Literary Brooding

The Stars Are Dying - Nytefall #1 C.C. Peñaranda 566 pages, Kindle Edition, First published 10 July 2023 Australian Publication Date: 8 October 2024 Astrea can only remember the last five years of her life. She is contained, manipulated and she initially believes loved by Hektor, who regularly reminds her how he saved her. She is supported by a couple of friends who she interacts clandestinely with and a mysterious male character Nyte who stirs up the sexual tension. Peñaranda has created a detailed and rich world that is layered with complexities and intrigue. There is massive potential to deliver an engaging series that could be highly compelling. I did struggle with the rhythm of the text, and I did read some sections out loud to try and get into the swing of it. It seems Peñaranda was aiming for a lyrical prose style but there are times when it is over prescriptive and meanders too long. I am sure many will have no problems in the style and will be absorbed. The story is told throu

The Phoenix Keeper S.A MacLean 464 pages, Kindle Edition, Expected publication August 13, 2024 The bones of this book is that Aila is a phoenix keeper for a zoo, it has been her dream to have a successful breeding program and that possibility of that happening is not looking good. Until there is a theft of a phoenix and her eggs at another zoo and Aila is presented with a chance to realise her dreams. The layers of the story are in Aila’s relationships with friends, employers, potential romantic interests and overcoming her own internal challenges. Aila as the central character is pivotal to whether you are going to embrace this story or not. MacLean has crafted a character who certainly runs the gauntlet of emotions. Aila is a perfectionist, obsessive, an introvert, struggles to interact in any social situation and task orientated. She is loyal to her friends but that single minded drive she has means she is unaware to their trials and tribulations. When she finally realises that she

It Ends with Us Colleen Hoover 386 pages, First published 2 August 2016 Lily stands at the podium, trying to deliver a eulogy which says five nice things about an alcoholic father who took out his anger on her mother, she cannot. Later that day, Lily sits on a rooftop reflecting on what has been and where she is now. That she is in Boston, with a good career and plenty of opportunity. Her solace is broken by an angry but drop dead gorgeous, successful neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. This meeting sets of a course of events that sets of a series of events that will make Lily question who she is and what she is willing to forgo. Especially, when Atlas, her first love reappears and complicates matters further.  The hype about this book has been considerable and as I scanned the reviews it is pretty obvious that this book is decisive and for good reasons. Hoover has placed at the forefront of this novel domestic violence that is not fully revealed with the story pitched as a love triangle.  When