Book Review: Fathomless - Jackson Pearce

Fathomless - Jackson Pearce

I drowned in this book.

If I was a twin, and this book was an 'angel', I'd be an ocean girl right now.

I don't know how to put my feelings of this book into a coherent paragraph that flows point to point.  So, I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to word-vomit wearing my fan-girl outfit. There are spoilers, btw.

I enjoyed the multiple-personality of Nadia. I'm not sure if this was intentional, but it was a great way to showcase the difference between a human with a soul, and something that's not 'human'. While Nadia/Lo shared the same skin, hair, eyes, and toes, there was a distinct difference between them. You could 'hear' it in their voice.  You could see it in their actions. And if I were to over-analyze the differences, I might therein see what Miss Pearce thinks the difference of a human to a non-human would be.

For example: Nadia is embarrassed when Celia sees her naked. Nadia will wear the towel/dress Celia offers her.  Lo doesn't care.  That difference of proprietary is significant to Nadia being a human and Lo letting go of her soul.

Another example: Nadia fights with her life to remember her past. Lo wants to forget, accept life as it is, and look toward the beautiful ocean and the angels that will bring her beyond.

What I really like, is that Lo isn't completely devoid of her humanity. While it's in her nature/instinct to kill, she doesn't want to but moreover; she CHOOSES not to. She CHOOSES at a point to save a life, as LO. As this non-human personality.

This makes me believe that perhaps, Nadia/Lo hasn't completely lost her soul, if that is where her humanity is kept. If she did lose her soul, then the humanity part must be part of something else that isn't so easily forgotten; and that part might be the key to bring down the antagonists.


I enjoyed the constant ebb and flow (get it) of water illusions in the book. I, too, feel drawn to the big blue waters, and I quickly got lost in the feelings of gargantuan power the oceans can have over a person. I loved it.

The nuances that connect the twisted fairytales books - While each of her previous books (Sisters Red, Sweetly) can be stand alone stories, each of these 3 stories are connected in the same universe. Miss Pearce connects and weaves them together like a subtle spiderweb. If you aren't diligent, you could miss it. I'm going to re-read all 3 books again until I can catch every connection.


From all this random fangirl word vomit, I loved this book, I continue to love Jackson Pearce, and I am already experiencing readers-frustration (a la sexual frustration) waiting for her next book; COLD SPELL.


Time to go for a swim...

Book Review: Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

So, last week, I finished this book.  I had my eye on this story for nearly a year now. Sometimes, the mystery in your mind is more satisfying then a story that... isn't.

Twisted Fairytales seems to be a new sub-genre in YA fiction. This is where Cinder belongs. I might put it lower on the totem pole, below Miss Jackson Pearces' Sister's Red,  Sweetly and SOON TO COME OUT - Fathomless. 

I forgive the predictable plot that mirrors Cinderella, as it should, the predictable characters are less easier to forgive. Perhaps it isn't even that - perhaps I just was unable to connect with Cinder. I adored her sidekick Iko (think of Eve from Disney's Wall-e), and her step-mother with step-daughters were done well enough. The refreshing part of this story was 1 sister was not evil (although, predictable unlucky Cinderella puts this sister in jeopardy).

The romance between Cinder and the Prince fell flat. It was obvious the Prince had interest in her, but you never knew quite why. Cinder wasn't far enough on a scale to tip it in her favour. She wasn't extremely homely or extremely pretty or extremely funny or extremely brash.. I think to gain the Prince's favour in any way, she'd have to stand out from the crowd. So, WHY does Prince show her any interest to being with?

Cinder had good ambitions and had a good heart, she had good reasons to make the choices she did. I did feel pity on her and I did want her to 'win'.. and she might have 'won' but never 'triumphed'.

The other twist to the tale probably stems from the authors love of Sailor Moon (okay, you found me out - that's really the reason why I wanted to read this book so badly).  Maybe it was my imagination, but I could easily pick out the Moon-esque similarities (the gloves, the lunars, prince is an ethic tuxedo mask). It's not a BAD thing by any means, but perhaps these themes/ideals could have been woven more intrictaly in the story.

It felt like the narrator was an excited young girl trying to tell me an epic love story. Usually when that happens, details are left out. Atmosphere suffers. The mood is a constant high. 

I liked this book. I will read the sequel. When I want a 'twisted fairytale' done right, I'll go to my Jackson Pearce part of my bookshelf and re-read those.