(Click on the book titles to be redirected to their goodreads page and get a synopsis.)
Entice by Carrie JonesThird book in the Need Series
I really like all the foklore and mythology Carrie Jones integrates into her series and this book does that the best out of the three.
VS.
The Replacement by Brenna YovanoffThe descriptions in this novel brought the setting, characters and world to life. They were gritty and real and I could almost taste/touch/smell it all. For something so infused with fantasy and foklore it seemed very believable and I think the descriptions had a lot to do with that.
VS.
The Devouring by Simon HoltThe first book in The Devouring series
I started reading this before bed and couldn't put it down because if I did, I wouldn't know how the conflict was resolved, and if that was true then I wouldn't know how to beat the Vours (the villainous creatures who devour human souls and steal their bodies). Holt created creatures that fed on people's fears and my overactive imagination started feeding my conscious all of my fears until I was, quite honestly, scared to turn out my light (The Vours come when the night eats light). I believed in this book. (Until the next day when I realized that was just madness.)
Soulstice by Simon Holt
The second book in The Devouring series
The fears in the first book were physical things - clowns, spiders, water, etc - but in this installment we deal with fears like desolation, being afraid of your self and guilt and this intangible fears are far more horrifying. This book doesn't skip on horror at all, so if that's what you're looking for...
Winner This Week:
This week I have to go with The Replacement. The main character Mackie was strange and interesting and the world was dark and dreary but not hopeless. The entire story revolves around foklore but the fantasy is believable because the descriptions make it all seem real. Days after I finished, I was still thinking about the town of Gentry. That is a mark of a good book (especially when you've read two after it and still can't stop thinking about it).
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What did you read this week?
That's true, when the characters of a book get stuck in your head. That's a good sign that the book rocks!
ReplyDeleteYou always make such fantastic recommendations and I'm in awe of how much reading you do!
ReplyDeleteLast week I read Well of Lost Plots by Jasper Fforde. If you've not read this author before, you must. The idea behind his Thursday Next novels is sheer genius. Make sure you read them in the right order though. The Eyre Affair is the first book.
I've been reading Fragile Eternity, A Wicked Lovely book by Melissa Marr. I wasn't planning to read this series and wasn't entirely sure I'd like it, but I must say, the series has been holding me captive. I just love it. Your suggestions are wonderful and are about to make my list:) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! The Replacement is in my TBR stack. I'll have to check out some of the others as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI really love these! :D And I have to confess, of the four you've got up here, I thought the Replacement sounded the coolest. Plus it's one of the only ones not the 3rd (or whatever) in a series, yes?
ReplyDeletecoolio. Thanks, girl~ :o)
I need to read The Replacement, clearly! Such a good book war this week :)
ReplyDeleteI shall read captivate after the tenth kingdom! Also I may be interested in reading this replacement book. You seam pretty excited about it. haha.
ReplyDeleteI've read The Replacement--I liked it, especially the way human prejudice and how someone who's a loner/different was presented.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a clever way of doing short reviews and then recommending which one you liked the best. LOVE IT!!!! The Devouring series sounds like it's a bit too spooky for me so I will pass on that, but I do like the idea behind the entire series. Just may be a bit too real for my tastes.
ReplyDeleteevery time i go to the bookstore, i always end up reading a page or two of The Replacement and I'm always incredibly fascinated. I would have it in my library right now if I wasn't so poor. xD
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about The Replacement!! So glad you picked it. Going on my list!
ReplyDeleteWow Melissa, 4 books! You're definitely on track with your reading goals! I love the covers for all 4 books but The Replacement sounds good - thanks for sharing! I've picked up a stack of new books last week but RL has kept me from starting on them. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteOoh.. thanks for the recommendations! I'm just finishing up the first book in The Hunger Games Series - so far - very good! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of them yet, but now I must.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Oh my, all of these sound so intriguing! Replacement has been on my list too long!!!
ReplyDeleteI ADORE how you review. I really do! It is AWESOME! And you made me really want to read The Devouring. Never heard of it, actually, I don't think until now. It sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteNope, none of them... I've read or I'm reading Mist born, by Brandon Sanderson-sofar it's ok.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great things about the replacement. I really need to put it on my ever growing TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of them, so I appreciate your review!
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious about all of them. I guess I'd pick Replacement first too!
I haven't read any of these yet, but I'm really looking forward to reading The Replacement. It seems rather macabre and Tim Burton-esque, which I absolutely adore.
ReplyDeleteI was wowed by The Replacement, too. A memorable, strange MC in an eerie town. Scared me, intrigued me, kept me reading.
ReplyDeleteMy sister has read The Replacement and she said it took her awhile to get into because the cover gave her an entirely different impression than what the story was actually pertaining to. So I'm going in with an open mind but my initial excitement has been worn off.
ReplyDeleteThen again with it being the winner this week that might have changed :)
I haven't read any of these books, but I love the concept of a book war!
ReplyDeleteOh, you make such a good case for all three this week!
ReplyDeleteOut of these books, I've only read The Replacement, but I LOVED it. It was a mix of all these creepy but wonderful elements, and Mackie was just so endearing!
ReplyDeleteThe winner sounds amazing this week. I definitely have to check it out. On my Amazon wishlist, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm really itching to read The Replacement.
ReplyDeleteI read FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB and JULIET, NAKED - both FABULOUS reads. I'm giving away a copy of FIVE FLAVORS OF DUMB - a deaf girl managing a band was irresistible.
ReplyDeleteAlso - I LOVE books that keep me thinking about them... it's a happy place.
I've heard of the replacements, but none of the others. Man. So many books to read, so little time. AND NO LIBRARY HERE with books in English. I'm pretty much screwed budget wise.
ReplyDeleteJeepers, I wish I could read books as fast as you do!! Haven't actually read any of these, and I remember reading a negative review of The Replacement, so it's good to know that other people have actually enjoyed it :-) I should give it a chance then :-)
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