Jessica M. Merbler

Only One Will Walk Away

Revisado: 07-07-22

Really fun technohorror that's witty, quick, and easy to listen to. Reminded me of Ray Bradbury's moralistic stance on technology, but updated for today.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Nobody's Review is Perfect

Revisado: 07-06-22

Ignore the whiners who don't like that language is evolving: there are no identity politics in this, just one character out of a dozen who used "they/them" pronouns with no discussion as to why, just as most authors don't explain as to why a character is fe/male.

Ignore those who are complaining that the backdrop is "all about Covid19." Obviously, they didn't bother to read beyond chapter one, and are you really going to take someone like that's review seriously?

Ignore the "it's such a politicized story," or "why the hate on rich people." Because neither of those are actually happening in the story. There is ONE rich kid aszhole with spoiled brat syndrome. Everyone else in the book, including a very thinly veiled reference to TFG President, who might be rich barely makes a two second appearance in the 11-hour book. And there are less politics in the entire story than the first twenty minutes of Fuzzy Nation. Or half of Old Man's War. About on par with Agent to the Stars, really.

Okay, the criticism about Wil Wheaton is valid, but you either like his permanently-affixed smile-in-his-voice narrator voice or you don't. No, there's no in-between, because it's perpetual. Obviously, Scalzi likes Wheaton's winking at the audience or he wouldn't have him narrating 90% of his books.

The story itself is fun, but it's Scalzi. You would expect it to be, just like you'd expect Xanth to have puns, Pratchett to have political satire, or Gaimon to have "wth did I just read" questions. It's not Fuzzy Nation, or Red Shirts, or Agent to The Stars. Or, god help me, Ready Player One. It's entirely it's own romp through the wilds of Jungle Canada.

The only thing I can say about it is that I'm a die-hard Scalzi girl and loved it. You should read it if you want a popcorn love fest of Scalzi Does Jurassic Park.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Absolutely fascinating

Revisado: 12-08-20

Blutrich is NOT a Good Guy™️, but you might be forgiven if you forget that while listening to his incredible, highly entertaining story.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Just couldn't get into it

Revisado: 09-29-16

I hate giving up on books. I especially hate it when I've given so much time to it (41% through.) But, for some reason, (and, I don't know if I've just somehow missed key points in the narrative, or if the author's style of writing simply doesn't mesh with my brain,) I have no clue as to what's going on. Normally, one would start the book over, but I'm just not interested in it enough to spend several more hours just to get back where I am.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Misty does it again

Revisado: 09-21-16

I've been a lifetime fan of Mercedes Lackey, and while some of her stories are weaker than others, she remains one of the authors who I'll buy her stories if I only have enough for one book. Even if I've already read it in one format or another. Her Elemental Masters series is my favorite of her many-imagined series, with this story being one of my favorites among these books.

I've been a member of Audible for years, and while I don't usually write reviews (who actually has time for that?) the various negative reviews irritated me enough to write to counter them. If you enjoy YA books, or Disney-esque good versus evil, I strongly suggest this book. Just enough darkness to make this into an entertaining literary meal, without being so dark as to make this depressing, or too light as to be a popcorn read. In short, the tone is right, the plot strong, and the character development believable.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Was This Ghost Written?

Revisado: 07-27-16

I'm a huge fan of NR, and have read as many of her books as I can find. I know that she has many ways of telling a story, and many voices to tell those stories, but even then, there's a kind of writing that a person does that's as true and unique to them as their signature. This book was as far away from my favorite author's signature as you can get, while still being a really well written romance story. So, don't get me wrong - it's worth the price to read, it just isn't Nora Roberts.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Frustratingly NOT Twilight, but Not For the Reason You'd Think

Revisado: 06-29-16

It had a slow hook, that's for sure. But, once I started getting into it, I felt "oh, okay, this is going to be on my 'Not ANOTHER Twilight' bookshelf." Because, yes, I have a label for those teen angsty dramas that adhere to the Twilight formula. Don't you?

So, at the end, I was grateful to see that I had been WRONG about what this book was, and wouldn't have to die of shame, when I got the next book in the series. Which, I WILL be getting. Because, it's rare when you find a story that's unique, and from its Russian-themed background to the characters you're never quite certain what to think of, this is a unique tale worth taking a look at.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Strong Writing

Revisado: 06-22-16

NR tends to be very formulaic in her writing, to the point where you know roughly what you're going to get, who to root for, and who are the bad guys. This book breaks her mold a bit. It's really the first book I've read from her that has multiple people falling in love and the same amount of attention is being paid to each couple. It's also one of the first books that I've seen the most character development in a single character. Lastly, in the end, until The Big Reveal happened, I wasn't ENTIRELY certain just who the Big Bad was. The only reason this is four instead of five stars is that there's so much going on, it feels a bit "off," pacing-wise. I think that this is one of the reasons she tends to break a story like this into a trilogy.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Gotta Love Ellen

Revisado: 06-18-16

I think that the take away of this book is: live life happy. And, a great way to do that is by laughing. To that end, listen (or read) this book at least 15 minutes a day. It can be your happy meditation time. Because, there's no way you can partake of the book and NOT be amused. It's just that good.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Everything A Dream Should Be

Revisado: 04-26-16

I wasn't going to review this, because this story deserves ponderous digestion, and by the time I'd be finished, I'd have lost interest in reviewing it, but I suppose that even that could be a review of a kind. It's written in a Romantically Gothic style, if the Victorians had our meter of speech and grammar rules. Perfect for the lush imagery and dream-like themes. Enter at your own peril, as the reading, like any feast of words, will change the mind it goes to sustain.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña