
Caffeinated Fae (464 KP) rated Song of Blood and Stone in Books
Jul 12, 2018
This is the first book I have read by L. Penelope. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but from the very first page I was hooked. The author created characters that were likable and it was fun getting to go on their adventure with them. What I do love about this book is how it portrayed the country. It frustrated me in the best kind of way. I loved that the main character was a woman of color & I loved that this book mirrored the racism that is found in today's world.
The plot kept my attention & it was unique. This wasn't like most of the fantasy romance books. My one complaint is that it was fairly predictable. For the most part I was able to predict the twists and turns. You can also tell that this book was one of her first books published (originally self published in 2015).
With that said, I really enjoyed this book. It had wonderful adventure, a dashing male lead, and a fearless heroine. All in all, it was fun and I will have to look into more of author's books.

Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Grace Year in Books
Jan 22, 2020
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett has been described as The Handmaid's Tale plus Lord of the Flies with The Hunger Games thrown in. Every book, movie, song, etc can make us think of other work. It does not mean it is not a good story. Actually, those are pretty good books to be compared to.
In The Grace Year, girls are banished for their sixteenth year. No one talks about what they call the grace year. All Tierney James knows is not everyone returns. Those who do are changed. Some are mentally changed. Others are physically damaged with missing limbs, scars, etc.
I enjoyed the storyline but it was a very slow burn. It took a while for me to get into the story. Once I did, I was hooked. It just took too long to capture my attention.
I read her earlier book, The Last Harvest, and found it was also a slow burn but worth reading. Knowing I will enjoy her books overall means I will keep reading until they grab me. With both books, once they did, I could not stop reading.
The Grace Year was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/21/20.

Zibaldone: The Notebooks of Leopardi
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Giacomo Leopardi was the greatest Italian poet of the nineteenth century and was recognized by...

Break into Travel Writing: Teach Yourself: How to Write Engaging and Vivid Travel Writing and Journalism
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LEARN HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING STORIES ABOUT TRAVEL AND DISTANT LANDS.Getting paid to go on holiday...

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Spread Book 1: The Hill in Books
Aug 29, 2020
Here we have the first in an as yet unknown number of books in a new series. I can't go into much detail about the plot as I don't want to spoil it for anyone but a group of Manchester lads go on a stag weekend in the wilds of Scotland and whilst investigating the area, climb a hill and find something odd ... everything starts to go badly wrong from then on.
Well written, excellent characters, perfect setting, great pace, plenty of tension and excellent body horror scenes makes this a great read and I eagerly await Book 2: The Village which is out on 6th October 2020 ... I want to read it now!
Disclaimer: As a member of Iain's "street team", I was sent a copy of this book before publication however I didn't get chance to read it before it was published so decided to buy it anyway to support him so he can continue to write great stories and also because I'm good like that 😉

Readerware 3 (Books)
Catalogs and Utilities
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Readerware 3 (Books) is not a standalone app, it works with Readerware on your desktop, (Windows,...

Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster
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Whenever Jonathan James finds himself in a new situation, he hears his Whatif Monster asking all...
Kane Miller MNS UBAM Usborne Books and More Whatif Monster Whatif

Merissa (12889 KP) rated The Greensward (Pitch & Sickle #4) in Books
Oct 3, 2022
These guys never catch a break! Of course, if they did, we probably wouldn't have this story. Trust me though, for me, this was the best of the bunch so far. It was full of action, well-paced action that had me gripped. It's not nice reading in certain parts but oh-so-worth it if you can stick with it.
We learn more about Silas and Tobias' pasts and I really hope Silas shares. These two are only just learning to be there for each other, and his secret may just set them back a few books!
This series just gets better and better. The relationships have changed slowly but I loved it when both Tobias and Silas realised just what the other meant to them.
One thing to mention - I love how local legends have been woven into this series. Each book has its own and I loved how the author has blended them seamlessly with the overall story.
Highly recommended by me and I can't wait for book five!
** 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!

Merissa (12889 KP) rated Tainted Lives in Books
Jun 20, 2017
Trust me when I say there is nothing fluffy about this book at all. There are scenes in it that are definitely not for the faint-hearted. And the only light part about the whole book is the very end!
How the characters grow and interact with each other is a joy to read. And you can completely understand the decisions and choices that Sarah makes. Vinnie is such a despicable character that you cannot help but to loathe him, but he does make an excellent villain, a true psychopath.
I would recommend this book very highly, just not for a light read.
* Verified Purchase ~ January 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

Tricks (Tricks, #1)
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When all choice is taken from you, life becomes a game of survival." Five teenagers from...