Tag Archives: won

Swallow You Whole

Book Review of Swallow You Whole, by Jasper Black

Leave a reply

Swallow You Whole

I won a signed copy of Swallow You Whole, by Jasper Black, from Goodreads.

Description:
For two villainous nobles, it is a desperate means to an end. For two clever demons…it is one hell of a tax break. 

Henry and James have accidentally staked claim on the same soul. Elliot Dosett, the bitter and sickly son of a successful steel magnate, summoned a demon in hopes of solving his trouble with his father and inheriting the estate. Violet Clifton, his aunt, also summoned a demon in order to rid herself of a useless husband and take over the business he leaves behind. In order to delay her own death, she also signs away Elliot’s soul. And so the paperwork begins to fly.

Lady is a fallen angel. He is also one of Hell’s top auditors. He is sent to monitor the activity of Henry and James. Once he finds out which demon is trying to cheat Hell, his job is to send them back in chains.

Henry will do anything to avoid being reported, dragging James and Lady down the path of a capricious scheme. Yet Satan is hot on their heels and will stop at nothing to hunt them all down; even if that means interrupting God’s latest round of golf.

Review:
A point of clarification on the front end, I would not consider this a romance. Maybe I’m the only one who mistakenly thought it would be, but I don’t think it is. Whatever it is, horror-slash-humor maybe, I quite enjoyed.

I liked both James and Henry. I thought God, Satan and the other angels/sins that show up were well characterized. Violet and Elliot, the peevish, evil humans, were suitably evil. There were a few unexpected turns. The author stuck with the inevitable ending, which pleased me and there were quite a few ironic, funny moments.

I did find the fact that the celestial realms seemed to run on a different time than earth jarring and anachronistic. I understand it was purposeful, but it still pulled me out of the story. Lastly, I think it could have done with another editing pass. But the truth is I’d almost forgive it this for the awesome cover.

What I’m drinking: What the English might call Builder’s tea. One inexpensive bag of black tea, quite strong and a dash of milk. This is one of my comfort drinks. These days, I’m often off dairy. So, I don’t drink it as often. But for pure, melt into the couch relaxation, it’s my go-to drink.

Book Review of The Wolf Road, by Beth Lewis

Leave a reply

The Wolf Road

I won a copy of Beth Lewis‘ The Wolf Road from Library Thing.

Description from Goodreads:
In the remote wilds of a ravaged land, Elka has been raised by a man who isn’t her father. Since finding her wandering in the woods when she was seven, he has taught her how to hunt, shoot, set snares and start fires–everything she needs to survive. All she knows of the world outside is gleaned from whispers of a cataclysmic event that turned the clock back on civilization by a hundred and fifty years and reduced governments and technology to shambles, leaving men at the mercy of the elements–and each other. 

Everything changes when Elka learns that the man she has been calling father is harboring a terrible secret. Armed with nothing but her knife and her wiles, she decides to escape his clutches and sets out on a long journey to the frozen north in the hope of finding her long-lost parents. 

But as the trail of blood and bodies grows in her path, Elka realizes that daddy won’t be letting his little girl go without a fight. If she’s going to survive, she’ll have to turn and confront not just him, but the truth about what he’s turned her into.

Review:
Wow, I really liked this. I consider it one of my very few five-star reads of the year. It wasn’t perfect. There are a few convenient occurrences, the wolf is too anthropomorphized and I thought it dragged a little at certain points, but these are small complaints. I adored Elka’s narrative voice and her no-nonsense character. The taut story telling kept me invested and the way it all unfolded was marvelously paced. All in all, I can’t wait to read more of Lewis’ work in the future.

What I’m drinking: French pressed, decaffeinated black coffee of no notable blend or brand.

Sandrine's Case

Book Review of Sandrine’s Case, by Thomas H. Cook

Leave a reply

Sandrine's Case

I won a copy of Sandrine’s Case, by Thomas Cook, quite a while ago. It feels good to finally get it read and reviewed.

Description from Goodreads:
Samuel Madison always wondered what Sandrine saw in him. He was a meek, stuffy doctorate student, and she a brilliant, beautiful, bohemian with limitless talents and imagination. On the surface their relationship and marriage semed perfectly tranquil: jobs at the same small, liberal arts college, a precocious young daughter, a home filled with art and literature, and trips to some of the world’s most beautiful cities and towns. And then one night Sandrine is found dead in their bed and Samuel is accused of her murder.

As the truth about their often tumultuous relationship comes to light, Samuel must face a town and media convinced of his guilt, a daughter whose faith in her father has been shaken to its core, and astonishing revelations about his wife that make him fall in love with her for a second time. A searing novel about love lost and rediscovered, from one of our greatest chroniclers of the human heart.

Review:
Oh, this is a hard one to review. I spent a lot of it feeling slightly bored and wishing the pace would pick up, knowing it wouldn’t. Despite that, it also kept the tension taut and I was never wholly sure which way the ending would go. Consider the whole book takes place in 9 days, most of those with the main character sitting idly in a courtroom, this narrative tension is quite the feat.

The book really made me think. What would I judge a man on, the person he once was, has recently been, is now or will be in the future? When there’s been or will be a significant breach between one and the other, this isn’t an easy question to answer.

For those who enjoy a slow, considered pace and tightly woven psychological thrillers. This is one worth picking up.

What I’m drinking: Just hot water and lemon.