The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith REVIEW

 Summary:

When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. Mrs. Quine thinks her husband has gone off by himself for a few days - as he has done before - and she wants Strike to bring him home.

But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realizes. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were to be published, it would ruin lives - meaning that there are a lot of people who might want him silenced.

And when Quine is found brutally murdered, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a killer unlike any Strike has encountered before.

My Thoughts:

I liked this so much more than I had initially thought that I would. The characters are beautifully developed, and the writing is full of imagery. I could see everything.

Owen, throughout the story, is found out to be very flawed, but also a normal human being. The way he was murdered was in the way he wrote in his manuscript. He had a mistress and a sort of honorary daughter, despite being married and having his own daughter. Owen wasn't very loved by his fellow authors, and notoriously had thinly veiled things about them in his novels.

Robin is Strike's assistant, but she isn't a forgettable character. She wants to be his investigative partner despite her fiancé's disproval and the small paychecks. 

Strike is a likeable character who is a war veteran and is still getting over his ex-fiancée, Charlotte. Most of his work as a private detective has to do with catching cheaters at the request of their partners, but he gets hired by Owen's wife to find him. Strike finds him - murdered in a grotesque display. The police's chief suspect is Mrs. Quine, but his gut says otherwise, so Strike does his best to find the murderer. The number of suspects is large, but the murderer is hiding in plain sight (it's Quine's editor). The confrontation at the end is done so well and it's hard to put it down.

This book was brilliantly written, and I definitely recommend it to fans of mysteries.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Last Lion of Karkov by Dale Griffin REVIEW

Summary:

Raised in Karkov, a military, male-dominant kingdom, twins Natalia and Jillian know nothing but battle. When Jillian emerges as the dominant twin and apparent heir to the throne, Natalia, the softer and more diplomatic sister, ceases her military training. As Natalia prepares to marry the prince of her father's favored western ally, Jillian is set to become the first woman Lion of Karkov. But things don't go as planned when the older generation of warriors values her womb over her sword. Suddenly, the role Jillian has fought for all her life is slipping through her fingers . . . and she's not about to let it go without a fight.

At first, Jillian wants to destroy the young male warrior that the older generation favors. But soon, the two begin to fall for each other, and dark secrets behind Karkov's past come to light. Now Jillian finds herself in the unthinkable position of defending her former rival . . . and defying her father. Her defiance inspires a younger generation of warriors, who dub her the Lioness of Karkov.

Furious, her father ousts Jillian and the warriors who swore allegiance to her, setting in motion a chain of events that will disrupt everything he swore to protect. As innocent lands suffer invasion, greedy monarchies fall to revolution, and the wedding of the century threatens to live up to it's name, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war. When four nations converge on a battlefield, one sister must decide whether to embrace the life she always wanted - or stand up for the destiny that was never meant for her.

My Thoughts:

As soon as I got through the first few chapters, it was nearly impossible to put down. The events and places are beautifully described, and most of the characters fully develop, making me care about the characters. I honestly wish that this was split into a series, but I'll settle for it anyway.

Jillian is fierce and seemingly apathetic on the outside, but she cares so much for her sister and would do anything to protect her (which later leads to her downfall). Natalia is softer, and would much rather marry a prince and co-rule a country. Their father seems nice at first, but I grew to despise him the further that I read, especially when we learn the truth of what happened to their mother.

The enemies to lovers plot with Jillian and Odani is cute but the similar one with Natalia and Francis is not really developed enough as the former. I don't get the feeling that Francis would actually give up his crown, as his character was not as explored enough.

The battle scenes were some of my favorite parts to read. The imagery is so vivid and wonderfully done, making it feel like I was spectating. 

The only thing that I cannot wrap my head around is Karkov. We meet the royal family, military, and workers, but there's little to no mention of civilians.

I would DEFINITELY recommend this book. It is a longer one (596 pages), but definitely worth it.

My Rating: 5 stars