That's What I'm Talking About
I generally review romance, paranormal and urban fantasy. I tend to pick review books that I want to read, so generally my reviews will be positive. I always give my honest opinion: good, bad, and indifferent.
Note: on my blog I use a letter grading system. I've listed the ratings below. For sites with stars, I have listed the equivalent rating. If I didn't finish the book, I will not rate it with stars.
A+ Personal Favorite (5 stars)
A Loved It (4.5 or 5 stars)
A- Enjoyed A Lot (4 or 4.5 stars)
B+ Liked It A Lot (4 stars)
B Liked It -- Recommend (4 stars)
B- Liked It -- But I had a few small issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C+ Liked It -- But I had issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C Finished It -- Liked some, didn't like some (3 stars)
C- Finished It -- Liked a little, didn't like a lot (2 or 2.5 stars)
D Not A Big Fan (2 stars)
E Don’t Waste Your Time (1 star)
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TW: Reading this book was like watching a Train Wreck
DNF: Did Not Finish
updated July 9, 2015
Currently reading
Review: Into the Aether by PJ Schnyder
This review is taken from a joint review I wrote with Una at That's What I'm Talking About. To see the full review, click here: http://twimom227.com/2015/05/joint-review-into-the-aether-by-pj-schnyder.html
This is only my part of the review:
Which was your favorite story in the anthology and why? Tough question since I enjoyed all three stories.
Jen: My favorite is Keeping Cadence. I found Cadence to be one of those favorite flawed, but super strong heroines that I could read about over and over. I also appreciate that it is a complete package with a strong storyline and sweet ending.
What was your favorite steampunk mech in the book?
Jen: I LOVED Evie’s mech “pet,” Toby, from Evie's Gift. While it’s probably the most far-fetched piece of machinery, I loved how it worked with Evie’s unique gift and helped in all sorts of situations (like pinning up her hair or torn dress).
Since you are a fan of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences books by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris, how well do you feel PJ's story fit into the frame work?
Oh, this short story was really well done and fit perfectly into the Ministry world. And learning some unique mythology - something not from the UK - was exceptionally interesting and intriguing. I could totally imagine Books and Braun going to Siam some day and meeting Phailin.
Did you have any issues/concerns with any of the stories? If so, what?
I really loved Evie’s Gift, but I was also really frustrated by it. When it ended, I was completely surprised that it was over. It was more of a prequel than a short story. I was really getting into the story right up until it abruptly ended. I found Evie so fascinating and her prospects for romance were equally exciting. I expected the story to go on because there was so much left to tell, and then BAM! the story was over. I was frustrated by that.
Overall, how would you rate the anthology and what audiences would you recommend it to?
Overall I enjoyed the anthology quite a bit. It’s very short and easy to read in snippets here and there, whenever I had time. It’s a great sample of steampunk for those who may want to try but haven’t yet. It’s also fun for those who already love the genre. I like that each story had a different feel - different setting and time period, so you get a really nice cross-section of the genre. It’s like a sampler box of chocolates - you eat them up so quickly, only left wanting more.
Into the Aether is a wonderful collection of stories, and I recommend it for fans of and those interested in reading steampunk.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
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