REVIEW: The Dazzling Heights

The Dazzling Heights
Published by: Harper Collins
Genre: YA, Sci-Fic
Source: Harper Collins India
Rating: 4/5


This was an entertaining read filled with lies and betrayals.The futuristic technology was amazing. Forever puppies, tunnel in the sky, YES please! I also liked Watts sarcastic artificial intelligence. Despite all the technology, the writing wasnt difficult to understand. Now that Ive read this book, the cover and the title totally make sense. Both books start and end with a bang but the plots a little slower toward the middle. With all the different points of view I was impressed with how easily I could tell them a part. Each voice was unique and compelling.

The storyline in this was mainly about a new girl called Calliope who was a con-artist, and was trying to con the teens in the tower out of money, and mainly had her sights set on Atlas who she apparently had met previously when the pair had been travelling round Africa. This relationship didn’t go down too well with Avery though, whilst Calliope started to have second thoughts about leading the life of a con-artist. 
We did get a little bit of romance in this, with the shaky romance between Avery and Atlas, and from another more unexpected source as well, but there wasn’t a lot of romance. I did find the pace in this book rather slow though, although the mystery over who would end up dead kept me reading.
Despite the futuristic setting and multitude of exciting and innovative gadgets that fill the lives of this elite cast, there remained something essentially understandable about these characters. Their troubles were real and their pain was authentic. Their stories might differ but heartache, grief, and love are timeless emotions experienced by characters and readers alike. I think that's what makes this series so special to me - it is a seamless blend of the exciting unknown and the relatable.

But man, I loved how this book was less about drugs and more about a dangerous web of lies. It was just so good seeing them plot against one anther and ugh, was it juicy!!!!

One thing I thought was choppy was Leda's sudden friendliness with Avery and Rylin. I know Leda said that Watt changed her, but we didn't get much of that, so that transition was a bit weird.

And then there's Atlas leaving for Dubai and staying away from Avery. Honestly I didn't care.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Once again the book starts with the death of a character and in this case it is a person who supposedly drowned. Honestly in the beginning, i thought it just had to be Avery. Like who else. But towards the end I was like no, it has to be Leda because Maribel poisoned her and Leda spilled all their secrets. I was freaking out when Leda said that Maribel was out to get them all in revenge for Eris' death. But then someone murdered Maribel and Leda lived. I feel relived that Maribel is dead but who did it? It could have been either Watt or Leda, but they were with the rest of the group, and Avery and Rylin would have never let them do it, and I don't think they would do it either since Eris' death. But all I have in my mind now is WHO KILLED MARIBEL??!?!?!?!

This book was such a fun and thrilling read and i cant WAIT for the third book. I recommend this book series to anyone who is interested in dark secrets and lies!

REVIEW: Then She Was Gone

Then She Was Gone
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 4/5
Publisher: Penguin Books
Source: Publisher


So, I have read some books before by Lisa but this was the one which moved me to tears in the end. I totally loved this book.

 The narrative goes back and forth between the present day and the past, and is told from the perspective of four different characters, at different times throughout the book, although mainly from the pov of Laurel and Ellie. As a reader it's not at all difficult to keep on track, the perspectives don't keep changing continually, but rather gently weave in and out. 

Other than that, Then She Was Gone, is an enjoyable suspenseful read, filled with characters with shady secrets and questionable pasts. There are many emotional parts with plenty of moving moments. The book has some twists and turns, but I think I may have read so many books of this genre.

It's not a fast paced story but it does contain a couple of unexpected twists and some heart breaking moments towards the end.I really enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well written,engrossing drama/thriller

 The book centres on Laurel Mack whose youngest daughter 15 yr old Ellie went missing on her way to the library.

Ten years later Laurel is divorced from husband Paul and rarely sees her two surviving children Hanna and Jake. Then she receives a phone call from the police, Ellie has been found dead with the same rucksack and clothes she went missing with 10 years earlier.

Laurel meets Floyd in a chance encounter in a cafe. Things are going well and she meets Floyd's 9 yr old daughter Poppy. Poppy reminds Laurel of Ellie, as she gets to know Poppy she finds out some disturbing things about her background.

Keeping things mostly unpredictable, the story flows outwards and back on itself, cleverly allowing certain things to come to light at well placed moments. It is both psychological thriller and family drama, a gorgeous mash up of the two which makes for a highly addictive read.

It was a page turner for me ! Highly recommended !

Thank you Penguin Random House for sending this book for review.

REVIEW: Everybody Lies

Everybody Lies by Seth Stephan
Genre: Non-fiction
Rating: 3.5/5
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Bloomsbury India

This is an engaging and informative book about the huge amount of data available online and what it tells us about society.
As a chapter tells us, ALL THE WORLD’S A LAB. The data collected and shared by Seth Stephens- Davidowitz is downright disturbing at times. That there are dark sexual proclivities isn’t shocking so much as what they are, based on research. Also, who knew that your neighbor winning the lottery can have a strange impact on your own life. How odd human nature, what bizarre subjects human beings become, and subjects of research, it seems, we all are. What the heck does google searches reveal about us? A lot, actually. I spent a few chapters of this book with my moth hanging open, catching flies. Ethical questions certainly give rise to much of the research, just where is the ‘internet’ taking us all? Just who is watching, why? Well, read on my fellow test subjects. Do we think in strange ways? Naturally. I struggle with the methods of collecting data and yet, it’s true that while it can be used for nefarious purposes, just like anything else, there can be great benefits too.

The author's writing style is comfortable to read, which is no easy feat when you're talking about statistics and other difficult concepts. The dude obviously is a brainiac but he makes sure you're not intimidated by that fact


His conclusion is an argument that Big Data is the best shot for the social sciences to officially move into the realm of “real” science, even claiming that if Karl Popper were alive he’d likely be convinced. I’m not quite so skeptical of the social sciences as Popper was, and certainly no science, even “hard” science, is completely free from the biases of the scientist. But there is definitely more room for ideology to skew results in the social sciences. Stephens-Davidowitz makes a good case that big data (in combination with smaller data) can significantly strengthen the reliability of results. He convinced me that it does, but not to the extent that he believes it does.

The book makes the point that social science and literary studies have a fantastic new source of great data in big data. It's an interesting and seemingly valid point.

In short, this was a great read. I really enjoyed reading this book.

 Thank you Bloomsbury India for sending this over !