Unmasked by C J Barry was a very good book. You can get a good synopsis over at RT. At first I thought it was going to be another book with a "kick-ass" heroines who turns out to be TSTL, one who reacts without thinking her actions all the way through. This is how the h/h meet, after that she turns into a truly strong, yet sensitive heroine. The hero is an alpha hero with a good heart and soul. Action packed and fast paced, a really good book. Even if you don't like futuristics, this one is worth reading.
I wish I could say the same thing about To The Castle by Joan Wolf. I was so looking forward to this book, I wanted it to be fabulous. Medievals are few and far between right now and I had such I hopes for this book. The story line is very good, the review over at AAR is accurate and yet there is a certain disconnect you feel from the characters, everything seems lukewarm and somewhat boring. The writing at times seems almost to simple:
Nell turned to her husband. He looked all gold as he stood there in the afternoon sunlight: gold hair, gold eyes, gold skin. She realized she liked to look at him. She thought he was beautiful.
I can't believe the same person who wrote The Dark Ages series wrote that paragraph. I'm thinking this is probably my last Joan Wolf, I think I need to go and mourn a favorite gone for good.
Have a great day, and happy reading.
6 comments:
Tara: We seem to be very in sync these days. I loved Unmasked too and now I want to hunt down her backlist - starting today :)
AAR gave it a pretty good review too. A new-to-me author with a backlist. I love it!
Kristie--CJ Barry is new to me too. This was a wonderful book, there is so much more I could have commented about. I'm looking forward to reading her backlist too.
Anne--I felt completely detached from this book, I couldn't believe what I was reading. Between blatant head hopping between characters, so many of their thoughts are given in italic. There are several typos. The writing seemed simple and minimalistic in the extreme. I hate to say it, but this was a huge disappointment!!
I very very rarely go to the RT message boards - I'm an AAR gal myself, but I see what you mean.
Tea or coffee?
Dove Cookies?
where to put hair accessories?
zzzzzzzzzz
Anne E:
And one regular poster is going on about her health issues again, and the board is divided between those who are sympathetic and those who are annoyed. I'm staying out of that one!
I saw the poor, poor me thread yesterday and said that's it. I've gone from sympathetic to not so sympathetic to apathetic, and I almost commented something yesterday, but the "if you don't have anything nice to say ..." thing smacked me in the head and decided better. I hate thinking that way, it's the reason I stopped going to the RT Political Board all together.
I'm still lurking to check on Jenster, my prayers are with her everyday.
Kristie--I lurk over at AAR too, but I have the hardest time following the threads(they give me such a headache--LOL,) you ladies are tough over there, I'm a little intimidated.
Hey Tara Marie, detatched is the exact word I felt when I read To The Castle.
I still visit the Rt boards daily and Anne E is sooo right about those 2 posters. One I consider a drama queen(not Jenster) and the other poster--some of her ?'s are so inane!
And I visit AAR daily too but post rarely. That's where I discovered Christine Feehan who's now an autobuy.
I lurked at AAR for almost a year before getting up the nerve to post there. But the first time I did, I got wonderful responses, I've been doing it ever since. I try and stay away from the controversial ones, though they do make interesting reading, but I have gotten sucked in a time or two. And I have gotten some wonderful rec's not so much from the review themselves, but from the buzz - and also from the RtR board.
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