Sunday, July 31, 2016

Reviews: Dark Matter, and These Shallow Graves



Title: Dark Matter
Author: Blake Crouch
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: July 26, 2016
Recommended If You Like: Wayward Pines (the TV show or book trilogy), "The Road Not Taken", books that make you think, books that mess with your mind

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

In Dark Matter, Crouch looks at the questions that one might ask about a life lived. How do the choices we've made, big and small, truly impact us? What would have happened had you taken that job? Married that person--or not married them? Turned left instead of right?

Jason Dessen has woken up in a life that is not his own. Instead of his family, he has a prestigious science award and a highly advanced research laboratory. He's living the road not taken, and all he wants is to get back home.

How he's ended up in the lab, who has brought him there, and how he'll try to get back home are all amazing twists and turns that I do not want to spoil for you. What I will say is this is a book that will make you think, entertain you, and surprise you. I highly recommend it.



Title: These Shallow Graves
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Mystery
Publication Date: Oct. 27, 2015
Recommended If You Like: young adult, historical fiction, mysteries, commentary on social/class/gender norms, strong female protagonists, forbidden romance, journalism

The protagonist in These Shallow Graves  is Jo Montfort, a young woman of high social stature in 19th century New York. Though her world is finishing schools, balls, and the promise of marriage, Jo longs to be an investigative journalist.

When her father is found dead, Jo sets out to discover what truly happened to him. Along the way, she is thrust into a world she never knew existed, the side of New York life her sheltered existence prevented her from seeing. And she meets Eddie, a young reporter who agrees to help her for the chance of a story, but ends up staying at her side for love.

I liked this book, but didn't love it. The characters were really interesting, and the historical setting was well-done. The mystery was definitely intriguing, but I found  myself able to call what was about to happen chapters before it actually occurred. And I did feel the book started out too slowly, to the point where I almost put it down.

I would say give this book a chance, but don't feel like you need to rush to grab a copy.

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