The Train by Sarah Bourne - A Bllodhound Books review

The Train

by Sarah Bourne

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Train by Sarah Bourne explores human nature and reactions when faced with unexpected adversity.The day for 8 passengers on a busy commuter train, from Milton Keynes to London, begins as any other. Not long into the journey, a tragic incident brings the train to a stop.

The reader gets to know the 8 passengers and follows along for the day. Insights in how each of them deal with the incident, how it impacts their life and changes them forever make this novel a powerful read. The characters are all connected and find themselves meeting throughout the day. Some have a more direct response than others, one is even directly involved in the tragic that unfolded. But all are changed forever.

I found this to be a very thought provoking read, I had to smile at some of the “very British” reactions and ways to cope with such a profound experience. Tea, anyone? 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My thanks go to Bloodhoundbooks and the author, Sarah Bourne.

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Rachel's Story by Leigh Russell - A Bloodhound Books review

 Rachel's Story

by Leigh Russel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rachel’s Story bei Leigh Russell is everything the description promises it to be. 

Rachel grows up in a world where food and life is ruled by the select few in government. Her life is ripped apart when her mother is brutally killed and Rachel is forced to join “The program”. At first, Rachel is lured in by the special treatment those chosen for “The program” receive. But soon, doubts form in her mind and a disturbing encounter with a former friend convince her that she needs to leave. With no plan but a lot of luck, she finds herself joining the people she was taught to fear her whole life. 

This story really gripped me from start to finish. World building and character development happen at a fast pace, leaving no room for skimming or boredom! With haunting tones of The Handmaids tale, this is a great new dystopian adventure to get engrossed in! The only thing I was a tiny bit disappointed in was the very abrupt ending! I just wanted to carry on reading to find out what happens to Rachel! I will definitely be looking out for the next book! 

My thanks go to Bloodhound publishing and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Diseased Ones by Daniele Harrington - A TBC Review

 The Diseased Ones Book 1 Hollis Timewire Trilogy

by Danielle Harrington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, my thanks go to TBC and the author. 

In the year 2647, society is very different to our world. The world Hollis Timewire grew up in is one devoid of emotion and subject to strict rules and government regulation. Citizens become full members of society at age 16, all Hollis has to do is pass a simple blood test. As the child of two upstanding members of society, it comes as a complete shock when Hollis does not pass the test. Her blood shows a forbidden bio marker and with that all her hopes and dreams vanish. She reacts with instinct and finds herself kidnapped by a mysterious power. When she comes to, she finds herself in a very different environment. Hollis learns, that she is not alone and that a group of “diseased ones” has survived the government’s genocide and exists far away from the society she knows. Hollis struggles to embrace her new found powers and her new friends. She plots to make her way back to her home, but at what cost? 

The reader has to bear in mind, that this book is Young adult fiction. As such, I found it a very impressive first novel! The characters are well written and the plot has unique elements in a genre that is very popular. I found the idea of a dystopian society combined with an “underground” population of gifted people very intriguing. The plot moves along at a nice pace. I wanted to know more about Hollis’s world but the author gives us just enough world building to flesh out the places the plot unfolds in. This would be a good fit for fans of divergent or the mortal instruments. 

I will definitely read the other two books in this trilogy. 

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A Shadow on the lense - Sam Hurcom A netgalley/TBC review

 

A shadow on the lens

by Sam Hurcom

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from TBC/net galley in exchange for a review. 

The year is 1904 and Thomas Bexley is the world’s first forensic photographer. His expertise is called upon when a young girl, Bestand Tilny, is brutally murdered and her remains are staged in a chilling way. It is up to Bexley to document the grizzly murder and ensure justice can be served. 

I was initially excited to get started on this book. The premise of the first CSI was interesting and fascinating. However, as the plot dragged on, mainly concentrating on how ill our poor protagonist feels, I lost utter interest. The author escapes many of the more technical details by reassuring the reader “he won’t bore us with the detail” and we are back to poor Thomas feeling sick. The book is written in form of a diary, so entirely told from the main character’s perspective. 

I honestly I did not manage to find a single likeable character.

I did like the scene settings, the descriptions of the village, the woods and church. The plot itself is imaginative, with interesting elements of crime, horror and the supernatural but, for me, the tedious description of poor Thomas’s inflictions took away a lot from the overall story.