Series Review: The Artist Trilogy by Katrina Halle

 

I have had this series on my radar for quite some time. One day, I was in a mood for something darkish and different. While browsing through my shortlist, I spotted Sins & Needles, and that seemed to fit what I was looking for. I definitely made the right call on that! I ended up reading the whole series back-to-back, including the short story- On Every Street. I don't know if you're "supposed" to read this novella before or after Sins & Needles, but I read it after, and I'm glad that I did! It gave me some great insight about Ellie's past. There had been this mystery element while reading Sin's & Needles, and I kept wondering, "who is Javier and what exactly happened there?!" On Every Street answered my questions and was definitely an asset to the trilogy. I also liked being introduced to Camden before I was introduced to Javier.

Like I said, I ended up reading this series without really stopping much (except when I had to do my pesky homework). Rather than reviewing each book individually, I decided to just wait to share my general feelings as a whole, and to be honest, some of the elements and time tables of what happened were a little blurred because I did not review or take notes in between books. (Sorry about that, guys.)

At the same time, the fact that I did read the Artist Trilogy in one go, says a lot about it, does it not?  I would describe this series as being dark, gritty, compelling, honest, and suspenseful.

The characters:
Ellie Watt: I wasn't sure what to think about her at first. In the beginning, I thought that she was self-serving and selfish at times. She didn't really take a good look at the people around her and see them as individuals with feelings and a story. Therefore, was a wonderful to take a journey with Ellie and to see her grow and to learn things about herself.
Camden: I really liked Camden. Yes, he was beautiful with all his tats,  height, and muscle. I absolutely loved his artistic side and how he could see within people. He wasn't all that he appeared to be.
Javier: I don't even know what to say about Javier, to be honest. He was so complex,  conflicted,  and really...crazy at times. Still, I found myself drawn to him and his mysteriousness. I kept wanting to read more scenes with him in them, even though he really scared me at times.

This was my first series by Karina Halle, and it certainly will not be my last! She has so much talent, and I love how she weaved together a captivating story and wrote about some interesting characters.

                                                                          

Nine Minutes by Beth Flynn

Title: Nine Minutes
Author: Beth Flynn
Series: Nine Minutes, #1
Date Published: July 23, 2014
6 Stars

On May 15, 1975, fifteen-year-old Ginny Lemon is abducted from a convenience store in Fort Lauderdale by a member of one of the most notorious and brutal motorcycle gangs in South Florida.

From that moment on, her life is forever changed. She gets a new name, a new identity and a new life in the midst of the gang’s base on the edge of the Florida Everglades—a frightening, rough and violent world much like the swamps themselves, where everyone has an alias and loyalty is tantamount to survival.

And at the center of it all is the gang’s leader, Grizz: massive, ruggedly handsome, terrifying and somehow, when it comes to Ginny, tender. She becomes his obsession and the one true love of his life.

So begins a tale of emotional obsession and manipulation, of a young woman ripped from everything she knows and forced to lean on the one person who provides attention, affection and care: her captor. Precocious and intelligent, but still very much a teenager, Ginny struggles to adapt to her existence, initially fighting and then coming to terms with her captivity.

Will she be rescued? Will she escape? Will she get out alive—or get out at all? Part psychological thriller, part coming-of-age novel, filled with mystery, romance and unexpected turns, Nine Minutes takes readers into the world of one motorcycle gang and inside the heart of a young girl, whose abduction brought about its fall.

Amazon | B&N

 

 



 



Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once!

Bahahaha! Who am I kidding here?

Nine Minutes is my new obsession, and I will likely talk about it to whoever will listen.

I received this book for Christmas last year, and I do not know why I put off reading it?! I started on it yesterday morning, and did not stop (other than dinner and bathroom breaks), until I finished it last night. I was very content with how it ended. And then I read the last part of the epilogue. About five times.



 After that, I  just had to talk about it with somebody, but I didn't have anybody to talk about it with. Thankfully, I found a Nine Minutes support discussion group.

The first thing that I want to say is that I love Beth Flynn's writing style! I almost felt like the main character was narrating a movie, and I could completely visualize what was happening around me. She did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. Now, normally I would cheat and take a peak at the end of the book to see how it all ends up (yeah yeah, I know). But I didn't this time, and I am so glad that I was a good girl.

My favorite kinds of books are the realistic kind. Sometimes they end up being the darker books.I know that I have flaws, so it's refreshing when characters do too. It's comforting, in a sense. I really appreciate books that really make me feel something. I found these qualities in Nine Minutes. Just keep in mind, that if you read this (and I really hope you do!), that there might be a few parts that might make you feel squeamish. It is so worth it if you can get past that, though.  It's not a light read, but it is such a great read!

The story is told by Ginny, who was kidnapped when she was just fifteen years old, and it describes her experience. I don't want to say a whole lot about what happens, as one would have to read it for themselves to get the full effect. I could describe bits and pieces of what stood out for me, but it would be difficult to exactly why, without giving spoilers. Just know, you may be questioning things, and yourself, at times.

I do want to talk about the characters:

Ginny/Kit- My heart went out to this girl. She had to grow up really fast, even at an early age, and she's considered an old soul. Sometimes, I would get so frustrated and wanted to scream, "why?!" and  "don't do that!" However, she handled herself very well considering the circumstances, and stuck to her principles and beliefs. I really admired that. Ginny was definitely a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, and in my opinion, it affected her for many, many, years. Her mind coped by shutting out the bad things that were going on around her.

Grizz: Ok, I might upset a lot of people here, but I could not get on Team Grizz.  Don't get me wrong- I admired how much he loved Kit and how well he treated her, but I could not get past the kind of man he was and all of the horrible things that he allowed to happen and did to people. His dedication to Kit does notjustify or make me forget that he was a kidnapper and could be really cruel at times.

Grunt: Now I know that Grunt was not perfect, but I absolutely loved this kid. He was not living in the best of circumstances, and was limited in what he could do. I admired that he was patient, saw the bigger picture, tried to make something of his life, and wanted what was best for Kit. I wanted so badly to know more about him, and to see what life was like for him over the years.

This is a beautiful story of how a girl was able to overcome things. I gave Nine Minutes, Six Stars (my second of the year).  Normally, I am very stingy with my stars. I think I only gave 4 out of 95 books a  five-star rating last year.  It was just that good.


My favorite quote:

“A story about a man who has loved me from the very beginning, from the first glance. The man who always was and still is my soul mate.”  



 

Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

Title: Mud Vein
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Date Published: April 5, 2014
Rating: 5...no. 6 stars.

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.  



Wow. Just. Wow.

I am a huge fan of Tarryn Fisher's, Love Me With Lies series, so I cannot understand why I put off reading Mud Vein for as long as I did. There is something so raw and so honest about Tarryn's words, and you never know what her characters are going to say or do. Nothing is sugar coated or conventional. Therefore, I did not find myself rolling my eyes or bored. Not for one minute.

This book in unlike anything I have ever read. I don't really want to go into it too much, because it would really spoil the experience for readers. I can tell you that I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails. I had to read this book in chunks, because I had to think about and absorb the parts that I had just read. There were things that just gutted me, and had me in tears. And I hate crying. I really do. I couldn't help it though. Sometimes I felt like I could relate to Senna. Other times, I felt like I didn't understand her at all.

Then there was Isaac. Everyone needs an Isaac in there lives. After reading Mud Vein, I believe we all do, somewhere in the world.

I cannot express in words how much this book touched me, and I highly recommend it. However, this is by no means a fluff or a happy read. It will make you think and feel, though. I stayed up until 1:00 am, last night finishing this book. I think I spent another hour (maybe two?) reflecting on what I had just experienced in Mud Vein. I just couldn't sleep because my mind was racing. Starting another book right away was out of the question for me. How can I after reading such and enthralling book like Mud Vein?