Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well ... drat. I hate to say it but I did not like this one nearly as much as Birthmarked. (On a side note ... why has Goodreads lost all of my star ratings? I think that one would have been a four or five, even. Not this one.)



Felt very ... preached at through the entire story. That's my first impression. It's hard to write about why without giving away some major plot points of the story. Characters did not feel genuine to the traits and motivations from the first book without any good explanation for their changes. And again ... I just felt really preached at. There is a hot topic challenged in this book. I'm glad the author brought it up as we can't just ignore topics that cause differences of opinion. But please don't make me feel betrayed by a character I empathized with when she really seems to change her mind on said topic.



Perhaps that does not make any sense? Still working on review writing without spoiling.



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The Poisoned House by Michael Ford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I do enjoy a good Victorian England mystery, and even better a ghost story.



I liked the sort of bookended prologue and epilogue. And I enjoyed many parts of the story ... Abi's interactions with Lizzy, Adam, Lord Greave, and Samuel. There seemed to be genuine affection.



I was not as fond of the ways the "ghost" communicated with Abi, or the "doctor" who gave her the Ouija board. Much of that seemed ... forced. Can't quite put my finger on what but it wasn't entirely believable.



All this said ... I would pick up something from this author again. Won't necessarily go running to look for it, but I think there was enough good about the book to merit a second look. I just won't be running out immediately tomorrow to do it.



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