Blodeuedd Reviews: Loveless by Alice Oseman

 

By: Alice Oseman

Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Elizabeth Schenk, Imogen Church

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Release date: 03-01-22 by Scholastic

YA fiction/audiosync

I have actually never read Osman. I did see the tvseries, and I really should read Heartstopper. But this is my first Osman.

Georgia starts uni and wonders what is wrong with her. Why hasn´t she kissed anyone? Why does it make her want to throw up? With her she has her two best friends, Jason and Pip. Jason got some space here, but not much. Pip did get some more space and drama as she navigates uni being gay. Georgia also gets a roommate named Rooney who has her own troubles.

Classes, friendship drama, the search for love and romance, and slowly finding out why she is different, and why that is perfectly fine. She is aromantic and asexual. She has no real clues what that is, and even as the tries to comprehend it will take some time. But I loved the message in the book, how friendships are important and should be treasured. True friends are gold.

Good book and good narration. 

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone . . . since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection. This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum -- coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy -- there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends.

Book Review: The Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas

Author: Sherry Thomas

Title: The Hollow of Fear

Series: Lady Sherlock #3

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Format: paperback

Pages: 329

Published: October 2, 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

Under the cover of “Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective,” Charlotte Holmes puts her extraordinary powers of deduction to good use. Aided by the capable Mrs. Watson, Charlotte draws those in need to her and makes it her business to know what other people don’t.

Moriarty’s shadow looms large. First, Charlotte’s half brother disappears. Then, Lady Ingram, the estranged wife of Charlotte’s close friend Lord Ingram, turns up dead on his estate. And all signs point to Lord Ingram as the murderer.

With Scotland Yard closing in, Charlotte goes under disguise to seek out the truth. But uncovering the truth could mean getting too close to Lord Ingram—and a number of malevolent forces…

Review:

Book 3! I found this randomly at a used book store in Ann Arbor so why not?

We are back on the case with Charlotte. Her half brother disappears, Moriarty's shadow looms over all, and now Lady Ingram is dead. She is the estranged wife of Charlotte's close friend. All signs are pointing to him. With Scotland Yard closing in, Charlotte has to go undercover to find the truth.

Am I in the minority? It seems like everyone adores this one. It was okay. Not my favorite so far of the series. I felt the last two were way better. 

I was doing okay with this until the big twist and reveals. Ugh. Too easy but really complex and odd. It didn't sit right with me. I hope a certain character is charged with SOMETHING. That character doesn't deserve to just....like walk away. No more spoilers from me. That is all you get. 

The ending didn't sit well with me. The rest was okay. I enjoyed watching Charlotte figure things out and get her hands dirty. 

Lord Ingram and her? Poor guy is going to get his heartbroken again. :(

All-in-all, not my favorite. Was still great seeing everyone and seeing Charlotte untwist this mystery. I didn't like the ending. We'll see how book 4 goes. 3 stars from me. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Wild

Challenge(s):

- Cloak and Dagger - #17

Graphic Novel Review: Heartstopper V4 by Alice Osema

Author & Illustrator: Alice Osema
Title: Heartstopper

Series: Heartstopper Volume 4
Genre: Graphic Novel, LGBT, YA, Contemporary, Romance
Format: ebook

Pages: 320
Published: May 6, 2021
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Charlie didn't think Nick could ever like him back, but now they're officially boyfriends. Charlie's beginning to feel ready to say those three little words: I love you.

Review: 

I'm loving this series SO much. It's so dang sweet and....real. 

We continue following Charlie and Nick on their journey of young love. Things get a little heavier in this one. 

Not only do they want to scream "I LOVE YOU" to each other, but both are so scared and unsure.....we also get to glimpse at some of their demons. They both don't have the perfect family life. Charlie's mom is having a hard time trusting him. Nick's brother is a monster and his dad is absent. He's a 1 time a year father. 

We also dive into Charlie's mental health issues and eating issues. I'm sure a lot of it stems from that whole year he was bullied to the point the police should've been involved. Poor kid....Charlie is so sweet and didn't deserve that at all. :( 

Don't get it twisted...even with the heavier plotline here it is still light and YA. It just made their world seem more real....and it makes you adore them even more. You want them to be happy and have the perfect life. We all know life isn't like that though......

But yes. This is still really good and I want more! MORE PLEASE!

5 stars. I loved that it went a little darker and we get to see more behind each character. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Beautiful

Challenge(s):

-  Library Love #22

2-in-1 Review: Of Swine and Roses & Retribution Clause

Author: Ilona Andrews

Narrator: Hillary Huber 

Title: Of Swine and Roses

Series: World of Kate Daniels

Genre: Short Story, UF, Paranormal Romance, YA, Novella

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 13, 2009

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

A young adult short story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever.

Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into “his” neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on the date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can’t say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won’t even mention the dead guy…

Review:

That title!!!! I snorted like a piggie. I was excited to get started on this one. 

We have poor Alena who is being forced to go on a date with a dude named Chad (you know it's going to go bad based on the name alone). He is a thug and his morals are questionable. After a crappy movie and no ice cream...she finds herself trying to save a pig that Chad is out to murder. 

This was rough in the beginning. I get you don't want to upset a local family, but forcing her to go on a date with Chad? Ew. Bad parenting right there. 

The date was crappy and I was so worried she was going to fall head over heels in love with this punk. Bleh. Spoiler....she doesn't. Yayy!

Things got better but the beginning was rough because I was so worried about our girl. 

The narrator did a great job. Perfect for everyone. 

This was cute. Not my favorites of the shorts, but I loved the ending. 

3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Cute

 

Author: Ilona Andrews

Narrator: Michael Glenn

Title: Retribution Clause

Series: World of Kate Daniels #6.7

Genre: UF, Short Stories, Paranormal Romance, Novella

Format: Audiobook

Published: June 5, 2012

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Saiman's cousin, Adam—a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster—and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client's Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her.

Review:

Chipping away at all the shorts from the Kate Daniels series!! I came across this one next. Slightly worried because they are new characters.

We have Adam who is Saiman's cousin. He's a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster. His partner is Siroun. They are set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client's Retribution Clause....kill the person who killed her. 

How fun!!!! Adam was cool and I liked Siroun. I hope there are more of their stories out there! 

What a cool concept. I guess even in worlds like this we need insurance adjusters ;) 

Loved every moment of this story. 

The narrator was wonderful and brought everyone to life. 

All-in-all this was cool and fun. Slightly different, but in a refreshing way. 5 outta 5. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Lively

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #39 & 40