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Tayla (27 KP) rated Red Rising in Books

Jun 19, 2018  
Red Rising
Red Rising
Pierce Brown | 2014 | Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry, Young Adult (YA)
9
8.4 (34 Ratings)
Book Rating
Futuristic Story (2 more)
Strong Characters
Good Momentum
How do you get power when you are born to less?
How do you get power when you are born to less? You take it. I love Pierce Brown's story of Darrow, a low red, rising above his color to infiltrate the golds to start an uprising. Red Rising is one of my favorite books. Even though the setting is on Mars it is still relevant to our society today. Some people are born more privileged than others and at times it take a miracle to overcome those obstacles. This book reminds us to fight for not only what we want, but for what is right.

This book has good momentum throughout. At no point was I bored by the story. The ending really builds for the second book, gently encouraging you to continue with the story. I've both read and listened to this book and recommend each. Listening after reading, allowed me to really paint a clearer picture of Mars in my mind and develop more love for the series.

I recommend this book to those who like The Hunger Games or Divergent. Additionally, if you are a fan of the movie Gattaca (1997), this will be right in your wheelhouse! The similarities are striking!
  
HB
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is definitely my favourite book so far but I will reserve judgment until Royce's book comes out The story follows on from the previous book and I would recommend reading these in order, although you could read them as stand-alones at a push as there is a brief review at the beginning.

This story is all about Sam and Lance. Lance is the golden play boy who never wanted to be tied down to one. He's the comedian who lets only a few people past his guard. Sam is the doctor who is working to hard to establish her career and to get her own space. The last thing she wants is to share that space with someone else... right?!

We catch up with the characters we already know and love but are introduced to a special little girl that I can't wait to find out more about. And the story with Andrew and The Auctioneer becomes deeper and more intriguing too.

The story is woven with skill and the repetitions about the Universe have mainly stopped in this book. They are still there but not as bad. This series is definitely getting better with each book and I am really enjoying them! Definitely recommended for all PR fans.
  
A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions #2)
A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions #2)
Sunayna Prasad | 2019 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
It slow going (0 more)
A Curse of Mayhem is the second book of the series of Alyssa McCarthy Magical Missions. It is good. I seem to start up once again with Alyssa doing magic. How does she get this magic of hers? This seems interesting that she doing this and her ordinary person.

Do we find that there this person named Errol? Does Alyssa need to do somethings to defeat Errol? What they are you find out as she struggles to control her magic. It seems that she gets herself into trouble. Will her mentors be able to help or even Simon?

This book for me was slow going. It was adventures, but not as exciting as the first book. It is good with is as it is funny with animals that show up out of nowhere. Will Alyssa be able to save her loved ones and her friends?

If you are looking for a good book for your child or children this is good for them. As it teaches confidence in a person, responsibility. This is shown throughout the book. Not all at the same time. It has some fantasy to it. Good for fantasy fans and lovers of fantasy.
  
Pretending to Wed (Frontier Vows, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, let us just start with the cover, shall we? I am in love with everything about it, from the moody colors to the sassy pose and the eye-grabbing name this cover has it all. Pretending to Wed is the first book by Melissa Jagears that I have read, and the second book in her Frontier Vows series. I picked it up on the recommendation of Nicole over on Nicole and the unending TBR. I am so glad I did.

Both the characters in this story were fun with fantastic senses of humor that struck me just right. They also were thrown into some very tough situations and managed to come out the other side all the better for it, which I liked. I loved watching both of them fall in love while learning to work together, a true glimpse of what marriage is really like.

From the sigh-worthy moments to the themes and overall plot of the book I highly recommend this book if you want something to read that is fun, sweet, and full of real-life challenges. 5 out of 5 stars.


*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
  
The Lost Art of Woodworking and Taking Risks (The Lost Arts #2.5)
The Lost Art of Woodworking and Taking Risks (The Lost Arts #2.5)
Ellie Ash | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE LOST ART OF WOODWORKING AND TAKING RISKS is a short side character novella in The Lost Arts series, featuring Chamis and Bennan, who we met in book 2. This delightful addition gives us more details about their romance and how they moved forward in both their lives and the romance.

The thing I loved about this one was that Chamis and Bennan are total opposites from the outside, which they acknowledge in the story. One is a shy introvert, and one is a flirty extrovert. NEITHER of them wanted the other to change. How wonderful is that?! There is no way I can say which character I loved the most, as they were both absolutely gorgeous on the inside.

Definitely less steam in this book, which completely fitted the narrative. I loved seeing their romance through their eyes, but the teasers for book 3 have about killed me. I need it NOW!!! A great addition and definitely 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 22, 2025
  
Lightkeepers (Tales of the Five Realms #3)
Lightkeepers (Tales of the Five Realms #3)
Rachel V. Knox | 2025 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
LIGHTKEEPERS is the third book in the Tales of the Five Realms series, and I would definitely say you need to read the other two first.

Hagar has returned to school but Jude hasn't. She is still in the Lightkeepers and wants to concentrate on her studies. Things don't work out that way for her. Ortense and Rollow are the main focus of this book and they both have their own issues and plots to deal with.

I don't know if it's the gap in books (it was 2022 when I read book 2) or just me, but I struggled with this one. I started it three different times before I decided to push through. The world is just as intricate as before but it didn't grip me this time. As for Rollo and Ortense, I found that I just didn't care.

If you have read the other two, then I definitely recommend you giving this one a go and decide for yourself.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2025
  
Haunted House Ghost
Haunted House Ghost
James J. Cudney | 2019 | Mystery
3
3.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Need for a Good Edit Haunts This Book
It’s been a few months since we last checked in on Kellan Ayrwick, single father and new professor at Braxton University, where his family has been involved for decades. In that time, he’s been overseeing the contractor working on his new house, and it’s almost ready for move in. That is, until someone comes along and sabotages it, leaving behind a threatening message. Who could be doing it? Does it have anything to do with the former inhabitants? How does the old skeleton uncovered on campus tie in?

Knowing that the story driving so much of the first half of this series was mostly completed, I was curious to see where things would go. Sadly, this was disappointing. The book tried to take on too much. Even though the pacing was good and the book is long for a cozy, we still got data dumps and exposition with summarized dialogue in the final quarter. It also kept me from really connecting with the characters. Given the October setting, the book does have fun with the seasonal vibes. But I am going to need a break before I move on to the next book, if I decide to.
  
Light My Pyre (Everwood Falls #1)
Light My Pyre (Everwood Falls #1)
Kat Kinney | 2023 | Mystery, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
LIGHT MY PYRE is the first book in the Everwood Falls series - a town of misfits that don't belong anywhere else. I loved meeting the different characters and seeing how they fit together.

Asher and Gwyn have a romance going on but this isn't a romance book. It is a mystery with romantic elements so if you're going for big romance, this is not for you. If, however, you are looking for a page-turning mystery filled with quirky and sometimes heartbreaking characters, then I would definitely recommend you give this a go.

For me, Daisy is the "Star of the Show" without any question. Who doesn't love a funny Wolfhound who loves to eat just one sock out of every pair?

So many characters, so many stories to be told and, hopefully, more than a little romance for each of them. They really deserve it. A brilliant book I thoroughly enjoyed and have no doubt about recommending!

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 11, 2023
  
Baby's Got Bite (Take It Like a Vamp #2)
Baby's Got Bite (Take It Like a Vamp #2)
Candace Havens | 2015 | Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is the second book in the Take It Like a Vamp series but can be read as a standalone without having read the first book (like I did).

It tells the story of a one-night stand that went either really wrong or absolutely perfectly, depending on which way you look at it. To begin with, Bennett looks at it as "How the hell did this happen?" but quickly gets a handle on it and deals with it. Her first stop is to let Linc know, whose reaction is pretty much the same but not for the reasons that Bennett thinks. Things move rapidly between the two of them and a lot is mentioned about how they will be in danger if people find out, due to who Linc is and his connections with Nick.

This is a well-written book with a fast-paced plot. It is full of humour and witty banter between Linc and Bennett which makes the whole thing a delight to read. Definitely recommended.

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 28, 2015