Book Reviews - The Reading Cat

Battles of the Broken - Anne Malcom

8/26/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

What a book, what a ride... My emotions are still attempting to recover after nearly 24 hours since I’ve finished the book. Oh man, the roller coaster of emotions this will put you through.

Anne Malcom has the gift of being able to insert subtleties into her books. Subtle emotional triggers, those little pangs to the chest, some subtle references you will only get if you look closely, the little details of every day life. She takes her time to not only describe it to us, but make us experience it. She teleports us to her world and holds us captive.

But Malcom can also pack a punch. She sometimes foreshadows them too much, but they definitely do not lack impact. Even when you know what’s coming, you can’t help your heart nearly jumping out of your chest.

Gage and Lauren are different. They are not your flowers and hearts, fairy-tale-like story. They are raw and real. They are flawed, they fight for what they have, and live in the ephemeral. This story brings forth the dilemma we humans face; live safe and comfortable in our bubble we constructed, or, step out and be daring. Follow our hearts rather than our brain. It’s about taking our walls, our facades, down, even of it’s one brick at a time, to let the light into our lives, and accept and acknowledge who we truly are.

I think the literary devices could have been pushed more, but Anne Malcom truly is a goddess with words. There is no denying it.

Dauntless - Anne Malcom

8/12/2018

★ ★ ★ ★

I received a copy of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

This book covered dark themes. Themes I love reading about; addiction, recovery, grief. There's something special about Anne Malcom's writing. It is fluid and full of personality. She also crafts these beautiful metaphors, although there weren't as many as I would've liked in this book. In Beyond the Horizon, the book was brimming with beautiful literary language, and I was missing that from Dauntless.

I loved the plot of the story. The struggle and back and forth was very believable and honest. I loved that aspect of it. I felt as though the pace was off a little. It seemed like so much happened in the last 10%, like maybe too much happened in the last 10%. I think the book would have also needed a little more editing. I would have liked to see the resolution of the conflict begin a little earlier and take longer, but that's just me.

One thing that really wowed me was Anne Malcom's character development. It's slow, real, raw, believable. Lucky and Bex... sigh... such beautifully broken characters with demons dancing behind their eyes. With devils on their backs, and, pardon my humour, but no Florence Welch to tell them shake it out and to shake them off. Malcom creates such complex characters I forget they are fictional at times.

Anne Malcom remains one of my all time favourite authors, and I cannot wait to read her next masterpiece. (less)

Beyond the Horizon - Anne Malcom

8/2/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

Wow. This was one of my favorite books by Anne Malcom. She had me on the verge of tears so many times. She had me profusely blinking to keep those tears at bay as I read in a crowded train. My skin erupted in goosebumps at the beautiful metaphors; and the beautiful words Malcom was using.

There are so many emotional themes in this book; loss of family, drug addiction, mental illness, foster care. Yes this is Lily’s story, but as I read it, it also felt like Bex’s. She is such an integral part of the book. What both of these beautiful humans went through sends knives at my heart.

Malcom is trying to tell us that our past doesn’t define where we are headed. That our fears should not dictate our future, and that we have to look at ourselves in the mirror and the most beautiful version of ourselves. That we are more than we could ever imagine. That we just have to open our eyes to it. Lily’s insecurity’s hit so close to home, and I think that’s why I was able to get so invested in her story. I saw a lot of myself in her.

I loved the consistency of the metaphors of flowers and sunsets & horizons. It’s the details that truly make a book special. And that’s what this book is... special.

Outside the Lines - Anne Malcom

8/1/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ebook of this novel from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

Who knew you could pack so much into a short novella. Who knew a novella could make me cry, make my heart race, and give me all the damn feels? Not me. I shouldn’t be surprised though, you know why? Because this was an Anne Malcom book. That’s why.

Macy is such a complex character. She has a dark past, present insecurities, yet still tries to see the goodness in every situation. She’s also a cute geek, and a witty girl with no filter. She had me captivated from the first page.

Hanson is biker man to a T. She is rough, manly, and rugged, yet we also see his pain, his sweetness, and his gentleness. It was so much fun reading about his two sides. Again, another complex character.

Anne Malcom has a way with words. She is able to transmit information effortlessly and concisely. She doesn’t need many words to say what she wants to say. She developed her characters and the story over a few pages, and made it seem like a novel.

Another great one by Malcom!

Eternity's Awakening - Anne Malcom

6/21/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

Guys, this book was awesome, epic, totally witty and fun to read, yet heartbreaking and kindle-trowing-across-the-room frustrating. This book reads exactly with the same flow and narration we know and love from the previous two Isla books. Get ready for sass level 1000.

We see more of Isla’s facade start crumbling in this book. We start seeing a softer side to her. One that makes her more three-dimensional and complex.

This book, like the others is jam packed with pop culture references that will make you laugh and smirk. The characters in this series are just so alive (don’t tell Isla I described her as alive... shh...). They jump off the pages and punch you in the face with their exuberance, making this read a wild ride.

There is no dead time in this novel - no pun intended. The action and suspense is non-stop and extremely riveting. I don’t think my racing heart got a break from page one. Action - hot romance - action - crazy revelation... and so it goes.

If you like books full of personality and sarcasm, that still pull at your heartstrings and maybe your sanity, then this series is for you.

Faults in Fate - Anne Malcom

5/30/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it m. Thank you Anne Malcom!

This is why I love PNR. Perfectly executed, and flawless. I loved this so hard and it was a novella! That’s because Anne Malcom is a witch with words *wink*. She puts the reader under her spell and keeps them captive for the entirety of the novel.

I love The Vein Chronicles, and this novella about Isla’s bestie, Sophie, was just as fabulous as their senses of style - which is epic by the way. This story has the same atmospheric aspects as the other books in the series. What I mean is that, even though we follow Sophie and not Isla, and the plot is witch oriented and not Vampire oriented, the same essence comes from reading it; it FEELS like they’re in the same series and that the books belong together. Like two puzzle pieces, or much more paranormal and cool analogy I have no brainpower for right now.

Sophie is such an awesome and entertaining character to follow. It’s her turn to have the spotlight, and I loved every second. Her sass paired with her killer style and wit is what got me. Add a sexy werewolf into the mix, and we’ve got a home run - which is what Malcom’s done if you didn’t catch that.

This book totally got me pumped for the third installment in the Vein Chronicles. If you haven’t started them yet, what are you waiting for?

Shield - Anne Malcom

2/10/2018

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Anne Malcom!

This has got to be my favourite Anne Malcom book yet. This book was everything; dark, emotional, riveting, and full of angst. This book took me by surprise with such darkness from Malcom, but I loved it.

Not only is the plot enthralling and enticing - you won’t be able to stop reading - the writing is absolutely beautiful. The metaphors and the symbols are sublime, and the style of the writing itself is just flawless. I’ve never highlighted so many quotes in my life.

And Rosie... I can’t review this book without mentioning Rosie. Such strength and independence, yet also guarded and fragile. A complex and complete character. A character who stands up for what she believes in. A character with strong morals and beliefs. A character, who just like a rose, absolutely beautiful, but protects herself with her thorns.

The concept that good and bad are not cut in dry in this book is integral and beautiful - can you tell I’m running out of adjectives? The book dances in the shades of grey between good and bad, while Rosie insists there is only black and white. A shattering perspective that will take the reader on a wild ride.

As stated above, this is Anne’s best book yet.

Out Of The Ashes - Anne Malcom

12/10/2017

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ebook of this novel from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thanks Anne Malcom!

My favourite Anne Malcom books are Unquiet Minds and Skeletons of Us, and since this is a parallel story, I knew I would love it. Even though I already knew what was going to happen, I still got way too emotional at certain points, and at certain lines. Yes, Anne can make me feel all these feelings as if I'm reading the story for the first time and not, well, the second.

As much as I love all the Sons, Bull has taken the crown, well there's Kill too, but Bull is special. Anne is able to paint a vivid picture of his past, and his demons, and we see how his darkness starts to recede with Mia and Lexie. I loved how integral Lexie was to the story. How it's not a simple love story, but one about family as well. Family is not blood, family is about bonds, love, trust... It's the people that feel like home, the people you turn to, and that comes through loud and clear in this book.

There are just so many beautiful lined in this book dealing with light and darkness, and day and night. I may have overly highlighted in this book *shrugs*. Bull rising from his ashes was a beautiful story to read, and I cannot wait to dive into the next one.

Broken Shelves - Anne Malcom

9/16/2017

★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Anne Malcom!

What a page turner! This book had me routing for Gina and Sam the whole way. I loved how although this book was primarily about Gina and her struggles, Malcom also gives us glimpses of Sam in the first four years of the band. She demonstrates his struggles, and his demons.

This is a beautiful body-positive, soul-affirming, beauty is both on the outside and the inside, and beauty is not a mold you either fit in or not. It is everywhere, if only one chooses to open their eyes. I just had a flashback of me and my bestie walking around and just commenting on how attractive every female we encountered was. We still do it. All the time.

I mentioned above that Malcom shows us Gina and Sam's demons, but she also shows us the struggles of the spotlight. Of the constant judgement, and criticism accompanying it. In subsequence, this book was also about being comfortable in your own skin, about being yourself and not trying to be like someone else, another rock star, or follow the stereotypes. It was about breaking the prisons formed by those stereotypes; silencing the demons and those putting them there.

Another fabulously written Unquiet Mind book, although I'm not surprised, because it is Anne Malcom after all.

Skeletons of Us - Anne Malcom

9/15/2017

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ebook of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Anne Malcom!

It baffles me how Anne Malcom can publish glorious book, after glorious book, after glorious books. Like how is that even possible. I'm not complaining one bit. This series has become one of my all-time favourite series, and my favourite Anne Malcom series. It is such a complete and compelling story.

The first thing I want to get to is the emotional aspect of this book. Malcom has the knack to make us feel a whole spectrum of emotions with this book. As this is the continuation of Lexie and Kill's story, the book already starts with a huge emotional baggage left behind by its predecessor. You will love the pain, I assure you.

Now, the writing. Malcom's poetry, her use of literary devices, and character development are flawless. And I mean, F-L-A-W-L-E-S-S. I swear, Malcom has a talent for song writing, because I get chills every time I read one in her books.

I'm so unbelievably happy that I have come across this author and that she has become one of my go-to authors.