Kaseys Korner

Counterfeit

I picked up 'Counterfeit' solely because it was a Reese book club pick. I have to say I wasn't very impressed with it overall. There was a major surprise in the plot mid-way thru that I thought was clever but it wasn't enough to save the book for me.

Aside from that twist, I thought all the characters were pretty horrible and the message the book puts out (about learning to pull the wool over the eyes of consumers and corporations, how to out-maneuver law enforcement and picking a life of crime over legitimate employment) is nothing short of an endorsement/attempt to glamourize corruption. I can't get on board with that message even tho I'm cognizant it's presented in the form of fiction.

Very quick read but I would categorize it as a "miss" for Reese.

The Signature of All Things

Such a beautiful book in so many ways. As a plant lover & avid gardener (although not botanist!) I ate up every word about Henry Whittakers climb to the top of the plant collectors & medicinal plant world. If only we could have stayed immersed in his story a bit longer.

The generational branch to Alma was both intriguing and exasperating for me. She had a most unique childhood, raised from birth exposed to scientific minds from around the world and encouraged to nurture her own intelligence & curiosities, she was a rare female indeed and even more so for that time period. But then Ms Gilbert had to go and introduce Prudence into the story and it was like throwing a bucket of ice over me. She was, in fact, as cold as said ice, added zero to the story and what Alma did with Henry's bequest was a complete disrespect to her fathers legacy & to his wishes. I was fuming for him. She would have been better off establishing White Acre as a scientific retreat/school if she wanted to walk away from it. Would that I could, completely wipe any reference to Prudence off the pages...

I'm not even sure I enjoyed Almas time in Tahiti? All those pages, time and effort chasing after Ambrose and the subject of his drawings, denigrated the wonder of the rest of the book. I guess even smart girls are flawed? I kept waiting for her to at least visit Henry's vanilla plantation while she was there but she couldn't be bothered. Once she finally left the island & got herself back on track, the remainder of the book picked up. There really were so many marvelous ideas and theories touched upon in the book. Also famous figures in scientific history. I particularly liked the way Alma segregated time into three categories: Human, Divine & Moss.

Anyone with an interest in science, botany in particular, might find 'The Signature of All Things' a worthwhile read. I'm not sure how engaging it would be otherwise????

A Court of Silver Flames

This was not what I expected. Going in, I was so intrigued to know more about Nesta's powers but I have to say, the first half of the book, her anger and attitude issues got tiresome. To the point where I almost didn't care anymore. Thank God things picked up. The only way I can deal with her is in short sentences:

1. Nesta has anger issues, big time.
2. Nesta can't face reality, at all.
3. Nesta is scared of her own power.
3. Nesta gets coerced into physical training, and it's her salvation.
4. Nesta and Cassian fu*k a LOT. I mean, like A LOT. So much I want to change the genre of the book to erotica because let's face it ~ it's beyond romance.
5. When the chips are down tho, Nesta is bad ass. and you almost sigh in relief that all these chapters haven't been for nothing. There's just not enough of that side of her.
6. Nesta makes friends! Shocking, I know, that it's even possible!
7. Nesta sucks all the oxygen out of every other character. Diminishing them somehow??
8. Nesta saves the day! Happy ending??? I think NOT, at least not for long....

And that's pretty much the gist of 'A Court of Silver Flames.' Everyone thinks Nesta is formidable and she does possess some powerful magic but it's just offset by too many negatives for her to ever become a favorite character of mine.  So many other characters were left hanging too. Elain, Lucien, Tamlin... Will the next book be broader in scope? or will it focus primarily on Elain? Something tells me Lucien loses out to Azriel in her affections?????

As much as this book tore down so many characters and made them softer & "less than," it's a pretty safe bet I can still be counted on to read the next one.

 

 

A Court of Wings and Ruin

What are you High Fae people doing to me?? Magicking my mind??? Does Sarah Maas have the chops as an author to give her characters that ability??!!! I can't seem to let go of them and do anything else!!!! I totally devoured this book and loved nearly every single second of it.

I'm starting to see some flaws but I can't let them degrade the overriding feeling I have about this series.

'A Court of Wings and Ruin' was mostly a build up & a "readying" for the horrific war with the King of Hybern. We saw Feyre exploring her powers and displaying her courageous side even more than in book 2. What we did not see (very much of anyway) is what in the holy he*l her two sisters are now that they're both Fae! Are you kidding me??? They're the ones that had me so intrigued at the end of the second book and then barely a taste of what the change gifted/gave up to them. Nesta is an anger ball ~ I hope we get to the bottom of that someday ~ and Elain HAS to be holding out behind that sweet exterior. Seriously tho, all the references to the roiling darkness Nesta took from the Cauldron and all we get is one "little" eruption??? Tsk, tsk, what a tease!!

Even before I knew there were other books beyond 'A Court of Wings and Ruin,' I knew winning the war with Hybern wouldn't cast a spell of congenial peace over Prythian. Not with the Courts and Faes and creatures existing in this World. I'm sure to be right there for all/as many of them as this author wants to write!

This whole series has been a great summer reading escape and I'm now officially a fangirl of Sarah J. Maas.

A Court of Mist and Fury

I'm so caught up in this series that I moved straight from book 2 to book 3 without reviewing 'A Court of Mist and Fury' first. Now I'm halfway thru book 3 & I confess that I might be a little fuzzy about what happened at the end of book 2 and blur it with the beginning of book 3! My apologies if that happens or I spoil anything. I just couldn't pull myself away!

Let's address Tamlin before anything/anyone else. I don't think I've ever seen a character do an "about face" as much as the Ruler of the Spring Court. I mean, seriously, wth?? One minute I'm firmly rooting for Feyre to go save her High Lord and the second she does just that, he becomes unrecognizable: i.e., emotionless, uncommunicative, controlling, impossibly arrogant, etc., etc., before our eyes. As I was reading, I thought there was some major misprinting going on or very possibly some sketchy Fae magic. My head is still spinning. Since when does any man (high Fae or not) send home his purported love interest, putting her safety above his own, then go from hero to villain in a matter of a couple chapters?? Apparently when Sarah Maas is the author! Tamlin, Tamlin, Tamlin ~ how the mighty have fallen!!

Our heroine Feyre is most intriguing in her new Fae form tho. She has powers she doesn't at first seem to even care about or have interest in developing & they're definitely underappreciated ignored by Tamlin. Her bargain with Rhysand, made while Under the Mountain, turned out not to be as ominous or foreboding as I expected but rather fortuitous. Who knew it would be The High Lord of the Night Court that swooped in and saved the day??? I know I mentioned in my review of book 1 that I found him interesting, but just how interesting is still a discovery in progress. He's powerfully fascinating & handsome as sin (at least in my mind) ~ like a hand grenade that's been beautifully decorated but you're still cognizant of the lethality that lurks underneath! That's an intoxicating combination!! It's definitely an exciting adventure reading about Feyre exploring her vast new powers, meeting Rhysands inner circle and gearing up for the humongous battle with Hybern (with some "practice" runs in-between.)

If you can't tell, I'm sucked deep, deep, deep into this fantasy World and loving every minute of it.

Oh, and the ramifications of what happened to Nesta & Elain at the end of the book are piquing my curiosity to craziness levels ~ the two "wild card sisters!"

A Court of Thorns and Roses

I'm just going to go ahead and call 2022 "the year of the Fae." It started with 'The Cruel Prince' series and now it's moved to this new unabashed obsession in 'A Court of Thorns and Roses.'
An accidental happening but one I'm not fighting!

I'm not going to dissect the book, if any of you have problems with the plot, the world building, the flaws of the characters, discuss it at will. For me, any book that carries me away into an alternate reality and has me so engrossed that all I want to do is READ, is what I call a good book. If it's a series, all the better!! The subject matter of a good book can vary on any given day but on this day, at this time, Sarah J. Maas has thoroughly bewitched me and I'm content to languish under her spell.

At times, mortal Feyre has more heart/courage than brains but in the end, it works. She's fallen for Tamlin but I find myself more interested in Rhysand??? I can't be the only one??? He's smooth, enigmatic, lethal and seems truly diabolic and yet... there's something else there. I'm not stopping until I find out what it is! That tattoo he marked Feyre with has me fully intrigued.

Lucien is the other character I really liked. I want more of him. He's good, he's bad, he's capricious and more than slightly delicious. It's a beautiful thing. I almost see him with Feyre's sister, Nesta??? Is that a stretch? or maybe Elain because Nesta makes me uncomfortable for reasons I can't define??? I hope they're unfounded...

My library has a 6 month wait list for every book in this series. I spent the coin, no way I could wait that long to continue the adventure. 'A Court of Mist and Fury' here I come... Perfect summertime reading! 4.5 Stars

P.S. This series is classified as YA. I need to delve into what age group YA actually is ~ parts of this book seem too "actual adult" to be in what I think of as that category??? or maybe YA's are just more mature than I was...

The Silent Patient

What a sick twist. 'The Silent Patient' & Alex Michaelides have scared me off therapy for probably the rest of my life. I did NOT see that ending coming even tho Theo had me creeped out more than once. I'd started to think of him as a stalker but where he actually went with his behavior was BEYOND. It's scary how he talked about his years & years of therapy yet all that "treatment" didn't seem to help him AT ALL.

The Grove has a room assignment with his name on it. Just sayin'...
Oh and another sick therapist can counsel him (because all the therapists seemed to be just as warped as the patients.)

Was not familiar with the Greek tragedy 'Alcestis' but how clever of the author to make the storyline work around it.

The ending left me edgy. Then the author (in her notes) eluded to the ambiguity as meaning we may not have seen the last of Theo?? Seriously???!! Will we ever be ready for more of that psychopath????

 

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton

Maybe you've noticed how obsessed I am with Bridgerton??? Once I learned Season 3 was skipping ahead to Penelope & Colin's story, reading this was a no brainer. I had to know what the potential storyline might be ~ potential because it's obvious the Netflix series is quickly diverging away from the books. I'm not mad about the changes either.

I think hope Shonda will make their story more exciting than the book version. Their romance wasn't all that steamy on the pages so please, please give us more.... Also a big portion of the book is devoted to the reveal of Penelope as Lady Whistledown. It's going to be interesting to see if the series follows suit. Watching Penelope finally get her man is also going to be sooooo satisfying!!!!

3.5 Stars

 

 

The Maid

The one word that comes to mind with this book is "sweet." A light "cozy" mystery that won't deprive even the most faint hearted of a minute of sleep.

The protagonist "Molly" is not your ordinary young woman ~ she's definitely on the spectrum even tho that term is never mentioned. Her literal translation & interpretations of her co-workers words, an instant tip off. It's almost cringe the way she trusts everyone and takes their conversations to heart. Thinking the meeting with Rodney was a "date," = painful. She was definitely an easy target to set up.

It was problematic then (for me) reconciling her simple view of the world with her sudden astute observations of the murdered guest and who she decided to "help" or give a "pass" at the end of the book. It just didn't fit her character??

Easy read, 200+ pages, and happy ending. Not out much even if you don't love it. I can almost see this book as the first in a series...

The Art of Plant & Garden Photography

Clive Nichols is my virtual photography mentor. His photos are the "Chef's Kiss" of the flower loving world. He uses light in the garden in a masterful way ~ I dream of capturing my garden in a similar manner.

So of course, any book with a compilation of his photographs is a "want-to-read" for me or should I say "want-to-ogle?!" I wish I'd noticed the publication date of this book tho before I ordered ~ it's 2007. As is true with any professional, Mr. Nichols has honed his craft in the subsequent years and the photos he produces today are far superior to the ones featured in this book. At least in my opinion.

I did not buy as a "how to" or for photography tips and don't expect to find those within these pages. There are some lovely photos but I'd personally recommend searching out a more current collection of his work. That's what I intend to do.