Tag: book

Before Her Eyes – Jack Jordan

Post author By Hibiscus_Flower
Post date 8th May 2021
No Comments on Before Her Eyes – Jack Jordan

I bought this with a few other books during one of my many book buying binges, and it was put on the shelf with my hundreds of books to be read, but it was one of those that I still did not forget the synopsis and was always looking forward to reading. The moment I started reading it, I was hooked and did not want to stop reading until I had all the answers and experienced the whole book while also kind of not wanting it to end because when I read a really good book, I feel like whatever I read next might not live up to this standard and I will forever be disappointed. Yeah… I worry over stupid things and I’m also very dramatic at times, just accept it for now and we’ll move forward together.

Naomi Hannah, born blind and abandoned by her birth Mother at a young age finds herself living in a small coastal town where everyone knows everyone and gossip spreads like wildfire. Unhappy and plagued with suicidal thoughts Naomi always putting others before herself tries to come up with the best way to end her life with the least amount of trauma to those she loves, including her faithful companion guide dog Max.
After a disaster shift at work she heads home and stumbles on a murder scene and although she can’t see the body or the killer, the killer can see her. Will she be next?

Marcus who is new to the force but partnered with the closed off bully Lisa try to solve the murder but both keen to steer it in opposite directions and with conflicts of interest, secrets and lies it is not an easy task. Could Naomi help, would she even want to?

I found myself in awe of Naomi who was living as independently as possible and despite her mental health issues she kept trying to continue and doing her best get through her obstacles. She is a unique character to any others I’ve read in a book before, and it was quite an experience. I always find myself attached to characters in books, but this was something else. I could feel her claustrophobia, her panic, her disorientation. I could really get myself in her head and she’s a character that will stay with me for a very long time.
I would highly recommend this book, it was beautifully written and although heavy going emotionally and as intense it was, it was a journey that I loved from start to finish.

Tags Before Her Eyes, book, Book Review, Bookwork, Fiction, Hibiscus, Hibiscus_Flower, Jack Jordan, Naomi Hannah, Review, Thriller

The Island by M.A. Bennett

Post author By Hibiscus_Flower
Post date 14th Apr 2021
No Comments on The Island by M.A. Bennett

I was extremely excited to read this book. I absolutely loved S.T.A.G.S, D.O.G.S and F.O.X.E.S and cannot wait for the next two books in the series but until then I decided to read The Island by the same author, Oxford University and University of Venice graduate M.A. Bennett.

The book follows Link who has come from America to England and is struggling to settle into his new school, Osney. With its ranking system of athletic ability equating to where your position is in the school, from top dog to practically slave to those in higher positions and it’s insane traditions, Link quickly finds himself at the bottom of the food chain and the continuous butt of the joke.

After enjoying three of M.A. Bennet’s books, I had high hopes but unfortunately, I was disappointed. I thought it was going to be about a group of teenagers who crash on to an island on their way to a school trip and must do what they can to survive. I wanted feral teenagers but got a bunch of useless wankers and a hallucinating sex pest.

The storyline was farfetched, unbelievable, and really did not make much sense. I found it hard to really care about any of the characters as the majority are just awful people and the ones who were quite likable did not get enough ‘airtime’ and there was about three times when I decided to give up on the book and then continued hoping that the ending would piece it all together and make the rest of the story better when all is revealed. But it got worse!

Spoilers below:

I thought that I would feel for the main character and at times I did, I hate bullying and felt sorry for him… until he became an arsehole which was the moment he woke up on ‘his’ island. Link seemed to think that the world owed him something. Which I guess that was the point, but it was so extreme to the point of objectifying women and literally starving the nicest girl on the island who then forgives him too quickly. And despite turning this way so quickly, he then was the opposite and didn’t really seem that fussed when he found out that his parents had been behind the whole thing all along. I understand that he has the advantage on the island with his basic knowledge of fire starting and well not much else and after being bullied so harshly he holds a lot of anger to these people to then being seen as the survival expert on the island it would give you power and that power might go to your head. But the bullies rushed to him and admired him quicker than I felt was realistic, him turning into such an arse was too quick and then the forgiving and moving forward happened quicker than I could even roll my eyes.

I did like that some of the characters became nicer and they opened up to each other about their insecurities and there were some sweet moments between each other. Some of these teenagers’ experiences and their way of dealing with the pressure of school at some parts where relatable. But then after the whole ordeal they kind of just became arseholes again or just got on with their lives without taking anything from their experiences. I feel like these strong headed characters would be left with PTSD or at least a whole lot of anger towards the organisers of this experience and their parents for letting it go ahead. They seemed to just accept what had happened and then… new school term time to get on with it. Personally, I’d be rebelling and acting out, big time! Also how dare his parents try and discipline him for his mild drug use while trapped on an island, not knowing if he’d ever get off the island. Like come on! Really?

Also the last part of the book, of Link in the future was so pointless in my opinion and it made me dislike the book even more. I feel it would have made sense for him to be in a therapy session or disowning his awful parents. Not looking back like ‘Ah yeah… that time I was abandoned on an island with nothing but my school bullies and some random shite.. good times.’

I’m still looking forward to the next two S.T.A.G.S books but I just can’t get my head around this being written by the same author. This is the first book in a long time that I have really disliked. Some I thought I disliked but then the ending made it all connect and fall into place and gave me a whole new perspective on the story and I really hoped that this would do that but alas it did not.

Tags book, Book Review, M.A. Bennett, The Island

Book Review

Pearlsilla: The New Wave

By Kendra Sundalnik

Pearlsilla is a mermaid on a mission to save the world through stopping the dumping of toxic waste, minimising pollution, and various other ways. After meeting Zac on the beach, she gets him and his pals on board to help her take down Moto Ronin a plant known for dumping toxic waste in the ocean.

When the book arrived my first thought was how beautiful the cover pictures are, they are so stunning and so colourful, but I feel as though the text on it takes away from the beautiful imagery. By changing the font, positioning the text away from the edges on the book a little and putting the text that is on the back in the centre of the back and in a white rectangle I think it would compliment the picture and the text would not get lost in the photo as it’s hard to see some of it with the colouring being so close to the tree.

Initially I was not sure on the target audience, was it for children? Was it for adults? Everyone? But the hint of an f bomb in chapter two cleared that up for me. Not for children.

I love the concept of the book, the character of Pearlsilla is great and she is very likable. I would love to see more of this character and what other adventures she could go on. I think doing a series of beautifully illustrated children’s books would do very well, not only for the story but on the other side as well. It could educate the world on how we could all be eco-friendlier and what we can do to achieve this. I do find some of the story really rushed and feel as though the time of her meeting and trusting her new friends to be too quick. I would love to know more about these characters and see them trying to gain her trust a little more and vice versa. I would also like to know why Graham was so keen on helping destroy his place of work risking his income when up until this point he had no issue with what the plant does.

What is very clear is the passion Kendra has for this cause and there is a part where Pearlsilla gives a big motivational speech and explains what is going on in the world and how it is affecting sea life and the world which is beautifully written and so powerful. I would love to see more of that. Kendra clearly has a talent for writing and a vast knowledge of current environmental issues and with this combination she could go far and do so much good in the world. But what I felt let it down was the parts that felt rushed and the occasional spelling error. I would love to read more of Kendra’s work and hopefully she will continue to write as she will be fantastic if she continues to write.

To buy her book you can find it here:

https://www.lulu.com/search/?adult_audience_rating=00&contributor=Kendra+Sudalnik&page=1&pageSize=10

To find Kendra Sudalnik on social media:

Twitter @Pearlsilla

TikTok @Pearlsilla