The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black // Vampires Did Not Bother Me in This Case

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, by Holly Black
Publication: September 3, 2013, by Little Brown Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy, Gothic
Pages: 419
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

My Thoughts:

Holly Black strikes again in my bookshelves, my friends. This time, she nicely handed readers a fantasy novel that is not like the rest. This time, it was about vampires, kicking ass and a world setting that is totally absurd but believable. I honestly spent the whole 419 pages wondering if there are people like Tana in this world and if a Coldtown really exists. I'm sure it does, because Black has told us through her writing that anything is possible and anything can happen. I cannot see why wouldn't this be possible. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a novel that everyone should pick up, despite its paranormal promising plot—vampires. 

I have never been a fan of vampires, that concept and theme has been said and done a load of too many times. There are either vampire hunters, or a girl or boy being a vampire and falling in love with the other, but the fact that they are so different tears them apart. Holly Black, as always, adds her own cool flair to the story where I became shocked and terrified of what was yet to come. The vampires in this book were not meant to be scary, at all. This was a typical action novel with a love triangle (of course) and the style that readers have loved because Holly Black just makes it her own.

As the summary states, the book is wholly original. Tana, our protagonist, wakes up in a party in a bathtub and finds everyone dead, except for her ex boyfriend and this weird dude who just comes out of nowhere. She finds that there's been an outbreak of vampires, and everyone is infected. Basically, they're trying to save themselves because they all know that they could be next, and that sort of thing. Their world is surrounded by Coldtowns where these creatures live, and they feel like they're next.

"You drove him off again. Sleep, Tana. I will guard you from Death, for I have no fear of him. We have been adversaries for so long that we are closer than friends."

This book was pretty great. The plot and everything formed together in the style that I enjoy and never get bored of, and I just couldn't stop obsessing over the fact that Tana was such an unstoppable character. As always, Holly Black stuns readers the most with her brilliant ideas that plot together to form something enjoyable. This was a powerful read, but nothing so rememberable that I will freak out about over in the next few years, you know? I would prefer to freak out over a sisterhood or something like that.

Don't read this for the romance. You'll just find yourself extremely disappointed with what the characters felt for each other. We have a grinch (the ex), a vampire and a mysterious girl. They all seemed to be complete opposites of each other and totally, totally disappointing. But this is NOT what we read books for.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is delightful—it is everything a fantasy reader would expect and want in a gothic tale. I extremely recommend it to all, although it was not my favourite. It seemed okay and monotone, and I had issues with the characters and romance. If you're fine with being not able to relate to the characters/protagonist, then you could definitely turn out okay with it.

Do you like gothic tales? Are you a fan of Holly Black?

Waiting on Wednesday #22: Soldier by Julie Kagawa

Soldier (Talon #3), by Julie Kagawa
Publication: April 26, 2016, by Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 416
Format: Hardcover

A fighter dedicated to saving humankind from dragons in strictest secrecy.
That was what Garret Xavier Sebastian thought he was part of as a soldier of the Order of St. George. What he learned from a fiery dragon hatchling twisted all he believed in and set him on a collision course with certain death-but not without a chance to put things right.
Betrayed and on the run again, Ember and rogue dragon Riley discover an unthinkable truth about Talon and St. George. They'll need Garret's skills and insider knowledge of the Order to negotiate an impossible deal-and if they fail, there will be no way to stop all-out war.

I adored the beginning two books of this series, and I AM SO STOKED FOR SOLDIER! I'm ready for more Garret and more of a romance between him and Ember. This is honestly the only book I could read by Kagawa and I'm sure that it'll seriously succeed. Woo, April should better come quick!

DON'T YOU ADORE THIS COVER? What do you think of Julie's writing?

There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos // Written in the Same Style as Before

There Will Come a Time, by Carrie Arcos
Publication: April 15, 2014, by Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 315
Format: Paperback
Source: Borrowed
Rating: ½

Mark knows grief. Ever since the accident that killed his twin sister, Grace, the only time he feels at peace is when he visits the bridge on which she died. Comfort is fleeting, but it’s almost within reach when he’s standing on the wrong side of the suicide bars. Almost.
Grace’s best friend, Hanna, says she understands what he’s going through. But she doesn’t. She can’t. It’s not just the enormity of his loss. As her twin, Mark should have known Grace as well as he knows himself. Yet when he reads her journal, it’s as if he didn’t know her at all.
As a way to remember Grace, Hanna convinces Mark to complete Grace’s bucket list from her journal. Mark’s sadness, anger, and his growing feelings for Hannah threaten to overwhelm him. But Mark can’t back out. He made a promise to honor Grace—and it’s his one chance to set things right.

My Thoughts:

There Will Come a Time is rich, special and a story that develops itself on grief, loss and mental illness. It was pretty enjoyable compared to other stories of its kind, and I'm pretty happy with the outcome. Carrie Arcos throws readers a story that may be found in some sections of the bookstore, though it, at the same time, has its own nice flair to it that makes it extra special. For once, we have a male protagonist by our side here who is easy going, but also who is very emotional, which I like and would prefer in characters. Even though they're guys, they're not supposed to all be macho and too cool for the book game—emotions are good.

"Their kindness kills me. It's not the sugary-sweet kind. It's genuine and motivated by love and there's no lighting it. Sometimes love can be more overwhelming than hate. So I don't go."

The story seems pretty simplistic, but it is in depth and utterly lovely. Mark, the main character, is overcoming the loss of his twin sister, Grace, who has committed suicide. The signs weren't really there, and everything is falling apart in his life at the moment. On the urge to discover what really happened to her, Mark teams up with her best friend, Hanna, and they honour their friend and sister by completing her bucket list and going on an exhibition that is different from most books.

This wasn't your average bucket list story. Instead of the achy-breaky boyfriend or girlfriend picking up the pieces left behind by the character who committed suicide and leaving readers unable to figure out what that person was really like other than learning about the things they wanted to achieve in life, we had a brother and best friend team up, just trying to figure out who Grace really was and what is Mark and Hanna's real relationship, because it always has been mixed. Grace's death may have been horrible and tragic, but at the same time, it threw in a new perspective for the characters who needed that boost of energy to boost their own relationships and find gratitude and happiness somehow, somewhere. It had a deep subject and bunch of concepts that leaves readers thinking. Arcos always adds that in her writing, and tweaks it at the end of chapters to leave suspense and readers wanting more. 

There Will Come a Time is an easy story to get by with. You don't have to have MUCH concentration onto the story to really find a good understanding. If you read the plot with an easy going attitude, the story would seem enjoyable and easy to you, depending on how much emotion you would really like to feel. Arcos' writing is better than Out of Reach, and there weren't too many flaws I actually saw in the plot. This is the right read for you if you certainly enjoy contemporary romance mixed with grief.

"This moment is not forever. This moment is me and you and us in time. This moment I want to tell you everything, but I can't because I am not everything and you are not everything. Not everything needs to be spoken. Because when you or I speak things, they come to be. Our words become worlds where people dwell and live and hurt and laugh, and there's no destroying what our words create."

Mark's character could be a best friend or shoulder to cry on for someone. If you have suffered grief or loss, Mark could be totally relatable. He shows aspects of what it's like to be a teenager, ordinary or not. And with the help (and romance) of Hanna, he (not to be cheesy) shows his true colours. You could be strong after loss, there is a light, even though it doesn't seem very promising from the first look at it. 

There Will Come a Time is a light, fresh dash of wonderfulness to your bookshelf. I'm sure that everyone could find something in it to devour and adore. Go for it because there's not too many out there that are similar. 

What are your favourite things to look for in a book related to bucket lists? Would you read this after I have convinced you?

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab // Not As Bad As My Expectations Promised

A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1), by V.E. Schwab
Publication: February 24, 2015, by Tor Books
Genre: Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Time Traveling
Pages: 398
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: ½

Kell is one of the last Travelers—rare magicians who choose a parallel universe to visit.

Grey London is dirty, boring, lacks magic, ruled by mad King George. Red London is where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London is ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. People fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. Once there was Black London—but no one speaks of that now.
Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell smuggles for those willing to pay for even a glimpse of a world they’ll never see. This dangerous hobby sets him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She robs him, saves him from a dangerous enemy, then forces him to another world for her 'proper adventure'.
But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive—trickier than they hoped.

My Thoughts:

Magic is shady. Magic is crazy. And I'm pretty sure that you and I both agree that we don't want to associate ourselves with any kind of magic whatsoever. V.E. Schwab's A Darker Shade of Magic was unpredictable, filled with a fun plot that will get your insides excited and time traveling... something we see a different look at usually in fantasy novels. It's a great book if you would enjoy a flair of fantasy from an adult book's perspective with an easier blast of info at one's face, and I find that everyone would adore it somehow. 

I expected to hate this book a thousand more than I ever imagined. I read Schwab's book in the past, The Near Witch, and DNFed it without ever looking back... paranormal romance with witches was never my thing. And then when this came around and the crowds seriously went wild, I decided to get my fantasy flair excited and actually go for this. Thankfully, I wasn't too disappointed. Schwab delivers a heart-racing story—it really is heart racing and I still can't get it out of my head. She formed remarkable characters, a nice twist on romance and THE BEST ROMANCE EVER. I cannot be more excited than I am at the moment. 

"And Antari could speak to blood. To life. To magic itself. The first and final element, the one that lived in all and was of none. He could feel the magic stir against his palm, the brick wall warming and cooling at the same time with it, and Kell hesitated, waiting to see if it would answer without being asked." (34)

Kell and Lila had chemistry. Schwab hadn't produced some weird, random romance that didn't make sense—it fit perfectly with the nice world making and plot overall, and I just couldn't get enough of the Kell/Lila talk. Their kisses didn't make me squirm, instead they made me cheer and giggle, and I fell in love with their story. The plot formed well with everything else and I just was head over heels for it all. Remember that this is also a very quick read, the time you'll spend reading it will go by in a jiffy. *snaps quickly*

This is a great book, once again. There are a few flaws, like disappointment in the ending and all of that unnecessary stuff... but the most important thing is that it was a great story overall. I recommend it sincerely to lovers of Sarah J. Maas's writing, as well as to those who are looking for a new look at romance in a different culture, where everything is "London-ized." It's great to see how life changes and how it's completely different for a person in the future. 

I really, really enjoyed this book. There's not much I could say about it other than that it could be for you, or that it could not exactly be for you. Kell and Lila will be your ultimate ship ever, and you will just fall in love with the whole story and everything it provides. Being the type of read to read beside a windowsill on a winter day, or at the beach, Schwab will just take you on the adventure with the characters and make YOU part of the story. Fall in love, devour, whatever you call it.

Do you like giving second chances to authors that you didn't enjoy before? Would you time travel to London in the future if you know you could come back?

The Girl of Thorns and Fire by Rae Carson // Not the Most Pleasant Cup of Fantasy Tea

The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1), by Rae Carson      

Publication: September 20, 2011, by Greenwillow                         Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy       

Pages: 423                             

Format: Hardcover             

Source: Borrowed                                   

Rating: 

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness. Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess. And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake. Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young. Most of the chosen do.

My Thoughts:

I was sure that this would somewhat be like Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass. And because I'm the biggest fan of fantasy, I had high hopes that it would turn out to be similar to a brilliant concept that I first read about two years ago. But, no. The Girl of Fire and Thorns was unique and interesting, yes, but it just didn't have that spark that I would have preferred to devour and fall in love with. If you enjoy kick-ass female heroines who are just battling everything on their own with no romance or action whatsoever, then I do seriously recommend borrowing/purchasing this novel and fall in love with it.

TGOFAT wasn't my cup of tea. To me, it was completely boring, unentertaining and more trying-to-be-based-on-plot than anything else. It was just so weak compared to anything else I've dealt with for a long time. Rae Carson is a good writer, and I still do have high hopes for Walk on Earth a Stranger, but not as high as I would have enjoyed if I read this and adored it.

It has been a few weeks after I finished reading this and I must say that I barely remember what this book was even about. The main character, Elisa, is struggling with her identity as she is being forced to marry a King she barely knows and is a piece of royalty herself, alongside her sisters. Everything that her modern life is consisted of is a lie and she just wants to find a way and path to relax. Of course, this involves fighting, minor action and boring stuff that reminds me of why I didn't enjoy reading fantasy back then.

 I couldn't even find any quotes that really made me whirl and cry out of pleasure. I saw an equal amount of negativity and positivity here, though. So let's just state the good things, because you know that everything else would be negative anyways.

   

What I Enjoyed About TGOFAT:

1. The Side Characters: Elisa's sisters, Alejandro, Humberto, I loved them all. If it weren't for them, my hate for Elisa would've been much stronger. Is this a weird situation because I hated Elisa while others adored her?

2. The Pacing: It was boring, yes, but the story moved on swiftly and before we knew it, we were in another descriptive scene. I adored Carson's descriptive writing, too. There were good things, okay?

3. How It Was One of the First of Its Kind: This is a pretty old high fantasy compared to the others that have been released. By old, I mean that it is old, published in 2011 when there weren't too many fantasies out there. Now, fantasies are like an epidemic in YA but this was new, fresh, and of course, unexperienced in my opinion. I somehow don't get what everyone's going crazy about.

 





Rae Carson's first novel in this magical series was pretty disturbing in terms of how much I liked it. I wanted better, I wanted more from this whole fiasco that Elisa put herself in, and I wanted an extra dose of romance to spice things up. You know how some authors add in too much to make it extra entertaining? This needed to have an extra pop, and I didn't end up seeing any of that by the end. I'm pretty picky with fantasy, but since this is very popular, I decided to take the risk and go for it. Will you?

Are you a risk-taker when it comes to fantasy? Do you enjoy all types of fantasy? Do you enjoy Rae Carson's writing, if you have read this trilogy and/or Walk on Earth a Stranger?

Waiting on Wednesday #21: Devil and the Bluebird

Devil and the Bluebird, by Jennifer Mason-Black
Publication: May 17, 2016, by Amulet Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 336

Blue Riley has wrestled with her own demons ever since the loss of her mother to cancer. But when she encounters a beautiful devil at her town crossroads, it’s her runaway sister’s soul she fights to save. The devil steals Blue’s voice—inherited from her musically gifted mother—in exchange for a single shot at finding Cass.
Armed with her mother’s guitar, a knapsack of cherished mementos, and a pair of magical boots, Blue journeys west in search of her sister. When the devil changes the terms of their deal, Blue must reevaluate her understanding of good and evil and open herself to finding family in unexpected places.
In Devil and the Bluebird, Jennifer Mason-Black delivers a heart-wrenching depiction of loss and hope.

Ooooh... A western-like fantasy mixed with a pair of magical boots and grief! I certainly need this book in my life! I adore the cover and use of the guitar and it will be nice to read a book by an author whose books are completely new to me. I luckily found this through suggestions and Goodreads and knew that it was for me. AGH. The title is very poetic too!

What are you anticipating the most this week? Do you enjoy books about grief? How much can you take? 

ARC Review: Until We Meet Again by Renee Collins // A Nice Time-Travelling Classic

Until We Meet Again, by Renee Collins
Publication: November 3, 2015, by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Historical, Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
Rating: ½

Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.
As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence's life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever.

My Thoughts:

Until We Meet Again is a time-traveling, racing tale that all could fall in love with from the first moment when they spot the gorgeous cover. Renee Collins is a great author and this spooky story could definitely land on the favourite you-all-must-buy Goodreads shelves for ages. Until we meet again, fellow beautiful book, was the last thought I had when I shut the light pages of the novel. Want romance? Want a mysterious story that is not your ole average "help me I'm in another world" kind of traveling story with a time machine. This has nothing to do with science-fiction whatsoever and I really, really want everyone to take a peek at this story, even if it wasn't the best thing in the world.

The plot of the book is wild... or at least, it tried to be. I felt the effort put into the story to make it as interesting as other tales where characters go back in time, like Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children trilogy. Romance does not seem to work with this kind of story a hundred percent. Fantasy? Absolutely. I am all in for powers and paranormal, weird aspects like Riggs added in his story, except a little different for obvious reasons. I became often bored because the story wasn't moving anywhere. Cassandra continued to argue with her feelings and with who she really loved.

It's not believable in any sense. What person would fall in love with a guy from the past and know that they have no chance with them? Now that I've put that thought into your head, you might be thinking it too. The truth is, Cassandra doesn't know, and I don't understand how she could have not seen it coming when the signs were there. I don't prefer a character to be dumb or stupid when the answers are right in front of them for the story to condense longer. Ugh. 

Collins made Cassandra's life turn upside down. She fell in love when it was least expected and wanted, and the plot and concepts turned upside down because of it. Cassandra was a weak character who didn't have much going in her mind when she really was supposed to—she was the main character, after all. Her relationship with Lawrence was cute and all, but something large was missing. 

Lawrence and Brandon were utterly lovely. THEY WERE ON TWO SIDES, EVIL AND GOOD AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO PICK. Honestly in this case? I would've loved to pick the bad boy now. Maybe to create some chemistry with me, since it didn't work out too well between any of them and Cassandra. 

Until We Meet Again could go either way for people. It's interesting, yes, and totally racing and new compared to anything else we have read for ages. Sourcebooks Fire has published a novel that deserves the biggest amount of buzz possible because it wasn't bad at all—it was pretty good. (Brandon's mine, girls.)

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!*

Do you like time traveling books that are ALL based on romance with no ordinary, traditional concepts used? What's your favourite time-traveling story?

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre // An Utter Gorgeous Concept But..

Mortal Danger (Immortal Game #1), by Ann Aguirre
Publication: August 5, 2014, by Feiwel and Friends
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Source: Borrowed
Rating: 

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Edie Kramer has a score to settle with the beautiful people at Blackbriar Academy. Their cruelty drove her to the brink of despair, and four months ago, she couldn't imagine being strong enough to face her senior year. But thanks to a Faustian compact with the enigmatic Kian, she has the power to make the bullies pay. She's not supposed to think about Kian once the deal is done, but devastating pain burns behind his unearthly beauty, and he's impossible to forget.
In one short summer, her entire life changes, and she sweeps through Blackbriar, prepped to take the beautiful people down from the inside. A whisper here, a look there, and suddenly... bad things are happening. It's a heady rush, seeing her tormentors get what they deserve, but things that seem too good to be true usually are, and soon, the pranks and payback turns from delicious to deadly. Edie is alone in a world teeming with secrets and fiends lurking in the shadows. In this murky morass of devil's bargains, she isn't sure who—or what--she can trust. Not even her own mind...

My Thoughts:

Ann Aguirre's books are a girl's best friend. Mortal Danger has been on my must-get TBR list for ages, and after reading her newest, The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things, I found that it was so relatable to me and that I needed more from Aguirre as soon as possible. This time around, the story was much more dark and eerie, but eerie in the sense that is totally satisfying. The concept of the Immortal Game trilogy is utterly brilliant, and I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this so much if you already liked Scott Westerfeld's Uglies. This novel is just as racing as her others, and I am totally in love with what was handed to me, in a way.

Mortal Danger is pretty great. I did not expect to have the concept go this deep, and it was surprising in that extra special way that will make you scream and be captivated to everything else that this author has written. The only other book that I read by Aguirre was chick-lit, girly and bubblegum pink fun. This? This was something else, and not everyone will enjoy it. It was nice and all, but there is nothing memorable about the story, just letting you know.

Beauty does not matter. At least, that's what I've been taught about all my life and continue to believe that as I walk around modern society. But this book basically tells humanity the opposite. Beauty is the way to popularity, to attention. Aguirre does not feature anything throughout this novel about good human characteristics and personality traits, like intelligence. The main character, Edie, is bound to become beautiful and to her, that's the way that she'll stop getting teased and bullied at her extra top-notch boarding school called Blackbriar, where most of the story takes place. There are paranormal aspects with apocalyptic-like mystery serving around Edie and her forbidden relationship with Kian, the guy who offered this new life to her.

This is a confusing story. It seemed like Aguirre just tumbled everything on top of readers and we spent the time reading trying to climb out and throw the blocks away. It was slow-paced, confusing, and not my favourite story at all. The concept was nice, but it would have been much nicer if the author took a simpler, basic stand onto Edie's story. I expected this to be a new addition to my shelves of favourites, but it did not take that toll at all. The plot was mismatched, like a gross pair of mismatched socks that did not go together with the characters and all. Edie had an attitude that was always unsure, even when her identity changed and was supposed to act different in this new dimension thing.

Paranormal? Ugh. Paranormal and dystopians are so 2012, and I dislike both, but I would have preferred Aguirre to take this on a more science-fiction spice. This is urban fantasy, but I literally expected a vampire or werewolf to show up in the story out of nowhere. It was 80% possible for the way the things turned out to be. I rolled my eyes, expected more, and wanted more, actually. I forgot about half of the story and it's only been a week since I last picked it up. It's sad.

Edie and Kian. That is the KIND OF COUPLE I needed. For a book like this, we want mysteriousness mixed with sexiness at the same time. Their chemistry and reason for being together was memorable and perfect. An Oscar winning couple, to be honest.

Mortal Danger is entertaining, and one of the traits about it that could surely catch your attention is the themes. Beauty, and the concepts that many of us currently believe in, in modern society are thoroughly explained through an urban fantasy story that is very, very nice. I would not read the sequel, but Aguirre's novels are surely on my radar and I enjoy her writing greatly. Kian = new book boyfriend though, just letting you know.

Do you ever feel that some authors could only pull off a specific genre and then when they try another... it doesn't go well?