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Lisa T


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Review: Ripper

Ripper
by Amy Carol Reeves
ebook
360 pages
Published April 8th 2012
by Flux
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

A paranormal mystery involving London’s most notorious killer 

In 1888, following her mother’s sudden death, seventeen-year-old Arabella Sharp goes to live with her grandmother in a posh London neighborhood. At her grandmother’s request, Abbie volunteers at Whitechapel Hospital, where she discovers a passion for helping the unfortunate women and children there. 

But within days, female patients begin turning up brutally murdered at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Even more horrifying, Abbie starts having strange visions that lead her straight to the Ripper’s next massacres. As her apparent psychic connection with the twisted killer grows stronger, Abbie is drawn into a deadly mystery involving the murders, her mother’s shadowed past, and a secret brotherhood of immortals—who’ll stop at nothing to lure Abbie into its “humanitarian” aims.

Thoughts:
Another book based on the Jack the Ripper murders! Apparently 2012 is indeed a good year for historical fantasy since so many are published this year. Ripper started off well and we are introduced (rather quickly) to Abbie who just lost her mother and now are sent off to live with her wealthy grandmother. At the request of a close family friend (and apparently since it's considered vogue to do so by her dear grandma), Abbie was ordered to volunteer at Whitechapel Hospital.

Likes
Now things get a lot more interesting when Abbie gets there as she meets Simon and Williams; two handsome young doctors working in the hospital. Thankfully there's not much of a love triangle since Abbie is very much pre-occupied by the mysterious gruesome killings. I also love how Abbie decided that it's her calling to be a doctor rather than just be relegated to the sidelines as a nurse or something.

Dislikes
The ending is kind of abrupt for me. One minute Abbie and her young men are running for their lives and the next everything was revealed and ended. It's like in the movie when the villain finally confess to his wrongdoings and his ulterior motives. The same thing happened here. I wished there were more clues or maybe a flashback to the past or something to give us a glimpse of the whole murder connection.

I'm kind of on the fence regarding this book. Although it does not bore me but it just doesn't leave an impact. Overall, it is a quick enjoyable read without taxing the mind too much.

Recommended for: fans historical fantasy
Verdict: 3 stars.

In my Debut Author& Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Wishlist Wednesday #18

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Auracle
by Gina Rosati
Hardcover
304 pages
Expected publication: August 7th 2012
by Roaring Brook Press

Summary from Goodreads:

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe. 

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them. 

Babble:
The concept of astral projection drew me to the book and I'm so curious to find out what, where and how does the main character astral projects herself. Is it like flying or sleeping? I really can't wait for this one.

Review: Above

Above
by Leah Bobet
ebook
Published April 1st 2012
by Scholastic

Summary from Goodreads:

Matthew has always lived in Safe, a community hidden far beneath the pipes and tunnels of the city Above. The residents fled to Safe years before to escape the Whitecoats and their cruel experiments, and now Matthew is responsible for both the keeping of Safe’s stories and for Ariel—a golden-haired shapeshifter, and the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. 

But one horrifying night, an old enemy murders Safe’s founder, Atticus, and the community is taken over by an army of shadows. Only Matthew, Ariel, and a handful of friends escape Above. Now they not only have to survive in a sunlit world they barely know, but they must unravel the mystery of the shadows’ fury and Atticus’s death. It’s up to Matthew to find a way to remake Safe—not just for himself and his family, but for Ariel, who’s again faced with the life she fled, and who needs him more than ever before. 

Thoughts:
Above is a tale told from the point of view of Matthew who was born in an underground sanctuary called Safe. Residents of Safe are primarily people with some sort of mutation and are known as Freaks or Beasts by the people of Above. And Matthew who was born from a mother who had gills and a father who had lion's feet have the ability to tell stories. Thus he is known as the Teller.
The story would have been wonderful with the collection of colourful different characters (except for Ariel) but the disjointed writing ultimately threw me off. It is reminiscent of Moira Young's style in Blood Red Road which is borderline unique and confusing. In Blood Red Road the plotline is intense enough to keep me going, unfortunately for Above it is not. After fleeing from Safe, all Matthew/Teller does is to keep Ariel out of trouble and at the same time coming up with a plan to return to Safe. Ultimately, I think this is just not for me. I did finish the book though.

Recommended for: fans Incarceron, Pure and Blood Red Road
Verdict: 2 stars.

In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon