them while we did see them. Mostly I’m curious about the Queen, for example.

My impression of her is limited, because some loved her extremely much (and the Queen did seem to care much about them in return) then there were many that hated her, because she seemed like a bald person and kind of a tyrant but we never really learned if she was good or not.

There was also a lot of people that got on the wrong side of the protagonist, and the protagonist rightfully hated them. The only problem I had with that is that the main character then swore to get revenge on a lot of them, but then... just left them behind without even a thought or regret of how they wouldn’t get revenge, which I found a little strange.

I would have liked to see her do something.

The plot really was interesting. I would have been happy with just the Sin Eater concept, but the murder mysteries were interesting too.

The ending was... okay. A little disappointing, since all the mysteries weren’t solved (and a few other issues) but the main character mused about the ‘only logical explanation’ which did make sense, but felt lacking since we had gone around searching for answers and then... just nothing.

A lot of the bad people we also didn’t get to see what happened to (the good people too for that matter). The big mystery was solved, and then anything else just didn’t seem to matter anymore, which I found a little sad because I wanted to see how it could be resolved.

Personally I would like to see a second book where the main character goes back and learns about what happened, and maybe some more craziness happens. I wouldn’t mind that.

It could all have been solved pretty easily though. It’s already established that the townspeople love to gossip, so the protagonist could have learned all they needed from overhearing the townsfolk, but she didn’t, and that does make me rather sad.

Overall I liked the book though, and the Sin Eater concept just really did it for me enough that I will give this book a good rating. Still it is a little lacking in its ending, in my opinion, so that’s a thing to keep in mind before reading it.

I am recommending it though, if you like historical setting and concepts and some dark themes, with a little fantasy drizzled on top.

[ellis-reviews]

Confessions: The Private School Murders (Confessions #2) by James Patterson

It’s been a looong time since I read/listened to the first book, but I do remember I enjoyed it.

Since the first time around though, I’ve grown a little out of my YA phase so I wasn’t sure how this would go. I was pleasantly surprised though!

It’s a very entertaining series, and while the mysteries and the solving can be a little lacking and the dramatics a little over-the-top — it’s fun.

I will, however, recommend you be aware before you start reading that the protagonist is a sixteen year old aspiring detective. If you prioritize very realistic scenarios then you might need to reconsider, but if you want entertainment this is definitely a good shot!

As for the characters: I love Hugo. Kind of adore Jacob too. Caputo is Caputo — love him one moment hate him next.

Tandy is complicated. I think I overall like her. Despite her attitude and her annoying traits and ‘general behavior’, I feel it’s justified (given all that’s happen) so it makes sense that she acts that way, even if it is annoying, which do make me like her again.

I’m unsure about Matthew and Harry. Given that I can’t remember too much of them from the first book, I can’t say for sure if we got to know them there. But during this book I felt like we could summarize them with “Matthew has a temper and likes football” and “Harry is Emotional and a genius pianist”. I will say I feel I know Harry a little more than Matthew, since we did have quite a few scenes with him. Matthew however I didn’t get a feel for until the end, specifically when he interacted with Hugo.

Now the plot.

Let me just say there was a lot going on. We had the trial and it’s murder; we had the private school murders; we had the snakes and spiders; we had the whole James-thing.

It’s was a lot, and sometimes I wasn’t sure what the point of it was (still not completely sure about all of it, to be honest). Though all of them were solved (if they weren’t I would be livid) that to me felt the most lacking; I expected someone to be tied together or just have more meaning than they had. Instead they felt kind of like ‘oh this is solved now, next’ and then we were over on the next thing. It just felt a little stiff.

I also have to give it to Emma Galvin who reads the audiobooks — perfect choice. She really gives the book life to me, and makes it even more entertaining! The writing just flows perfectly, and the wording really fits the protagonist.

Overall it’s entertaining and a good read, but also not for everyone. Sometimes you’re just in that mood where this is the perfect fit though!

[ellis-reviews]

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

I adore this book, a new favorite for sure!

“well—anything, even dying at sea, was preferable to staying there one more moment in the company of a mad child”

I don’t actually have much to complain about in this book, if all. While reading I was so consumed by the book that I didn’t notice much “wrong”. So all of these nitpickings are just some thoughts and feelings from AFTER I’d put the book down and really thought about it. And I think that says a lot.

I thought the pacing and style of writing all worked wonderfully, I loved how it’s written especially — those sentence that just blew you away with how tragically poetic they were. And I especially loved how she wrote Peter Pan, and I absolutely loved Nod and Fog (especially Nod) and Del and even little Charlie.

Jamie I did love too, and he kind of reminded me of Hatcher (with the red haze and all). I can’t exactly put my finger on what, but towards the end something about him seemed a little off. Maybe it was the development that made him not-a-boy-but-not-a-man that made him this way — which makes sense! — but also made me a little annoyed with him. Love him regardless though.

Perhaps it also had something to do with Sal, which was made to be this big difference (and was!), but in the end it was also very quickly over, which on one hand made sense, but also felt a little off.

The thing about Sal might not make much sense, since I’m trying to avoid spoilers, but I guess what I mean is that I expected Sal to have a “big” role, and had in an emotional sense, but then there was so much else that happened that I personally didn’t get as attached to Sal the way Jamie and the others did, I guess.

Like I said though, none of this was really noticeable while I read it because I was just so consumed!

The only thing that I did keep thinking about throughout the book was the Many-Eyed.

Now, the whole thing with not revealing too much and letting the story continue in the heads of the readers — I get that. Sometimes I’m for it, other times it annoys and frustrates me.

In this case though, I felt like everything was explained except the Many-Eyed (they also had quite little “screen-time” to be such feared monsters, but I can live with that). Every other question I had about Peter and the island, even the ones I didn’t expect to be answered, were all explained, except for the Many-Eyed who just... disappeared, kind of.

Like I said though, I still love this book and it’s one of my favorites ever. I just really liked the spin Henry put on it, and how well-written it was.

It does kind of remind me of Lord of the Flies, just even more gruesome, which I loved. I liked the way she explained how when all was done in the name of fun, the boys took it as just that — fun.

It was a gruesomely good spin on it, and if that’s your cup of tea, you should definitely check it out! I had such a hard time putting this book down, it just swallowed you up!

Oh, and the prolog — speechless. It’s was so short but so on point that it hooked me immediately!

[ellis-reviews]

It Ain’t Me Babe (Hades Hangmen #1) by Tillie Cole

It’s dark, but with Tillie Cole that’s expected. It was still an emotional trip and rather enjoyable!

What I really liked about this book though (which for once wasn’t the main characters) were how Cole created and actually fleshed out the actual cult. It was actually believable, if you know anything about cults.

Another part I really enjoyed was the Greek mythology (though that’s just straight up my kind of tea, so I just really enjoyed that).

With this book however, I didn’t find the main characters as enjoyable as usual. I couldn’t really connect with either Styx or Mae and found other characters more interesting and intriguing.

I also think one of the reason I couldn’t really connect with Mae especially was how she talked about her precious, so-important sisters, but just completely abandoned them and didn’t even think about trying to rescue them once getting free herself.

There is a scene where it’s sort of brought up, where Mae is terrified of ever as much as nearing the commune she escaped — which yes, is very understandable and believable — but I find it a little less believable that she wouldn’t even try to make anyone else try to at least find out where they are being held, since they are her only friends and family and basically the only people she’s had a good relationship with her entire life... so yeah, that was my biggest problem with Mae.

Then there’s also the pacing of the story that’s fine, but a little too slow-paced at time and then a little too fast-paced. I just missed that balance, but overall it wasn’t too bad, just certain scenes that seemed way too drawn-out and then other scenes that were over in the blink of an eye.

Overall I really like the book and it’s concept, and the plot was really interesting. I’m not sure how I feel about Ky/Lilah yet, they were both kind of bland characters to me so I feel pretty neutral towards them (even though we saw Ky quite a lot, I didn’t feel like we got to know him — he was just the best friend and the VP). Flame/Maddie I’m actually quite excited for — I’m curious about what made Flame how he is, and I felt we got to know Maddie a little more as a person too, especially at the end.

I’m definitely going to the check out the other books!

[ellis-reviews]

Wherever You Are (Bad Reputation Duet #2) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I’ve been bawling my eyes out.

What can I say, I love this. I still feel a little ‘iffy’ about the order of some of the chapters/flashbacks, but honestly, the story more than made up for it.

Willow and Garrison’s story is heartbreakingly beautiful, and all those bittersweet moments full of love with all of them really did a number on my heart.

There are a lot of sad parts, but they just made the good parts that came after that much sweeter and heartbreaking!

One of the things I love the most too is the friendships between Lo and Garrison, and Willow and Daisy — those moments always rips my heart to shreds (something about knowing all the hardships they all went through and seeing the good afterwards).

Another thing that I think makes these books, and this series in general, great, is that it’s never enough.

All these moments gets mentioned and I want them — I want everything, the good, the bad, the mundane. I want every little thing I can get, and I think that’s an accomplishment for Becca and Krista, because that doesn’t happen with all books.

But with these characters, I just can’t get enough. I’ve just finished the book and I already miss them!

[ellis-reviews]

Whatever It Takes (Bad Reputation Duet #1) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

I want to give this full stars, because I love Willow and Garrison, and I love their story, and I love this book and this universe.

However, I found this book a bit messy.

I didn’t mind that I’d read most of it before on Wattpad, but sometimes I didn’t feel the “flashbacks” came in the right order. They seemed almost just put in to be there, with no reason or thought. And the thing that bothered me the most was that I waited for the “big reveal” in the flashbacks, when Willow finds out, but instead it’s sort of just dropped in the present without that explanation that I read in the Wattpad story, which I thought was a big shame — because it gave a clearer view and explanation to what actually happened.

Maybe it bothered me a little extra since I did read the Wattpad version first and thought it made a lot of sense, and therefor this felt more messy — I can’t be sure.

On the other hand, I did love the story. Their tale is bittersweet and heartbreaking, but I do love how the Ritchies writes it.

And I love all the characters in it (except for the assholes that you’ll probably be able to identify quickly, or even if you’ve read the other series).

I’ll probably read the next one as fast as possible, and despite my little ache with this one, I don’t love it any less.

[ellis-reviews]

The Mermaid by Christina Henry

It was a very enjoyable read!

At some points it felt like not a lot was happening, but I also liked that it didn’t go “over the top” just to be dramatic and action filled.

I went into reading this without knowing anything but some of Henry’s previous works, so I expected it to be a lot darker, but it didn’t do anything to make me enjoy it less. In fact I was surprised to find out that it was loosely based around real people (Barnum and Levi Lyman) which made it a lot more interesting.

Also, like many of Henry’s other books, I absolutely fell in love with these characters. Especially Charity and Caroline — my heart will forever bleed for them.

I also quite liked Levi. I wasn’t sure about him at first, but he grew on me and I’m kind of sad we didn’t get an epilogue to see more of them afterward.

As for the ending— it was bittersweet. I’ve noticed that a lot with Henry’s books, which isn’t a bad thing, though it leaves you craving more — just that little bit which she leaves you without, which is both good and bad. It gives you the opportunity to imagine the “true” ending yourself, because everyone probably has their own “perfect” ending. But personally, I like a concrete, straightforward ending (even if I sometimes wish for a “different” ending).

Either way, I really did enjoy the book. Especially the writing. It’s quite different I felt, especially from what I usually read. It was like a breath of fresh air.

[ellis-reviews]

Beast by Ella James

It’s entertaining.

For me though, it was too unrealistic. I couldn’t get myself into it the same way as with the others because it was just too unbelievable. I need something that makes me believe it’s plausible — not likely, but plausible.

This book therefore fell a little short for me, but I will give it that it was entertaining enough.

Compared to the others (in the Erotic Fairy Tales series by James) I couldn’t connect with the characters in this the same way either. Maybe if I had read this before one of the others, but alas, this just wasn’t it for me.

It felt kind of rushed too, and while a lot happened and there was a lot of action, I just couldn’t get immersed.

It’s not too long of a read though, so for just a mindless, entertaining read it did it’s job.

[ellis-reviews]

Hansel & Gretel by Ella James

This is my favorite. My absolute favorite, even if I haven’t finished the last twisted fairy tale retelling.

This dark stuff is right up my ally, and even though some of it was so horrible and surprising — I just loved it.

This one kind of reminded me of one of Tillie Cole’s books (one of my favorite authors) who also dwells into the really dark stuff.

Despite being hard to read some parts, I feel like they give a whole new side to the story.

I will admit though, that some parts got a little annoying with all the repeating and no move forward, but at the same time it made sense. And I think that’s the brilliant part. The frustration and annoyance is necessary, because it means you’re immersed.

However, this is on the darker side, so it’s not everyone cup of tea — but if you can handle the twisted parts, I absolutely recommend you give this a try.

[ellis-reviews]

Red & Wolfe by Ella James

It’s heavy erotica. Like heavy.

As for the story itself, it was interesting. I liked the action that came toward the end especially, perhaps because it had been rather tame and calm before that.

The erotica part though — it was a lot. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t expect that to be the plot, and it sort of felt like it was, but that could be my own fault for going in blind.

It was an interesting storyline, which is another point to why I might have found the erotica so much (almost distracting from the other parts) because I really wanted to know all the other things.

All in all it was a good read though, and the ending was nice if not perhaps a little rushed, in my opinion.

[ellis-reviews]

The Girl In Red by Christina Henry

It was a good book, let me just say that. However I wasn’t left feeling satisfied or finished, once I read the last line.

Red was an interesting character and in the beginning I loved her — she felt like a breath of fresh air. Then halfway through the book I was growing tired of her; I think personally it felt like no one was moving forward. I saw I was halfway through the book and it still felt like Henry was building up to something — but that something still hadn’t come.

I liked however that Red kind of grows and changes at the end, and I felt again like ‘this is it, something is coming now’ and it did, yet it didn’t.

I think the build ups were so long that when push finally came to show, you expected something so big that what you got just became mediocre. I felt like I was waiting the whole book for the other shoe to drop, but by the drop, I’d sort of figured out what would or should happen, that I didn’t get that gut reaction with the protagonist.

Which is a shame, because like I said, the book is good. I like the plot and characters and writing, just something about this was kind of slow-paced.

And well, I can’t say anything but that the ending was infuriating.

When I saw that I was 90% finished with the book my brain had a little panic attack because how the fuck could all my questions be answered, how can all I need be explained and shown with 10% left in the book? (Spoiler: it wasn’t explained).

So the book might deserve 4 stars, but I can’t with how the ending left me feeling. Still, it’s definitely worth reading.

[ellis-reviews]

Headstrong Like Us (Like Us #6) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Holy Jesus.

This was a wild fucking ride. I think this is the book where the most has ever happened. It felt like at every corner there was something new that happened, and I had a little mini heart attack that Some Shit™ would happen through the whole book.

When that’s said though, m y h e a r t. This book ripped my heart out on multiple occasions. Even while I felt on edge that something would go wrong, there was just so many heartwarming moments.

And even when certain moments that I guess would have been equally heartwarming, I wasn’t too sad about it because I know they post a lot on their Patreon, which is one of the things I love about the Ritchies.

This whole universe they’ve created is just so magnificent, and I can’t even imagine it ever ceasing to exist. It feels like even if it ends, they will all live on in our hearts and I’ve never truly experienced that with a book series, at least not this intensely.

And yeah, I cried like a baby a dozen times through the books, but man the ending... this is Marrows final book. I can barely think about it without crying.

We read about how Moffy grew up, and now he’s married... I know we’ll see them as side characters, but man...

I’ve always said that Moffy and Farrow is my favorite, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. People are always going to have favorites. That’s how it is. And so this feels very much like an Ending for me, because I’m not as invested in the rest (yet I’ll still read it, because I love the universe and all it’s characters, even if I’m not invested the same way).

This was still great, and the ending gave me a heart attack but was also so precious.

God, this book is going to give you a tooth ache — it’s that sweet.

[ellis-reviews]

Stolen (Alpha’s Claim #4/Alpha’s Control #1) by Addison Cain

So funny update. 

I was absolutely going to finish this series, especially after how the last one ended, but then the fourth and last book suddenly introduced new people and there’s no sign of Claire and Shepard sooo, I’m out.

The books got kind of tedious and at the end of it I was just reading it to get to know how the hell it’s ending, because it can’t be good. This is all a mess and kind of interesting you know, but I have no hope it’s going to have a good ending.

Perhaps I’ll come back to the series once, but for now I’m dropping it because even thinking about it leaves me kind of pissed off.

And yes, I know that if I read it it’ll probably come forward what happened to Claire and Shepard, but I’m not interested in reading about new people. I was ready to be done with this series and then, maybe at a later date, I could have rejoined the universe in this Alpha’s Control series, but instead I’m forced to start the new series to find out how the first series end...

Not cool, dude, so not cool.

[ellis-reviews]

Sinful Like Us (Like Us #5) by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Okay, okay — they’re growing on me. Or they have for a while now.

I can’t say they’re my favorite couple, because Maximoff and Farrow will forever have that spot, but Tatcher and Jane are cute and precious and I do love them.

What I do not love, in fact I hate him with every fiber of my being and I’m quite unhappy with how little karma bit him in the ass — the one and only Tony.

He’s seriously the bane of my existence and I had to stop reading a few times because he annoyed me so immensely.

That being said though, I did thoroughly enjoy this book. Of course, I loved all the Maximoff and Farrow moments we got, but I also liked the new perspective we got with Banks and Akara.

The book was good, and I think it opened a lot of new doors that made it even better. Despite being “Tatcher and Jane’s” book, there was lots of other things in it that made me enjoy it more than if it had purely been the two of them.

But then again, that’s sort of Krista and Becca’s style too. They never purely focus on one pairing, which I find absolutely delightful. I think that’s why I’m still so excited after fifteen books and countless bonus scenes.

They’ve really created a universe and characters that I can’t get enough off. Even the ones I instantly feel “meh” about they manage to turn me around about.

Also, there was a lot of action during this book actually, and quite a few surprises. Both pleasant and not. And heartwarming moments, but that’s nothing new.

Simply terrific job.