Between Two Worlds by Shelter Somerset 🔖🔖

I tried to like this book, but found it somewhat slow. I also noticed a few things about the writing that detracted from the story. There were descriptions in odd places which made it appear the author was trying too hard, including a few discrepancies in the same descriptions a few pages later, flat descriptions of Amish life, etc. Finally, the romance wasn't something I could connect with. It felt almost empty and flat.

I'd likely not want to read more from this author.

Ink & Bone by Rachel Caine ✖️

This had such high ratings and the premise is so awesome, I almost feel bad for giving it such a low star rating. Almost. I couldn't even finish the book or get much past the first 40 pages.

The characters were flat. The descriptions were sketchy enough that the reader has a hard time understanding what is being described. Items that are not in our own existence are just suddenly there, not discussed, and moved on from as if we know it's history, meaning, and function. And at times, the writing was terrible. The last few examples that made me give up:

"Dinner that night was unusually calm and festive."
(I can guess what the author is attempting here, but it falls flat.)

"Couldn't read his expression."
(This is not a sentence, which would be fine if this were the tone of the entire book, but it's not. It's just a random non-sentence.)

I just couldn't see myself continuing.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner 🔖🔖🔖

This was so slow in the first half for me, I nearly stopped quite a few times. The last half proved to be worth it. I just wish the first half was as intriguing and as interest-keeping as the last.