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Courageous (Valiant Hearts, #3)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved the first two books in the Valiant Hearts Series. Exciting and engaging. However, the final book in the series fell very short of my expectations. It was fun to revisit characters from the first two books, I love how the storylines cross over. The epilogue provided a satisfying conclusion to the series. But Courageous just could not hold my attention. The first half of the book is very slow and lacking in action. There was some discrepancy regarding dates in the beginning of the book, it may just have been a typo, but it made things very confusing for a bit. I enjoyed Randel and Rosalind's characters and their journey of growth, healing and courage. I highly recommend the first two books in the series: Dauntless and Chivalrous. You may enjoy Courageous more than I did, it just wasn't for me. Keep in mind that it has a very different feel and approach. I recommend reading this series in order. There are characters and circumstances that I don't believe can be fully appreciated unless you read the first books first.
I received a free copy of Courageous from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

My Rating
★★☆☆☆ - She is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me.
  
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Kyera (8 KP) rated Bitterblue in Books

Feb 1, 2018  
Bitterblue
Bitterblue
Kristin Cashore | 2013 | Young Adult (YA)
8
7.9 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bitterblue is the third book in the Graceling Realm trilogy, and probably my favourite of the three. Graceling took place in a land of seven Kingdoms, then the second book, Fire, shifted the narrative's time and space. It took place many years before the events in Graceling and in a land quite unlike the one created in the first book. Bitterblue returns us to the world we began in, ten years later and in the final chapters weaves the story from Fire in more clearly.

It was nice seeing the characters from Graceling, like Katsa and Po making an appearance once more in this series. It's been a decade, so you're curious what has happened to everyone. I enjoyed the main characters in this book and enjoyed the scenes with both familiar and new faces.

The pace of this book wasn't frenetic or the plot action-packed, but it was engaging nonetheless. There's not much more that I can discuss without spoilers, other than the fact that I listened to this via audiobook. I quite enjoyed the narrator's performance and she also performed Fire, although she was not one of the narrators for Graceling.

Overall, I did enjoy this series but it is certainly not in my top ten fantasy series of all time.
  
GD
Good Day to Buy
Sherry Harris | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sarah is helping the Spencers downsize their possession before a planned move, but things take a tragic turn when Sarah finds them lying on the garage floor in the middle of the sale. Then, that afternoon, Sarah’s estranged brother Luke shows up asking for help is hiding out for a couple of days. Luke disappears just as the police being looking for him on connection with what happened at the Spencer’s. Can Sarah figure out what Luke is doing and clear his name?

Luke adds an interesting element to this addition to the series. The plot is fast paced and kept me so engaged I had a hard time putting the book down. I did have a couple of niggle with the ending, but they are very minor. I love the characters in this series, and it was fantastic to see all of them again. While the love triangle may be over, we did see both of the men in Sarah’s life in this book. Fans will delight in this book and it will hook new readers on the series.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-good-day-to-buy-by-sherry.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Merissa (11961 KP) rated Defiance (Rebellion #2) in Books

Jun 25, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)  
Defiance (Rebellion #2)
Defiance (Rebellion #2)
Annabelle Jacobs | 2021 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
DEFIANCE is the second book in the Rebellion series, and I really hope it's not the last! This world is fascinating, with twists that took me completely by surprise and definitely left me wanting more.

So, we start where Escape finished, with Cole and Logan returning to the Pack and their lives being made incredibly difficult. Cole and Logan have it as easy as they thought they would, with no time to be together without risking everything.

The intrigue, Pack politics, you name it, in this book are simply outstanding! I was gripped by every new development and new questions of just who I could trust. The action is different to the first book but no less intense.

I have no idea how many books Ms Jacobs has planned for this series, but I hope for many! An enthralling read that absolutely kept my attention. A great addition to the series that left me wanting more. Highly recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 25, 2021
  
A Company of Monsters (The Sorcerers of Verdun #2)
A Company of Monsters (The Sorcerers of Verdun #2)
Shami Stovall | 2019 | History & Politics, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Company of Monsters is the second book in The Sorcerers of Verdun series, and it takes you right back to Geist and WWI. I would definitely recommend reading these as a series as the story does follow on from book one.

In this book, however, Geist and her squadron are sent to Russia as Houses of Sorcerers are being obliterated. Not a simple task being as WWI is happening and Russia is also going through a turbulent time. Not only that, but Amalgam shows up, together with Geist's family and the Eyes of the Kaiser which adds a whole new level to the story.

Just as with book one, Ms. Stovall has done an exceptional job with this story. The events flow from one to the other, ringing true with every word. The only reason for not giving it 5-stars this time is because of Geist herself. She seemed more... fragmented... disjointed than in book one. Which may well be how it is supposed to be but I found it slightly distracting. The relationship between her and Vergess is also confusing as, on the one hand, they have special 'intimate' names for each other, and Vergess is definitely more intense, but then we are also told that they have no chemistry between them.

On the whole, I loved this book, just not quite as much as book one. That doesn't mean this book is no good, not by a long shot. I will be continuing this series and seeing where Geist and her crew go next, AND seeing how Amalgam fits in!

Definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Leverage In Death (In Death, #47)
Leverage In Death (In Death, #47)
J.D. Robb | 2018 | Mystery
8
7.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Always a pleasure, the In Death series is hands down my favorite series of books in any genre. It's like going back to old friends with each new installment. By the 47th book, you know the quirks and eccentricities of each character, from over-the-top Mavis to Galahad the cat, and you can't wait to "see" them again.

Leverage in Death, while a great addition to the series, featured a central plot which felt a bit clunky to me. It was appropriately horrifying, but a bit convoluted - not nearly as streamlined as past installments in the series. The characters, as I said, are always interesting, and it's their interactions with each other that make this story work.

All of that said, I'll be eagerly awaiting #48!
  
The Declaration
The Declaration
Gemma Malley | 2007 | Young Adult (YA)
8
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Great YA Dystopian Read (0 more)
YA cliches (0 more)
This book is a great read for a younger audience looking for a good YA series to sink your teeth into. Although there are many YA tropes and cliches, the premise of the book is interesting enough for this stereotypes to be overlooked.


The story is short so it won't take particularly long to read. I, being a slow reader, read the book is six hours.

As I said, the concept of the book is interesting, inviting you to question opinions on morality and immortality. The book does contain mild abuse because of the dystopian elements in the book however they are not graphic in detail.


I loved reading this book when I was younger and I am still enjoying rereading as an adult.