Book Review: Out Of The Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Synopsis:

It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. 

She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street. Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny

My Review:

   I found the premise of this book had me curious from the very beginning. I mean come on, a house full of prostitutes?! And as much as I found the plot to be interesting and -intriguing- I also found it a bit too odd and also, I wasn't quite sure of the time setting of this story, not until I reread th synopsis actually that I knew it was a historical fiction novel, set in the 1950s which did fit because there was no mention of any modern inventions.

   Nonetheless, the plot itself was different in some aspects and I liked the diversity. The events and the path of this story was one that I personally couldn't predicted, I didn't actually have the will to think or predict how this book will end.

   Josie. That girl killed it. As the main character, the story follows this girl through this life of hers. A life that was full of bad people and that included both criminals and prostitutes - prostitutes yes, but there wasn't anything that was extremely inappropriate or offensive, just the reference of it - suffering, hope and also good people, she actually had good people in her life and that was what got her through all of it. I loved Josie, despite everything that I was aganist her or the other characters and I thought that she was well written. actually, all the characters were well-written and it all went very good together; the characters and the ploy.

   The writing style was good and easy to follow. However, the ending was different, happy kind of different after all the darkness. And I liked it! I liked that such a relatively 'sad' book if I could say, had this ending and not only that, but Josie ended up with a cute and gad3 boyfriend.

   Overall, I did like this book. The idea of the story is not one that'd read about everyday and the author managed to make it appropriate enough, if you overlook the fact that this book revolves around a girl who is deeply infuriated with prostitutes but she herself wasn't one. And despite the oddness of the story, it did make an enjoyable and different book to an extent. It was a story about finding love, hope, safety, peace and happiness. And to be honest though, I can definitely see a lot of people hating this book. So if you are looking for a bit of an unconventional realistic fiction novel then, I would say that this book might spark your interest.

Title: Out of the Easy

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Series: Stand-alone

Source: Owned

Published: February 12th 2013 by Philomel Books
Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 3/5

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams" Eleanor Roosevelt
xoxo, Mariam

Book Review : The League of Skull and Bones by M.J. Fletcher

Synopsis:

Jess Grimm has the ability to travel to any dimension in the multiverse. There’s only one problem... it’s killing her. 

Jess is a in a race against time to find a device that can slow the progression of the power inside her, but she isn’t alone. Others want her power, and they don’t care how they get, or if she is dead or alive when they do.

The only person willing to help her is the mysterious Ronan Sparrow a member of the League of Skull & Bones, one of the very groups that want her power. But what does Ronan want in return? Can Jess trust him or will she find herself alone with enemies on all sides?

My Review:

   Another series from the author of The Doorknob Society! However, this series is actually a spin-off of The Doorknob Society which to be honest I just hoped for another story, another world, mainly because MJ Fletcher has this really creative way with plots and I know that it wouldn't have been a disappointed. Nonetheless, the story was still good and thrilling but had some flaws here and there that kinda lessened my overall rating and enjoyment of the story.

   The plot was really fun to read and original, I liked how action-packed it all through the story, leaves you no space to get bored. However, I just keep picking up on similarities between this story and The Doorknob Society series which is, I have to say was my favorite. What I didn't like about this book was the fact that reading Jess's character, I found her personality to be somewhat similar to this of Chloe's which was such a disappointment. They were both the same kind of bad-ass female characters, at least to me. I just expected a new character - bad-ass yes but different - and although I loved Jess's character but it was close to reading another story with a similar main character. The romantic aspect was cute, still not fully clear so I can't wait to read the next book to find out but there were new characters, some whom were the mysterious type of guys and whatnot but I liked the characters. And I totally found the delimma that was facing Jess and endangering her life to be interesting.

   Overall, I still enjoyed the story and I am planning on reading the next book. And although I wasn't pulled into the story as much I hoped to, I went through the pages of this book like a maniac. Fast-paced, action-packed story with an original plot and an ending that was such a cliffhanger but it was also exciting and slightly unpredictable. And so again, for all of those who loves reading fantasy novels, I would say to give this book a try.

Title: The League of Skull & Bones
Author: M.J Fletcher 

Series: The Grimm Chronicles #1
Source: MJ Fletcher ( For Review )

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 3/5

'This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review'

Happy Reading!

xoxo, Mariam