Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Witch's Legacy (Supernatural Evolvement #0.5) in Books
Nov 28, 2019
Living in a coven with her mother, Della has to put on a front of cruelty to fit in with the other witches, especially when her mother makes one of her frequent disappearances. One day she accidentally discovers a terrible secret that means that she must go on the run, attempting to survive in a modern world she is unprepared for and with few allies. With the whole might of the coven on her trail she must adapt and find friends to survive.
Once again Cope proves why she is one of the best young adult authors out there. Although the members of the coven do perhaps veer to towards a cackling stereotype at times they do come across and dangerous, evil and threatening. The other characterisation is up to the usual high standard. Della is a very likeable - and sometimes fallible- protagonist and grows as a person throughout her experiences. The other people she meets are also carefully described and have their own distinct personalities and goals.
The plot perhaps isn't complex, dealing as it does with setting the basics for the series to come, but does have a couple of twists if not any major surprises. But the story is always interesting and engaging and the reader will definitely be siding with Della and holding their breath as things get tight.
I very much enjoyed this and so will the young adult audience. 5 stars even though I know very well that every book in the series will just get better and better and I have left myself nowhere to go. But that's been the case with both of Cope's other series.
LOAC Essentials: Vol. 4: Alley OOP 1939
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"a darned good read" - The Comics Journal In 1939, Vincent Trout Hamlin had been writing and drawing...
112 Bible Maps Easy
Reference and Education
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112 Bible maps covering topics related to Bible study from the ancient past to more modern times are...
112 Bible Maps + Commentaries
Reference and Education
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112 Bible maps covering topics related to Bible study from the ancient past to more modern times are...
Obsolescence: An Architectural History
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In our architectural pursuits, we often seem to be in search of something newer, grander, or more...
The History of Rome in Painting
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Traditionally founded by its namesake Romulus in 753 BC, Rome began modestly, as a little village of...
Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint
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Two of the most famous mosaics from the Byzantine period, from the church of San Vitale in Ravenna,...
Ross (3284 KP) rated A Not So Dead Man's Journey in Books
Sep 20, 2019
From the end of this scene, however, the tone changes dramatically as Alden returns home to a painfully dull and twee life with his wife and daughter. This section is laboured and very dull, going way beyond setting the scene and embedding the characters.
Alden is then thrown into a new quest as he is kidnapped by pirates and taken far away to take part in a magical ritual. From here, where the story should be hooking you and growing, the pace is all wrong and I felt like I was the one taken prisoner by this book.
Alden goes through something of a transformation (which is not explained in any way, but that is largely fine) and having been away for 10 years he travels home.
A number of things about the story are just absolutely implausible, and inconsistent. Characters who have barely met, let alone like each other are suddenly best friends with so many fond memories. Magical abilities are suddenly revealed which would have been very useful earlier in the story. And the underlying plot needs a lot of work to thrash out the details and character motivations.
The author's narrative tone is quite charming, but a little twee for some of the darker sections of the story, and the character's thoughts are quite irritatingly thrown in and generally add little of substance.
The writing needs a lot of work, there are so many spelling errors and grammar crimes. And the punctuation is all wrong as well, which may sound pedantic but at times it does throw the reader off and make them question what the sentence meant (see "helping your uncle jack off his horse").
I am convinced there is a good story in here somewhere but it needs a really thorough proof-read and substantial editing.
The Lost City of the Monkey God
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The #1 New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller! A five-hundred-year-old legend. An...
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The Breaking of the Shell
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The Breaking of the Shell weaves the teaching of ancient wisdoms into a modern context in classic...