Jessie Burton - The Miniaturist

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office—leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.
But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist—an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .
Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand—and fear—the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?
Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth. 

Comment: I was given this book for my birthday back in September. I had an idea about it for I had read some things about the story, namely the blurb and a review here and there. I admit I wouldn't have bought it for myself on purpose because I had the impression this would be slightly... scholarly, meaning that the author would lean more towards fiction than romance in the content. I must say that, while my expectation was proven right, the story still surprised me by its negative aspects.

This is the story of Nella, a young woman who marries a much older man because he will provide for her and she will be able to achieve a status she wouldn't otherwise, besides being able to secure her financial safety.

However, from the moment she arrives from a quiet place in the country everything in her new life is a disappointment, and she can't see how she will be any happy or at least content with what is ahead of her if her husband is never close, her sister-in-law is an unbending strict woman and even the maid seems to covertly smirk at her.

This changes a bit when her husband offers her a miniature house, which happens to be a reproduction of their own house, so she can decorate it at will. At first Nella thinks it's a toy and that her husband mocked her but soon she realizes things are getting weirder, especially after the miniaturist responsible for the objects starts sending things she didn't ask for...

I had the idea this would be a fictional romance for the most part but it turned out it also had some mystery. Therefore, the author has done a lot of research and this book focuses on two main concepts: the fictional life of Nella and those around her (loosely based on real people according to the author's notes) and the mystery about her doll house, something only very rich people could afford to own back in the 17th century.

This book wasn't bad despite my saying I was surprised by its negative aspects. I liked how the author selected the information she wanted to expand in the fictional part and how many details about life in the Holland of the 17th century we are able to learn by reading this. It certainly wasn't a good time to live in if you were poor. Well, it never is, but nowadays one could at least have rights and freedom (except in certain countries/societies/etc.).

It was also interesting to read this from the POV of imagining women and their lack of means to become smarter, better considering how much they weren't allowed to do. It was nice to see Nella and her sister-in-law for the most part, as the main players in this book.

For me, the problem is mostly about what doesn't happen. Through the whole novel, we are bombarded by the mystery of the miniaturist and why he might be sending things to Nella without her request. The why is told to the reader at some point but how it was never clear. I do think there is a lot of explanations missing in this novel and that means the end of the book leaves too many things unsolved and that can be a little irritating.

There are also some plot situations that seem to occur only to suit a certain mood, a certain idea... and they don't seem to be well inserted so why are we focusing on them? If the aim is to turn this into something a little introspective in tone, I think it was a fail.

Another detail I disliked was how the whole story was so sad, so melancholic, so despairing and unfair. Fiction isn't only about bad things, I d say. If this was a non fiction book about this family I could accept it, but this is a novel, it should lead somewhere, it should go towards the goal of teaching something, of conveying a lesson if so...but I don't think this happened. I can udnestand the sequence in the narrative where we see why bad things happen, one after the other but... what was the point? So many disgraces... was it so that Nella's character could "grow up"? If so, I don't think it really mattered. So many interesting ideas not used well, or unused. What a pity, was what I thought.

Added to the sense the character of the miniaturist wasn't explained, the whole book felt like it missed the point, so I felt disappointed. Still, I admit it was easy to turn the pages.

All in all, this wasn't bad, there are many rich details to make the story alive, to make it easy fo us to imagine the scenes, the character's movements and descriptions but... so many things untold, unsolved and a path that only led to confusion and a missing HEA or, at least, a positive goal. It was also so unfair how some things were done, even if realistic for the time period. Still, a good enough story to pass the time...

Grade: 6/10

Thomas Shroder - Old Souls:The Scientific Evidence for Past Lives

As our understanding and awareness of who and what we are advances through the grueling gauntlet of scientific process, we continually face a debilitating dilemma: we must simultaneously question everything and at the same time proceed as if we know something. As a result we continually battle ourselves, questioning the ground on which we stand while using that same ground to prove our questions irrelevant. It's a gift, then, when a writer emerges who will grapple with any of these battles at the event horizon between science and conjecture and take himself wholly into the fray, reporting back to us the subtle forces at work within the storm and how those forces play upon him and the subject he explores.
In Old Souls, journalist Tom Shroder manages this feat and hands us a volume that is considerable and engaging. Not only do we explore the work of a brave and committed researcher on the slippery slope of reincarnation, we are also treated to a remarkable tour of worlds foreign to us: human existence in post-war Beirut and in the depths of poverty in India. Through the entire journey, Mr. Shroder keeps the primary question lively, carrying the reader through to a closing bit of personal memoir that brilliantly ties the book together into a provocative whole. 
 
Comment: I saw this book at my local library and I brought it with me because the theme is interesting enough and I have read other books with the subject in the past. It's always good to have different perspectives, though.

This is a non-fiction story about reincarnation and past lives. The author is a reporter who joined an expert in his travels to document and find clues about the tales, and how real they were or not, regarding reincarnation.

The study is heavily focused on children who remember past lives or scenes from those past lives and now can't seem to easily accept their new reality or have some difficulty not caring about the past.

In this book the author has included several cases and situations, and he has tried to present the information in a very clinical way, as if all readers could have been skeptics. But, apart from personal beliefs, can this book really highlight this notion for it to be accepted?

Years ago, I was quite dedicated to read the work by Brian Weiss, an American doctor who wrote several books about his experiences using hypnosis and regression to help cure his patients. He divided his work into themes about which problems patients more often present and so on and I liked how fascinating all this sounded.

In this book by Thomas Shroder, I was quite surprised to see the author comparing the work of doctor Ian Stevenson with Brian Weiss and why Stevenson has a much more scientific approach, if one can think in those terms regarding new age theories.

Basically, one can summarize that while Brian Weiss doesn't prove any of the tales mentioned by his patients under regression but uses the "healing" outcome as a factor to determine how effective the treatments/sessions can be. 

On the other hand, dr Ian Stevenson wants to document the tales of children who remember past lives/experiences to prove that there is a continuity of out existence but he does not want to force on others that reincarnation is a reality, only that scientifically speaking, all data collected during interviews and visits to those children can be used to prove there wouldn't be any other way for such detailed tales, about real people, could be explained if not by reincarnation.

Comparing the two, I can see why the work of dr Stevenson can be seen as a little more "credible" to use this word, for he does try to collect as much information as possible about the surroundings of each child's tale, to confirm they wee not influenced to say those things, as we could eventually consider regarding Brian Weiss' patients.

For this, dr Ian Stevenson traveled to some countries, namely Lebanon and India, to meet the children face to face and at a later date is when the reporter Thomas Shroder joins him. Some tales are quite impressive, of children remembering different families, situations... but to be honest, how realistic can this be when the cases are so distant from us or from the everyday western reality? I can see where the study was going and it can be understood that people in Lebanon and India also have different beliefs and religions so their acceptance of this possibility can be easier to believe as well as their predisposition to "live" through those experiences.

However, the lack of more tales about this everywhere... this can be certainly a complicated element to control. To have more cases, everywhere - and not just on specific parts of thw world - seems to be quite a break on the theory. But are western people really ready to accept this reality unless more or better scientific evidence is found? But how to prove the existence of something you can't really see, as the notion of "soul"?

I actually liked the book isn't meant for us to be convinced we should believe in reincarnation or not. But if that was the point... it's difficult to imagine.

I suppose I saw this book more as the chance to red about people's experiences and how they affected them. The outcome wasn't as "romantic" as the cases from Brian Weiss' books because the children who shared their tales here rarely end up "healed" for they don't have a problem to begin with, if we can assume reincarnation as something natural. But, of course, at the same time, it's not as impressive or fascinating to read about like this either.

All in all, this book has interesting notions, interesting subjects addressed but I can't say my way of thinking was terribly affected. Some sections were well done and do provide curious discussions but what a pity more information/knowledge can't be investigated int his field.

Grade: 6/10

Sherry Thomas - The One in My Heart

When Evangeline Canterbury meets the gorgeous, intriguing doctor next door, despite their instant connection, all she wants from him is a bit of distraction, to help her get over a few rough days.
Her one-night stand, however, has other plans: He needs an accomplished and presentable girlfriend to bring before his parents—and for six months of her time, he is willing and prepared to spend an obscene amount of money.
Nothing but trouble can come of such an arrangement. But can Eva stop herself? Or will she fall headlong in love with a man who will leave her when their contract expires with a smile, a check, and hardly a backward glance?

Comment: This is the first contemporary book I try by Sherry Thomas, an author mostly known by her historical work. I was quite curious to see how her "voice" would resonate in a different genre.

In this book we have the story of Evangeline, a woman whose parents split but her father married another woman, who she has considered a mother as well. However, her stepmother has bipolar disease and that has affected not only Evangeline's choices but also her thoughts about relationships and being with someone.

Bennett is a guy she meets when helping a friend and they end up having a one night stand. However, there's quite a lot in common between them and Bennet asks Evangeline to be his sort of fake girlfriend so he can reunite with his estranged parents. The problem is when they start mixing up fake dating with real feelings...

Thinking about the trope of the fake relationship which turns into reality, it does feel like one of those Harlequin stories from brands like Mills and Boon, back from the 80s and 90s... and adapted to historical settings, I can totally see this being perfectly done by this author. 

However, I must say that in a contemporary setting and by this specific author, the story was a little... off tone. I don't think there was such a great balance between the plot and the character's attitudes.

The story developed based on a series of coincidences, those that only in books do align themselves in any way we can accept, like Bennet having been a no show in Evangeline's french debutante ball and now, years after, they meet again almost by chance and they hit if off somehow.

To move this already unlikely scenario towards an even more complicated one with the fake boyfriend/girlfriend trope too... I just think there were ways for this to move forward in interesting ways without the fake relationship but... in contemporary settings, this only works in certain circumstances and the way this plot was designed, I don't think it went the best way.

The relationship, in which so much is centered, wasn't that bad to read about but I must say I didn't really warm up to the protagonists. Both have a lot of emotional baggage and I did like how certain situations were addresses. I also liked how paced the steps were in their moving on towards happiness.

The characters, though... while getting to know one another, they exchanges secrets about one another, stories from their pasts... more Bennet and I must say I didn't always accept the thoughts behind some of his choices. It does annoy me a little bit those who misbehave and say they "were rebels" or felt the need to "do their on thing" or even "test their limits and feelings". Bennet does grow up and I liked him a lot more based on his behavior now but... I just didn't warm up to him.

Evangeline was also a though nut to crack. It can be understandable why she has so many fears of allowing people in to her heart but again... some attitudes of hers were not something I'd like to see people around me do and I don't mean her attempt to interfere in her stepmother's love life long after her father's death. Even when her behavior was explainable, her thoughts about what she was doing... let's just say I wasn't fond of her most of the time.

Therefore, this was a story about two people I wasn't as fond of, dealing with situations I would have them do differently and in a plot I would have changed too. I liked the writing overall, I liked how the author's style is recognizable and the HEA and some details here and there. But all things considered, this was not a story I' wish to read again and I guess I'll stick to the author's historicals, which always seem to have a better balance.

Grade: 6/10

Mini-Comments

I've recently read two books in Portuguese which were offered to my on my birthday. I had never herd about either but they ended up being interesting and compelling to read, despite their obvious issues (to me) regarding plot and execution.

1) Cristina Norton's book can be loosely translated into " The Book Guardian" (there is no english

translation, though) and is the tale of how, during the Napoleonic invasions in Portugal in the beginning of the 1800s, the Royal Court went to Brazil - at the time one of our colonies - to escape the french generals and with them, they took many servants, officials and also the books of the royal library. At the time, the responsible for them was a man called Luis Marrocos, and this book follows his adaptation and adventures in living in a completely different society which was the Brazil of the 19th century.

I liked the fluidity of this book, meaning it was very easy to keep turning the pages. It was also very interesting to  read about a part of my country's history, especially since the author used real life characters and historical situations/customs and that made it even more special.

However, the blurb promises secrets, hidden love relationships, the protection of books... things that  are obviously used to persuade readers but I've come to realize, these things are used/mentioned rather superficially. The story is a fictional tale that uses real life events and it's mostly historical fiction, not as much historical romance. I felt the blurb mislead me...but the book is easy to read, even if not what I assumed I'd get.

Grade: 6/10

2) Sam Christer is a pseudonym of Michael Morley, a British author. He wrote a mystery/thriller about Stonehenge, a place that obviously still makes people wonder about it and why it exists, what

was it for originally and that makes it a good starting point for a mystery romance.

In this tale we have a fictional story about a group of people who are a sort of organization that consider themselves the rightful descendants of the Stonehenge legacy, which in this story is basically a set of magical stones that correctly used/worshiped, confer special powers, namely of healing, to those who believe. The mystery and problem is that to gain that they must offer human sacrifices...

Again, a book with a lot of potential, strong elements to start with and short chapters which give the impression of things moving a long very quickly. I liked the overall effect of the story, especially the police investigations to discover the truth behind disappearances and deaths, which is more or less what one would expect from thus type of book. 

My biggest issue is that the plot isn't very consistent, the characters are clever but their motivations aren't well explained besides the obvious and there are too many secrets which makes things very unlikely to be believable. I don't think the author really thought about the way the plot is executed and he included to many clichés and "traps", so the story feels chopped and superficial. Besides, the end is so ruched, it almost offers no closure but since it's a story one can easily read and turn the pages, I had the same feeling about it as I did with the one I talk about above.

Grade: 6/10

Lilas Taha - Shadows of Damascus

Bullet wounds, torture, and oppression aren't the only things that keep a man-or a woman- from being whole. Debt. Honor. Pain. Solitude. These are things wounded war veteran Adam Wegener knows all about. Love-now, that he is not good at. Not when love equals a closed fist, burns, and suicide attempts. But Adam is one who keeps his word. He owes the man who saved his life in Iraq. And he doesn't question the measure of the debt, even when it is in the form of an emotionally distant, beautiful woman. Yasmeen agreed to become the wife of an American veteran so she could flee persecution in war-torn Syria. She counted on being in the United States for a short stay until she could return home. There was one thing she did not count on: wanting more. Is it too late for Adam and Yasmeen? 

Comment: I got interested in this book back in 2015 after seeing it in some list and commenting to my friend H. about it. For several reasons we decided to buddy read it and after all this time we finally got to it.

It's not a big book, it can be read quite quickly but I confess I expected something different bearing in mind the blurb.

In this story we meet Adam, a war veteran who was in Iraq fighting and where he met Fadi, a man who was contracted to be the team's translator. Things don't go well, Fadi ended up saving Adam's life and made Adam promise to do him a favor if ever he needs it.

Now, years after Adam was discharged due to health reasons, he receives a  note asking for help and Fadi wants Adam to help his younger sister Yasmeen by taking her to the US and marry her so she can be safe from the government's people.

Yasmeen is a young woman who saw her beloved Syria be destroyed by war and pain but she accepts help thinking one day she will return to her family. Things are very different in America ut she hopes Adam is a considerate man and will help her. She didn't count on getting to know him and his reality so well, though.

The way the blurb is presented and even only by reading what I say above, one might get the impression this is a romance. Indeed, there are some romantic elements in the story but now that I've finished, I don't think, as a romance, that this was well done.

If one thinks of this book being mostly a ficton story, not focusing on the romance, then it wasn't as amazing for me either so I'm struggling to try to think how to define this book.

This is the first book I've read by the author so the writing style is a complete surprise. This is not a long story (232 pages) and the font is bigger than in most editions so, overall, a not so big book.

I'm stressing out this aspect because, to me, the story didn't feel very complete. The author mentions and includes several updated and current scenarios we can know about in the news regarding war and the collapse of countries like Syria but to write about complex situations within a supposed romance plot just feels undone.

I wanted to read this story precisely because of that: how could a woman from a devastated country go to America, where many soldiers who have participated in the horrors in her country come from, finds love and healing with a man who also went through his own issues while fighting? Besides there's the inclusion of other domestic affairs which amount to a lot in such a small page count.

I just didn't have the impression the story was romantic if that was one of the goals here. The way things are written seems to jump from scene to scene and I felt we were told a lot but the action didn't follow the same pace so I feel I didn't get to see why these two would be a good match, much less why they could be in love.

Were they even in love despite some words exchanged? The book ends up in a hopeful note but... is that is? I don't think the book was properly finished, it's not even done in a whimsical or philosophical way where we can interpret at will, I really think the story was not done, with so many loose threads that the author left. 

The cultural aspects of the background of both Adam and Yasmeen were addressed in several occasions too and it was good to see how different they were but the reasons why they would be well matched escape me. Some scenes seemed off putting while we tried to be convinced that other people wouldn't be good for them (mostly in Adam's case) but the way things happened... I can't understand why this reads as strongly as some other readers claim. Yes, there are some difficult things to read about and it can be emotional here and there but all things considered, the plot was not well done, it included too many subjects and not enough development nor character growth (even excluding the romance part).

I think the contrasts were well chosen, that's a fact. Many details about war and PTSD and even expectations of what we see in people from other parts of world were good too.

But the execution of the novel could have been better and I don't think this was well achieved if one considers it to whether be only literature of world events or simply a romance novel.

Grade: 6/10

Madelyn Alt - The Trouble With Magic

Antiques-shop clerk Maggie O'Neill was a little weirded out when she discovered her new boss Felicity was a witch. But when Felicity becomes the suspect in a local murder, Maggie must enlist Felicity's wiccan friends for help--and discover her own spellbinding talent.

Comment: This was one of the longest standing books in my TBR list which I got at Bookmooch, the site that allows you to exchange books with other people. 

It has waited in the pile all this time because, to be honest, the theme never appealed that much to me (I don't mind cozy mysteries but I don't gravitate towards the and the cover style said "comedy" to me and not "mystery") so I didn't mind putting it off.

Since I've read all books I had scheduled for august, I just looked at my shelves and chose a smaller book to finish the month...

In this story we meet Maggie, a down on her luck woman who loses her job right after being offered another one by chance.

Maggie then decides to accept the offer but that same day her new employer Felicity is suspected of killer her estranged sister. Maggie feels like defending this nice lady, even if she has the reputation of being a witch. Adding her controlling mother, her always perfect sister and the cop trying to get information she doesn't have, Maggie suddenly sees herself in quite a mess...

This was an interesting story. It's not a long one so things are quite compact in terms of plot which doesn't leave a lot of room for complicated twists. The purpose is precisely that, I know, but still there were some steps taken by the author to make it interesting. 

Nevertheless, some readers have said the killer was easily recognizable and that always feel too easy if we are talking abut such a small story.

Personally, I can't say I was annoyed at this because overall the story didn't feel as engaging. I struggled a bit to feel interested in reading and in turning the pages. I don't think the beginning was as fascinating as it is made to see if we think about a character that is going to work at a store called Enchantments and the owner is known by being a witch. Perhaps was the mixing of several themes: the weirdness of things, the mystery, the investigation, the character's introduction... in similar types of books, all the clues could be an important part of the plot but here I felt some were redundant or implied other things not that interesting.

Maggie, the main character, was funny and I liked the slightly vulnerable side of hers due to how she saw herself compared to her sister and others. Apart from this, she is as we would expect of such heroine, brave when necessary, believer of good and defender of those she cares about.

I particularly liked the romantic content, she is sort of starting to develop feelings for someone but she has this behavior of not wanting to allow things to go too quickly (so, so often seen in nowadays books) as if by letting go, a part of herself wasn't there exactly. I still have two more books in the series to read (eventually) and I'm curious about how this aspect is going to be developed.

As for the murder plot, it was solved in a very easy manner but without going into details, it was rather simple as if why bother with too much setting up? This means some steps taken by the characters were just too cliché, too much done and without some serious necessity. I felt the lack of more complexity but, as I've said before, this is a small book so probably not that much space for lengthy plots anyway. the writing was easy and plain, I'd say.

There are other subjects one could discuss about this story but to me, I don't think it needs that much attention or explanations. On Goodreads, there are several reviews that stress out some interesting points, though. For me, this was good enough, offered enough hints to make it worth reading but it was by no means, memorable. Was it a disappointment to have waited so long to read it? Probably not since I had no  real expectation of it but... yes, there would be room for improvement. I hope the two I still have to read can be stronger, both in plot and relationships.

Grade: 6/10

SK - Dragonsworn

There is nothing in the universe the cursed dragon Falcyn hates more than humans--except for Greek humans. In a war he wanted no part in, they systematically destroyed everything Falcyn ever cared about. Now he lies in wait for the day when evolution will finally rid him of not only the Greeks but humanity itself.
Medea is the granddaughter of the Greek god Apollo and among the first he doomed to die. When Apollo sends a new plague to destroy what remains of Medea's people, she refuses to let him take everything she loves from her again. This time, she knows of a secret weapon--a fierce dragon who has the power to stop the ancient god and his army of demons. His name is Falcyn. But he wants nothing to do with politics, gods, mortals. And especially not her--yet. But if Medea can find a way to control a demonic dragon whose sole birthright is world annihilation, maybe there is hope. . .

Comment: This is the 28th installment in the Dark-Hunter series by author Sherrilyn Kenyon. It keeps on following the lives and adventures of a multi cast that is now a very confusing mix.

In this story we have Falcyn's story, he's a dragon brother of Maxis and Illarion (heroes from the previous two books) and this books sees himself and Medea (daughter of Zephyra) and Urian (the hero of the next book) and Blaise (another dragon) and a few others (more difficult to explain) searching for a way out of realms and complicated situations. In the meantime, without any romance whatsoever!!!!, Falcyn and Medea fall in love.

If anyone reading this has interest n the series or in my comments, you can search for my comments on SK's books on the right side list- which I label by author because of this - and you might notice most of them have repetitive sentences. As repetitive as the books themselves.

I won't go into it anymore but if you're lazy lol, basically what I mean to say is that the stories aren't romantic anymore as they used to be until books #7 or #8 or around those and not even the character's relationships got too complicated.

I won't start again on the time between installments and the need the author has to apparently publish countless things except focus on her world famed series.

I used to religiously buy and devour any book in this series as soon as it would come out but honestly, for many of the reasons I've mentioned before and alluded to here, it just isn't the same anymore and I can easily bear the wait now. I feel disappointed in two things: that the author put this series sort of aside to divide her time with other things (although understandable) and also that her attention to this world is weaker (not as understandable).

The stories used to be dramatic but with sweetness and believable plots among all the fantasy elements but now they are too superficial, the romances no longer "romantic" and the plots confusing as if the more the elements, more complexity but the simplicity of the complex elements working well together is lost, in my POV.

This book does present us with many of the now familiar plots or romance related devices the series recycles:

- Falcyn is a brooding hero, tragic past, lots of secrets and a (I admit) surprising revelation waiting to happen.

- Medea is a different heroine in the sense she isn't a sweet thing suddenly caught in a complicated problem, her past isn't exactly cute and she has reasons to be meaner.

- Their romance is basically their acknowledgement of each others' appeal and drive and need to overcome tragedy, I can't see where we are expected to just believe they are falling in love. There are some references to some sudden feeling which is there probably to let us know there is a weird connection between them.

- Both agree of letting go of some issues to embrace a more positive future with each other and their band of friends.

As for the plot, it was great some discoveries were done but again too many pantheons are mixed together with lots of other religious beliefs and such and the story lost its fascination to me. I'll keep reading but it's definitely not a priority anymore. I just wish i could let go of my investment in these characters and their fate, as a whole but since I still care, I'll keep on torturing myself by waiting...

Grade: 6/10

Eve Silver - Dark Desires

Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumours that he's a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer. As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances ... and the murders.
With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she falling in love with. Is he an innocent and misunderstood man ... or a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?

Comment: This book had been in the pile for some time. Recently (meaning, months) I saw it was a freebie on some online retailers and I took the opportunity to finally get it.

In this book we meet Darcie Finch, a poor woman, down on her luck, who is about to let go of her pride and do whatever necessary to get food but at the final chance, her sister sends her to a doctor to become a maid in his house. She accidentally meets him on her way to his house to seek employment, though, and there is something about him that is very mysterious. Still, she talks to him and starts working in his house but between the weird things about his work as a doctor and Darcie's growing feelings for him, he discovers her talent as an artist and that is the beginning of a new path for Darcie...

Sometimes blurbs are perfect summaries of the premise of a book. Sometimes they aren't and some other times they are even deceiving. I can't understand why some are well done and others are not, it's one of those mysteries but when it comes to this book, when I read the expressions "penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares" I immediately imagined a romance where the heroine would face some adversity but finally be"rewarded" with the eternal love of a man feared by some but who would be perfect for her.

The premise and the blur led me to imagine a story where the differences between them would be more obvious. Yes, I also read the gothic descriptions part but I didn't consider it to be such an important item. Sadly, I wanted more of the romance and less of the gothic...

I wouldn't go as far to say the blurb is deceiving n this case; I do think there are far worse examples of this. However, I did expect something slightly different and I slowly lost hope I'd have the elements I looked for. This is not a bad story and the gothic details were well incorporated overall but.. everything relies a little too much on certain details and not on a plot that makes sense all the time. I can understand why the author chose to hide some things, or to let them not be too obvious for the reader but at the same time that was annoying and when we are revealed some truths or explanations, it feels... meh. Not as huge as we are led to believe. (Especially from a behavior POV).

The romance is a let down as well, for me.

Darcie is a sweet heroine, very strong and she becomes more and more amazing as the plot moves along but despite this being a third person narrator, the POV is always on her alone and her steps and not in the couple. I found that the choice to "hide" doctor Cole's thoughts was understandable but limitative and so much was lost, I'd say, in terms of character development, because if we only have the focus on her, he always feels as an "under done" character.

In the end, they get together but it just doesn't seem as romantic as it could but yes, I was glad they found common ground somehow even if not that in an obvious way.

The plot has some situations depicted which I think were well led. The author did a good job in letting us follow some clues towards a certain destination but the final effect is that for such a huge amount of secrecy and wrong clues, the outcome isn't that amazing...

All in all, this had enough elements to be a god story and some things do work out well. From a purely romantic POV, I did like how the end happened, especially in relation to secondary characters. The main couple, of course finds happiness but apart from that, my impressions don't go past average so I doubt I'll read more in this series...

Grade: 6/10

Blake Austin - 9 Letters

Luke Cawley is a broken man. After his wife’s tragic death, he lost everything that mattered in the world. Now, his life is filled with hard days, harder nights, and a steady stream of alcohol and the wrong kind of women. Nothing helps.
Until the letters arrive on Luke’s doorstep.
Nine envelopes. Nine messages. Nine chances to find his way back.
Rae Goode is looking for the real thing. After fighting her way out of a string of bad relationships, she’s ready for something different–something true.
She meets Luke while piecing her life together, and right away she can tell that he’s different. Drawn together by fate and the desire to heal, Rae and Luke discover new ways to mend their broken hearts–one letter at a time.
Discover Blake Austin’s debut novel of loss, redemption, and ever-enduring love.

Comment: This is another book I can't remember why I decided to read. It probably was a recommendation in some site or blog I've visited. This is a story about loving again after a loss and I tend to be curious about how authors make the characters' journey from hurting to happiness again.

In this book we follow Luke Cawley, a young widow who can't seem to accept his beloved wife Emily has died. His life was on track but with her death he seemed to lose interest in things around him and he now lives a very sad life, especially because he can't seem to move on.

Things change hugely when Luke receives 9 letters one year after the death of his wife. From then on, he goes on a different path and starts to do different things from his recent usual.

Overall, this was a good enough story and I did like to read it for the most part. I think it take some talent to create a story around the theme of grief and it could be too easy to just play on the sadness and leave a HEA for the final pages. This story wasn't like that and the author did try to give us the impression Luke was changing gradually chapter after chapter or, should I say, letter after letter.

This had all the ingredients to work out amazingly, especially since the first letter Luke reads by his wife - which she wrote with the intent he would read each one only after reading the previous one and completing a certain task - advises him to get a rescue dog. However, the problem to me was another...

It's quite disappointing that nowadays NA or similar themed books just focus so much on the first person narrator. I feel this choice is so limitative and doesn't give the reader all the nuances we are supposed to get. I could still feel empathetic towards Luke and his grief but having only his thoughts for company make some scenes lose power and it can also be boring to not be able to see things from a different perspective. I can understand the trend but... why exactly does this really help the reader knowing things or feeling emotions strongly I can't tell.

The storyline, since it follows only Luke's actions, is pretty simple. With each letter, Luke does one more "task", some more difficult than others and the purpose is for him to move on, to think of Emily fondly but not in a desperate way. For that, he accomplishes certain things although some not as easily and he does let himself get slightly down quite quickly. Some emotions were well portrayed I thought, and could easily lead us to a specific state of mind. However, with each new situation, it was easy too to simply let go of the more negative thoughts.

As one could imagine, there are many lessons for Luke to grasp and to find another love while still remembering his past is one of them: you don't need to forget something in your past to enjoy it again with somebody else. Yes, this is not easy to accept and live with...

I did like some situations and how Luke used them to become a better person and all that but the focus was too much on Luke's thoughts and not as much on his dealing with them. That was the consequence and I felt a little emotion was lost in favor of drama.

All things considered, this book offered interesting ideas and scenes and I liked reading it for the most part but yes, some details could have been polished better and a third person could have been as intense when it comes to convey emotion without limiting our POV of everything.

Grade: 6/10

Tariq Ali - The Stone Woman

Each year, when the weather in Istanbul becomes unbearable, the family of Iskender Pasha, a re-tired Ottoman notable, retires to its summer palace overlooking the Sea of Marmara. It is 1899 and the last great Islamic empire is in serious trouble. A former tutor poses a question which the family has been refusing to confront for almost a century: 'Your Ottoman Empire is like a drunken prostitute, neither knowing nor caring who will take her next. Do I exaggerate, Memed?' 
The history of Iskender Pasha's family mirrors the growing degeneration of the Empire they have served for the last five hundred years. This passionate story of masters and servants, school-teachers and painters, is marked by jealousies, vendettas and, with the decay of the Empire, a new generation which is deeply hostile to the half-truths and myths of the 'golden days.' 
The Stone Woman is the third novel of Tariq Ali's 'Islam Quartet'. Like its predecessors—Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree and The Book of Saladin—its power lies both in the story-telling and the challenge it poses to stereotyped images of life under Islam.

Comment: I was taking a borrowed book back to the library when I saw this one in a feature shelf they have, which suggests titles to readers of different genres.

I had never heard of the author but the blurb seemed promising so I decided to impulsively bring it with me. Since I didn't want to let it wait to long I started it rather quickly and this ended up being an interesting read, no matter how cliché it sounds.

This story is focused on a family from Istanbul in 1899 and when the temperatures are too high, the family goes south to a summer house where they could rest.

The plot of this story is, therefore, set during one of those summers and it's told from the perspective of Nilofer, one of the daughters of the owner of the house and the family chief, Iskander Pasha. During this plot, the family also copes with a stroke of Iskander and how each family member sees their lives under the Ottoman empire and the particularities of their domestic trials.

This is a unique view on Muslim traditions in a way western people wouldn't think considering nowadays' reality.

This is a book part of a series. In fact, apparently, this is the 3rd installment but as usual when in think about connecting series, it's not necessary to have read the previous ones to understand the plot. 

I was quite curious to see how the author would mix the Turkish and Muslim identities clearly depicted in this book. I was curious to see a side of these cultures by someone describing a fictional tale, since there is still a lot of unknown facts about this side of the world (and culture) in relation to western locations. Although we didn't have that much in terms of politics and history, I'd say there's enough content to let one think.

The story is told from Nilofer's POV and we manage to follow a lot by her interactions with the characters. There are a few chapters which are told from other characters but it's as if it's part of a confession so, not always part of the action; more an explanation for some facts/situations described or alluded to through the novel.

With this I must say that part of the reason we, the reader, are able to know some things out of the normal continuity of the plot is because the family has had the habit, through generations, to sort of confess or vent their feelings to a statue called the stone woman, which we learn is an ancient image of the Virgin Mary, which the Muslims consider a holy woman, the mother of another holy man (Jesus for them, is another type of saint/sacred person but not the son of God).

With this tactic we get to learn several things about the character's feelings and lives and other situations as well. 

Most of the story, though, is told by Nilofer. I don't think I liked her that much for the way she is described, it seems she is a little fickle and inconstant and not very loyal (emotionally speaking). I just didn't like her much so it was difficult to care about what she was going through. I actually liked other secondary characters more but the focus wouldn't be on them as much as I would have preferred.

There are many philosophical discussions between the characters and engaging ideas to think about. This aspect of the novel was interesting, even if a little difficult to put into perspective if one isn't much familiar with the oriental cultures and the History of Turkey or the Ottoman empire. I mean, the discussions had great points but it's not that easy for the unaware reader to think of them in terms of how it would have affected History had things happened a different way.

I think that, for those who don't usually read books featuring the aspects I mentioned, this is a good novel to start. It's easy, simple and the fictional tale filled with the usual stuff (family drama, sex, relationships...) and offers sufficiently intriguing themes. However, deep down, it's not as literary as I imagined although I can't say that is such a bad thing. I was curious enough to read it in a row but I don't know if I'll jump to another that quickly.

Grade: 6/10

Dianne Duvall - Awaken the Darkness

He awakens encapsulated in dirt with no knowledge of how he came to be there. Riddled with injuries, he can remember neither his past nor who he is. Nor can he remember what he is. But surely no mortal man could survive being buried deep beneath the earth. All he knows with certainty is that the soothing voice and presence of the woman moving around above enables him to endure the agony of his wounds. And he will do whatever it takes to be with her.
When Susan first sees the old two-story house for sale, such warmth and longing fill her that—against all reason—she makes an offer. It will take years of hard work and money she frankly doesn’t have to fix up the place. So she can’t explain why she bought it. She also can’t explain what compels her to spend hours one night, digging in the basement until she unearths a man. A man who still lives and breathes despite having been buried alive. A man whose intense brown eyes glow amber with pain, declaring him far more than ordinary. Susan knows she should keep her distance. He has no memory and possesses gifts that would make most fear him. But as the two work together to unravel the mystery of his past, she finds herself drawn in by his teasing nature and tender touch. So much so that she loses her heart to him even as they find themselves hunted by unknown enemies who are ruthless in their quest to capture them.

Comment: This is the most recent installment in the Immortal Guardians series by author Dianne Duvall.

Since discovering the series I've been a dedicated fan and hoped for a lot with this novel but now I guess I could say it was the weakest story for me.

Attention, warnings ahead, especially if one considers the mystery blurb too!

In this new adventure, the author goes back to a character we thought had disappeared and how he is rescued now by Susan, a telepathic woman who feels she can't let go of a house the saw and considered buying. Even with a lot of fixing to do, Susan just can't seem to stay away and she does buy the house. Along with her dog, she starts digging the basement and uncovers a man, who somehow has survived being buried alive.

There are weird things about him but since she, Susan, isn't the usual woman either, she can't judge. The two seem to get very close but with strange people after them both, will they have something in common too when all is done?

This story had many ingredients to be successful and all the details that usually are included in the series. It also has a sweet romance and interesting details.

However, all together just didn't wow me that much and I think there was too much distance between the protagonists alone time and the rest of the plot.

One of the things I like the best about this series is how close every character is. Even when welcoming new characters to the fold, the sense of family and community among everyone is amazing. I do love this notion and even with little scenes that sensation is achieved.

In this book, however, a little more than half the story is focused on Susan discovering the hero and their relationship developing and we have reasons why they are "alone" for so long, it does make sense: I actually applaud the fact the author tried to give it realism somehow.

My issue is that, because of this tactic, we only get the community feel later on and for me it wasn't enough. I just disliked the fact the rest of the characters were almost an afterthought.

The plot is pretty easy. But it's seriously focused on the main couple, as opposed to the main arc, as I've been used to with the previous books. This felt very "detached" from the rest because of that.

I don't think any serious development happened.

The romance was cute. It offered all the necessary elements to make it sweet and believable but for me their connection lacked chemistry. I don't think they were such a great couple... but I feel glad both found someone. I suppose it's because of the circumstances - quite obvious - but everything happened a little too quickly and too easily for them, romantically speaking. I prefer if characters try (or pretend to) battle their feelings for a while and considering Susan saved the hero somehow... too convenient.

The end was what I expected since the beginning. I guess too much time was spent "rescuing" the hero and the rest of things felt second line. I'm still glad over several things, there was a very good detail in the end regarding another character (not the new hero, no) and some family scenes were also sigh worthy.

However, as a whole, this disappointed a bit and not even the romance saved it. I can say it's a good addition but nothing I'll remember specially.

Grade: 6/10

Heidi Cullinan - Love Lessons

Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.
Kelly Davidson has waited what seems like forever to graduate high school and get out of his small-minded, small town. But when he arrives at Hope University, he quickly realizes finding his Prince Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus.
Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed might as well be equipped with a revolving door.
Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view.
As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.

Comment: The promise of a romance story between a known player and a shy guy is always a little bit of catnip to me as I tend to enjoy stories with opposites attract. It was probably because of this I added the book to my TBR but the execution ended up being a little below what I expected.

In this book we have the story of Kelly Davidson (weird name for a guy, isn't it?), a freshman at Hope University who wants to finally be himself out of his small community where everyone knows everyone. Since Kelly has allergies he was placed in a dorm where he would need air filters and that means he needs to share a room with someone. That guy is Walter Lucas, a very confident person on his own skin but who, despite his reputation, cares for Kelly and goes out of his way to help him along.

However, university expectations aren't always met and the two guys, who seem to share a need to keep their friendship but also feel attracted to one another will need to face external issues before a HEA is achieved...

On one hand, it's great that this author has used a very realistic and contemporary scenario to build in her story around. The characters are going to develop a romance but there are several issues happening that make the story feel closer to something we could to find in any real university campus.

There are issues regarding a teacher's tenure, issues about Kelly's family and their finances, Walter's mother and her sort of depression and even about Kelly and Walter's differences in personality and choices.

Although it does feel a lot, things are well woven to one another and provide a very realistic take to contemporary situations.

However, despite understanding a slightly darker tone in the story here and there for obvious reasons, I must say for me the plot took too long to happen and be solved. I'd say this story would have gained from being a few pages less. I admit there were parts a little too boring.

Kelly is a cute character and I was rooting for him. He has many qualities, he is shy and sensitive without being too childish (even with his love for Disney) and I wanted to see him improve into an amazing adult. But there seemed to exist a certain emphasis on his quirkiness and allergies and emotional state. None of this is wrong but couldn't stop thinking at times he was too "protected" and sometimes he also came across as being too bland and difficult to change. I get why but his involvement with Walter, despite paced, felt unlikely. I think Kelly wasn't explored as well as he could, his personality only an excuse for certain things.

Perhaps if the relationship had been focused differently...perhaps only on them and not as much as they as part of a whole group... or, eventually, there was just too much inner dialogue and not enough action. The plot dragged, yes.

Walter is a more fascinating character. He is confident in himself but he still fears abandonment and he fears he will always need to take of his mother's feelings for a situation not his fault. I got his issues and why he would be a little aloof at times.

I liked how he behaved with Kelly and helped him and I trusted him when his feelings changed and why he chose to take his time. But because they went from friends to lovers the dynamics of their relationship felt out of place and actually intrusive. I felt they were too good as friends to change things. Walter also seemed a little to active for Kelley's less exuberant attitudes.

I didn't dislike the author's style nor the way she told her story. But some parts dragged, some dynamics felt off and I wasn't as interested in all elements the same to some chapters were interesting and others not really.

I think less pages, more edition and a little bit more of believable sexual tension would have done the trick. Nevertheless, a good enough story even if with and a sugary HEA.

Grade: 6/10

Jojo Moyes - After You

Lou Clark has lots of questions.
Like how it is she's ended up working in an airport bar, spending every shift watching other people jet off to new places.
Or why the flat she's owned for a year still doesn't feel like home.
Whether her close-knit family can forgive her for what she did eighteen months ago.
And will she ever get over the love of her life.
What Lou does know for certain is that something has to change.
Then, one night, it does.
But does the stranger on her doorstep hold the answers Lou is searching for - or just more questions?
Close the door and life continues: simple, ordered, safe.
Open it and she risks everything.
But Lou once made a promise to live. And if she's going to keep it, she has to invite them in . . .

Comment: As many other readers, I've had quite an experience reading Me Before You, a successful novel by this author and probably what gave her more recognition. The theme was hard, the story richly developed but with many sad layers and readers liked it.

Considering the way it ends, it was no surprise to know readers dreamed about what would happen next to one character and although I can't really say, this story was probably the result of a lot pressure because the other book was well sold. However, now that I read it, I must say I agree with those readers who have the opinion this book was not necessary.

In this sequel, Lou is found working in a bar at the airport and after a long time, she still hasn't moved on completely. Her life is pretty much a depressing one, she still hears the whispers of people who know what she was a part of and she still mourns. 

Everything changes the day Will's daughter Lily shows up at her door and somehow invades her life. Lou can't help but feel protective of Lily, even if she - and Will - have never heard of her existence. But nothing is simple and Lou isn't certain she feels ready to take on such a responsibility even if lily's mother claims her daughter isn't trustworthy. 

Lou also tries to move by joining a group where people discuss their mourning and their feelings and that's how she also comes to know Sam, the uncle of a teenager there. With so much to think about, can Lou really be ready to deal with so many new things?

To be honest, the best element of this novel has to be the mourning process. It's not the same for everyone and in this case, especially after a strong and heavily emotional first story, this sequel had to mention certain issues. 

I liked some passages where Lou talks about or even thinks about it. I think my favorite passage is when she is talking on the phone with Nathan, who was also in the first book, and she asks him if this whole situation is out of proportion in her head, if she only imagined her feelings were that real. This did touch me because it felt very realistic, very well thought and something anyone suffering would think about, only to make it easy to go another day.

However, apart from some passages, some original situations, most of the book is a collection of unnecessary things and annoying ones.

I can understand the need for closure that readers (and even the publisher's coffers) needed to get over the intensity of the first book but...I don't think it was necessary, no. In fact, this story almost felt like the characters weren't the same and I don't think the change was positive. It just would be highly unlikely that this would delivery the same impact as the other and, frankly, that wouldn't be something I'd personally like. The other story was perfect on its own.

I suppose the biggest issue here was how the author chose to keep up with Lou and Will's storyline by bringing up a daughter he didn't know he had. Lily wasn't very appealing to read about even if one can understand her dilemmas. I just think Lily didn't have to be as needy nor as rebellious. I see how the plot moved along in a certain way because of this but I didn't like Lily and that made reading this a little annoying for me. Plus Lou is a great character but she does take on things not her responsibility and the plot felt rather over the top.

I still liked Lou for the most part. She isn't the same as she was in the first book, it's impossible not to compare, and one can understand: who doesn't change if in mourning? I just think the situations she saw herself in were very unbalanced, from her series of doubts on accepting a job, to her dealings with Lily, to how she starts a new relationship... all this is meant to show her face things but I wasn't a fan of her throughout this process even if empathizing with her feelings.

The story ends on a new adventure, but not before Lou faces a very complicated situation with boyfriend Sam (it felt like just a way to increase drama) and a goodbye party to her mourning group which was cute but too sugary to fit the overall story.

I'm not certain about reading the third book... I do feel curious - that's why I also got this one - but I fear I'll loose my likeness for this and I don't want to let go of the emotional high Me Before You left...although i don't think I can read that one again in the near future.

Grade: 6/10

Kim Edwards - The Memory Keeper's Daughter

On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's Syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split-second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. 
So begins this story that unfolds over a quarter of a century - in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that long-ago winter night. Norah Henry, who knows only that her daughter died at birth, remains inconsolable; her grief weighs heavily on their marriage. And Paul, their son, raises himself as best he can, in a house grown cold with mourning. Meanwhile, Phoebe, the lost daughter, grows from a sunny child to a vibrant young woman whose mother loves her as fiercely as if she were her own.

Comment: I was given this book as a Christmas gift but it's practically July and only now did I get it to read. Although this is a high rated book on GR, the average isn't that amazing so I guess this put me off a bit about starting it. Still, I read all my planned books for the month and this is another one I just started impulsively, hoping to be proven wrong on letting it wait.

In this book we meet doctor David Henry, a man who still mourns the death of his sister and how that affected his family life, when he is about to become a father. During the delivery, his wife has twins but while the firstborn boy is as healthy as expected, the girl being born after has Down Syndrome. Since the action starts in 1964, there was still a lot of prejudice and along with David's fears of seeing his daughter wasting until dying and allowing his family to suffer, he decides on his own that the girl will be sent to an institution. For this he asks a nurse who was assisting the birth to do that before his wife realized what was happening, telling her later the baby girl died.

Throughout the years, the lives of all the characters involved will be affected by this action of David. Or won't they?

Well, the question I wrote above is actually how I'd summarize what we are supposed to read between the lines about this story. Does this story really have a different meaning if we could imagine David's actions should have been different? As one could imagine, such an one sided decision shouldn't have been done but once it did, how does it affect everything else?

In my opinion, if this is the aim of the story, to let us make our own minds about the right choice, then the author shouldn't have spent most of the more than 400 pages (of my edition) of this story with the character's behavior and thoughts and more about the actions to reunite the child who was given with the others.

The story can be divided into years, being the first 1964 and then the plot moves along until 1989 when the book ends. In each year we have scenes about the characters, where they are in life and how their minds and emotions are too. We have a third person narrator but the story flows from character to character, so we have David's thoughts, Norah's (his wife), Paul's (the twin boy) and Caroline's (the nurse who took the girl-Phoebe).

If on one hand this is quite interesting because it allows us to understajd where everyone is at, it also gives us glimpses of their motivations and actions.

I guess that, overall, I found this to be an easy way to move along but quite irritating at times. You see, for me, despite how understandable their thoughts and feelings, I just didn't like being in any of their heads. Except, maybe, Caroline's.

All characters had flaws, and of course we are supposed to see how that made them human because everyone makes mistakes but we, the reader, should also find compassion towards what happens to these people, mistakes notwithstanding.

Paul and David were annoying because they could have had a great relationship and the reasons why they didn't don't seem valid, considering Paul's happy childhood.

Then Paul changes and the main reason has something to do with a situation regarding his mother. Why he felt like he should punish his father, I don't know (David's secret action was not known yet).

This means, to me, the worst character was Norah. I can see why thinking her child was dead could have been so devastating. Were she suffering, I would have understood. Were she to react on it with weird behaviors too. But since we have access to her thoughts, we can see how she rationalizes her actions and that makes her decision, when Paul changes into a moody teenager, stupid, pointless, annoying to no end.

Therefore, while reading, most of my antagonism went towards Norah and not David, although his impulsive decision was the reason behind all problems.

Unfortunately for me, the story was mostly spent in analysing the characters' lives through the impact of David's decision. I feel a lot of growth was lot in this tactic, rather than making the story more about the characters knowing about it sooner and how they would respond to the fact the twin girl has Down syndrome and that would affect them all.

The end of the book was bittersweet and under done, I'd say. I just can't find true emotion about this book and some plot choices felt really missed chances to turn this into something more spectacular.

All in all, entertaining, but certainly not as amazing as it could have been.

Grade: 6/10