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Forensics by Val McDermid

Val McDermid is one of the finest crime writers we have, whose novels have captivated millions of readers worldwide with their riveting narratives of characters who solve complex crimes and confront unimaginable evil. In the course of researching her bestselling novels McDermid has become familiar with every branch of forensics, and now she uncovers the history of this science, real-world murders and the people who must solve them.

The dead talk—to the right listener. They can tell us all about themselves: where they came from, how they lived, how they died, and, of course, who killed them. Forensic scientists can unlock the mysteries of the past and help serve justice using the messages left by a corpse, a crime scene, or the faintest of human traces. Forensics draws on interviews with some of these top-level professionals, ground-breaking research, and McDermid’s own original interviews and firsthand experience on scene with top forensic scientists. – Goodreads

I read this book over summer and completely forgot to write a review. My bad! It was the kind of book that I read in between other books or if I didn’t feel like writing fiction, so it took me forever to read.

This book was a fantastic overview of the various forensic practices and cases that forensic investigators (or crime scene investigators, as we call them in the US) handle in their careers.

It read like a history book as it went backward and forward through time, analyzing and examining various methods and ways that investigators use to analyze a crime scene. Blood spatter, fingerprint analysis, DNA, pathology, toxicology—the list goes on and on. The tiniest of clues can be left behind at a crime scene, and these folks are the masterminds behind finding them and piecing them together.

If you watch CSI, this book will disappoint you. It’s the cold hard truth—it doesn’t take forty minutes to process DNA, sperm, or fingerprints. In reality, it takes much, much longer. There aren’t fancy computer programs or national mass databases to magically run information through as the shows would have you believe.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who perhaps write crime novels or are interested in the field of forensics. Overall, a fascinating read. I give it a 4/5 on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley for graciously granting me a copy of this to review.

The Young Elites by Mary Lu

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites. – Goodreads

So. I am clearly among the few who did not like this very much, and that’s alright. There were some positives for me, but for the most part, I did not enjoy this book. In fact, the only reason I finished is because of the cold, hard cash I laid down to download this.

I love books because I love the characters and the worldbuilding. For me, these two aspects of the book did not do it for me. Let me start with what I did like, though, before I touch on the parts I did not.

The magic was interesting. I liked the concept of the blood fever inducing magic effects in some kids. And the concept of a malfetto—a marked person who survived the illness—was neat, too. It did remind me of The Darkest Minds a tiny bit, probably because I just finished reading it…and it’s literally about kids who get sick and develop powers.

And now to the not so great.

I found 98% of the characters irritating as hell. The only two I liked were minor side characters—Rafaele and Gemma. I could not stand the main character, Adelina. She felt conceited, whiny, and selfish. The prince was even worse (and apparently, as described multiple times, has a voice like “velvet”, whatever the F that means).

I also had issues with the worldbuilding. The names for lands felt random, and nothing was really explained. Several animals popped up out of nowhere with no description or explanation. I didn’t feel that I had a clear picture of the city. I did, however, feel that the underground catacombs, the consort court and the Inquisitor’s Tower were described well.

In all, this book was definitely not for me. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t be for you—I would definitely tell folks to check it out for themselves, as I seem to be an outlier. I rated it a 2/5 on Goodreads.

Zodiac by Romina Russell

At the dawn of time, there were 13 Houses in the Zodiac Galaxy. Now only 12 remain….

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, Rho can’t solve for ‘x’ to save her life—so instead, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories.

When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens—including its beloved Guardian—Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House’s new leader. But, a true Cancerian who loves her home fiercely and will protect her people no matter what, Rho accepts.

Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects Ophiuchus—the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac legend—has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho—along with Hysan Dax, a young envoy from House Libra, and Mathias, her guide and a member of her Royal Guard—must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians.

But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?

I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about Zodiac since it came out (and before) so I wanted to love this book, and I did love parts of it, but for the most part it just wasn’t doing it for me.

First of all, all of the space/astronomy/science talk was actually really hard to grasp at some points – so I would just read them and move on, hoping that the plot would help me understand but mostly I was just clueless on certain things. When you read a book, you don’t want to feel like you need to look things up to fully understand what’s happening, so that was a major let down.

While I really liked the characters and connected with Rho, I felt like the story was allover the place. We were constantly bouncing from one place to the next and trying to convince everyone of what Rho saw and it was just very… exhausting. Books should not exhaust you! I do love Hysan (although he makes me suspicious) and Mathias, and cannot wait to see what’s in store for everyone next. I have my own set of theories as to who Ophiucus is and I’m very curious to see where the story goes. I will say this though – Romina Russell is REALLY good at writing. Her descriptions are some of the best I’ve read and it really felt like I was there with Rho throughout everything.

The concept is really good, and I did really enjoy the story overall – I rated Zodiac 3/5 on Goodreads and I’ll definitely be reading the next books in the trilogy – like I said above, I have to know if what/who I suspect (not going into details there) will actually turn out to be correct!

The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control. – Goodreads

The Darkest Minds (Book One)

Love, love, loved it. In fact, I couldn’t put it down! I’ve meaning to read this for months but didn’t want to shell out $9.99 for the Kindle version. It finally went on sale so I picked it up…I definitely do not regret it.

Ruby is the main character and the story is narrated in first-person from her point of view. In a time where kids are dying of an uncurable, mysterious disease and others are showing up with odd “powers”, the government has begun to seize children and keep them in camps—essentially concentration camps—where they’re beaten down, removed from their parents, and forced to conform and keep their powers secret.

It’s pretty damn dark.

Ruby is an Orange—a telepathic. She can see other people’s memories and even erase them. She’s scared of her abilities, so she keeps them hidden. When she’s smuggled out of camp (after staying there for SIX years) by a group claiming to be good guys, she realizes that adults can’t be trusted in the new world.

I really enjoyed Ruby as an MC—though scared and traumatized, she’s strong and willing to fight for her survival. She protects those around her and is kind to those she loves. The love interest was done well in this book—no instalove, despite the insta-attraction (which totally happens in real life). The secondary characters were also constructed well—Liam, Chubs, Zu—which added to the story.

I also LOVED the worldbuilding. There was a bit of an information dump in the first chapter, with the virus and ability mutations and fall of the government, but it was fairly easy to absorb and continue with. The new state of affairs in the US is described well, especially when they’re driving through empty and beaten down towns.

I rated book one a 5/5 on Goodreads and added it to my Favorites.

Never Fade (Book Two)

The opening was a bit jolting and took me a chapter or two to fully understand where the hell I was at on the timeline and what happened. And then I was horrified.

As with the first book, the worldbuilding was great. The plot really picked up in spots but was slow. as. heck. in others.

I had so many feels during this book. In fact, I KEPT getting in the feels, so thanks, Bracken, for toying with my emotions.

Definitely a good second installment, which kept me rolling right into book three.

(4/5 on Goodreads for being slightly bored in several long stretches)

In The Afterlight (Book Three)

I absolutely loved this ending. All of the loose ends were tied, and I ACTUALLY felt satisfied. For the last 40% of the book I started to get upset because I didn’t want it to end.

The final installment was an amazing mix of emotion, pain, heartbreak, love, triumph, evil, corruption…ugh. I loved it. I laughed. I cried. I got angry. I was disgusted. So many emotions. All of the feels. I can’t give anything away because you have to read the first book!

This series has been so, so good. I’ve been in a reading slump for so long, but this kicked me out of it. This final book was also a 4/5—it was a bit slow in parts.

Thursday Things 09/10

First of all, I just discovered Feed Your Need To Read and I am in love. I am also in a big survival book kick and they just posted a great list. Also, 18 Times YA Lit Captured Our Feelings Exactly.

Buzzfeed Books pretty much just summed up texts that Kiesha and I would definitely send to each other (especially #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #8, #9…alright. The whole damn list). And because food is to books as macaroni is to cheese, here are 30 Things to Make In September.

As if my TBR pile needed any help, I just discovered B&N’s To-Read Lists on their blog.

Feel like I need to lift a pinky while saying Voldemort the correct way (first Hermione, now this?).

So, James Potter’s first day at Hogwarts was last week & this article imagines what Hogwarts would look like today (technology & shiz) & can I just say that I love it? My favorite sections are the last two – Wizard Starbucks?! YES.

I have mad love for Sandra Bullock & it’s so great that she stepped up and asked for a male’s role – and that she got it! She’s such a good actress & damn right George Clooney owed her one for floating away in Gravity!!

I am a HUGE list-maker and when I heard about the 52 Lists Project and how it’s been released in book form (this past Tuesday as a matter of fact) I knew I had to get my hands on it. I literally make lists for everything (groceries, to-do’s, to-buy’s, Christmas ideas, cleaning, etc. etc.) and I think this could help me be a bit more creative but still in my comfort zone. Can’t wait to get it!

I’ve been drinking pumpkin spice latte’s nonstop since their fan pass came out. You’d know this if you were already following us on Instagram! #sobasic

Top Ten Tuesday 9/8

Ten Finished Series I Have YET to Finish

The Hourglass Series by Myra McEntire │ I’ve finished the first book, but haven’t gotten into the rest yet. It is a story that I love though!
The Beauchamp Family by Melissa de la Cruz │ I’ve only read The Witches of East End (the first book) out of this series and I LOVED it. Not sure why I haven’t finished the series yet.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor │ I devoured the first, and loved the little bit of the second that I’ve read but I just can’t seem to get into them anymore. I’d love to finish the entire series someday though!
Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia │ I LOVED Beautiful Creatures so much, and was beyond excited for the movie to come out. But then it did, and it was so, so bad… I haven’t been able to pick up the rest of the series since.
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare │ I love this story. I love the world, I love most of the characters, and I am so curious about what happens… but I cannot stand Clary and I don’t know if I can finish the series with her as the narrator.

6. Soul Eaters by Eliza Crewe | It’s not that I don’t like the series (because I actually love it)—I just haven’t gotten around to reading the third book that I preordered…and received.

7. Temperance Brennan by Kathy Reichs | Yeah. I’m never going to finish all of these. But I do enjoy them when I’m in the mood for a mystery/thriller!

8. Kanin Chronicles by Amanda Hocking | I just couldn’t get into these…I only read them because I received book two from NetGalley and couldn’t be like, “Yeah…couldn’t get through book one”.

9. The Selection by Kiera Cass | Okay. The first three books were total guilty pleasures for me, but I don’t think I’d enjoy reading about their kid in the fourth book. So. Not finishing.

10. Tairen Soul by CL Wilson | I LOVE CL Wilson…but after book three (and everything started to sound the same and I lost interest) I stopped reading.

The Theory of Opposites by Allison Winn Scott

What happens when you think you have it all, and then suddenly it’s taken away?

Willa Chandler-Golden’s father changed the world with his self-help bestseller, Is It Really Your Choice? Why Your Entire Life May Be Out of Your Control. Millions of devoted fans now find solace in his notion that everything happens for a reason. Though Willa isn’t entirely convinced of her father’s theories, she readily admits that the universe has delivered her a solid life: a reliable husband, a fast-paced career. Sure there are hiccups – negative pregnancy tests, embattled siblings – but this is what the universe has brought, and life, if she doesn’t think about it too much, is wonderful. – Goodreads

And then her husband tells her he wants them to take a two-month break. And then she is fired. And then her ex comes back into the picture.

I liked the idea of this story—after all, I’ve never read about a main character with a self-help guru for a father. Can you imagine the impact that would have on your life? That’s one of my favorite things about books—they put you in the shoes of someone different from you.

I didn’t like being in Willa’s sad, depressing, Switzerland shoes. Switzerland? Yes. At every corner she was constantly reminding the reader that she is Switzerland—the middle, mediocre, plain, nothing special…Switzerland.

The plot was very convenient. You’re in a marriage with the perfect, nerdy, hot man—but you’re beginning to pine for your ex-boyfriend, who wasn’t Switzerland. Boom. Out of the blue your husband wants a break and boom, your ex shows up.

This book just wasn’t for me. There were too many things that annoyed me. I continued on because it was a quick, brainless read—-but it wasn’t my favorite. I know a lot of people really love Scott’s work, but I’m not one of them.

I rated it a 2/5 on Goodreads.

Thursday Things 9/3

So, my husband and I just bought a house and we have two pieces of furniture that we still need to buy: a couch and a bookcase. It is SO ridiculously hard to pick out bookcases! I keep jumping between a HUGE one (to hold ALL of the books) or a small one (so I don’t create tons of clutter and donate my books to those in need of a read)—I can’t decide! Maybe I should get one of these.

Guys, I went to Starbucks this morning with the naive hope that PSLs are back. The barista seemed very annoyed (must be the question of the century) and let me know they would be back on Friday. Who else is #basic and likes to sip a warm cup of fake pumpkin while reading?! #falliscoming

Babies + books = all of the feels. Seriously, though—every time I finish a great book, this is me.

And in case you don’t know what to read this fall, check out this Buzzfeed quiz. I gotTwo Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie, which actually looks pretty darn good. I took it again and picked different pumpkins and leaves (because what if I picked the wrong ones?) and got Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins which ALSO looks awesome. What book did you get?

Okay, I added this one last minute…but I love The Everygirl and I love this list. I’m definitely picking up Mindy’s new book when it comes out ❤

I’m a huge fan of Candace Bushnell and everything she does (Sex and the City, Lipstick Jungle, One Fifth Avenue, etc.) and this article that Goodreads did with her and what she says about the labels that are put on women? LOVE. Also, she’s writing 2 more YA books and I can’t wait to read them!

What do you guys think about this theory re: Draco Malfoy? I’m not sure if I believe it or not (and really, will we ever know for sure?) but it does have some good points. It’s just another Harry Potter theory though, which seem to be incredibly common these days.

I LOVE what a junior high in Mississippi is doing to get students to read more – and it sounds like it’s super effective! Maybe more schools will jump on board!

If you loved Lisa Frank as much as I did when I was in elementary school, you should definitely read this! (Also, guess who I’m following on Twitter now? :))

If you didn’t know this already, we are based out of Idaho… and this promposal horror story is making the rounds on the interwebs lately. Is it me or is Idaho always portrayed like some po-dunk state that has nothing more to it than potatoes and “over a dozen Destiny’s“? Believe me, there’s a lot more to it than that, and it’s actually incredibly gorgeous here. Go away haters.

Please, tell me more about how much Idaho sucks… *sarcasm. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner

Rachel Blum and Andy Landis are eight years old when they meet late one night in an ER waiting room. Born with a congenital heart defect, Rachel is a veteran of hospitals, and she’s intrigued by the boy who shows up all alone with a broken arm. He tells her his name. She tells him a story. After Andy’s taken back to the emergency room and Rachel’s sent back to her bed, they think they’ll never see each other again.

Rachel, the beloved, popular, and protected daughter of two doting parents, grows up wanting for nothing in a fancy Florida suburb. Andy grows up poor in Philadelphia with a single mom and a rare talent that will let him become one of the best runners of his generation.

Over the course of three decades, through high school and college, marriages and divorces, from the pinnacles of victory and the heartbreak of defeat, Andy and Rachel will find each other again and again, until they are finally given a chance to decide whether love can surmount difference and distance and if they’ve been running toward each other all along. – Goodreads

Damn it, my emotions are still reeling. This one hit me right in the feels. Thanks for that, Jennifer.

Rachel and Andy are high school sweethearts—but their story starts long before that. Rachel has had a heart condition her entire life, and they end up meeting in the hospital when they’re young. They come from separate sides of the tracks—Rachel from a rich, Jewish family and Andy from a low-income, single parent household. This is fine, until they’re older and begin to realize that their differences are coming between them.

The storyline is fantastic and spans over many years. It switches point of view between Rachel and Andy with each chapter, and also labels the year. It was easy to understand and gave a great look at each character as they progressed through life.

Andy and Rachel have a very on again off again relationship throughout their adolescent and adult life as they realize their differences—in beliefs, backgrounds, goals, and aspirations. They both just seemed so real. Even Andy, who turned into a freaking Olympic runner.

I literally don’t even know how to put into words how much I love this book. Definitely my new favorite Weiner novel. 5/5 on Goodreads.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may also change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should’ve happened? – Goodreads

THIS BOOK. I love it so much!! I could read about Emerson and Michael and Kaleb all day, all the time, constantly. I love the characters and the weirdness that is their world very much! If I could, I would insert myself into it, that’s how much I love it.

Emerson’s story is really sad – she’s lonely and no one really understands her. I love that her brother and sister-in-law care so much though, and truly just want her to be her own person and come to terms with things. She also has a really good best friend that stays by her side through everything (though I would’ve loved to learn more about her).

I will admit that there are a few parts of the story that get confusing, but that comes with the territory that is the topic of this story (I couldn’t be more vague right? Don’t want to give away anything though!). I also didn’t like that it’s SO obvious who is going to end up with who from the very beginning. I really think that if McEntire would have ran with the plot twist she threw in there, it would have been a much more intriguing and less-obvious story. But, she didn’t and here we are.

After all is said and done, I rated Hourglass 4/5 on Goodreads – I love it but I could live without it. I’m also super disappointed that the sequels don’t pick up where the story left off or with the same main characters.