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ClareR (6256 KP) rated Burntcoat in Books

Feb 13, 2022  
Burntcoat
Burntcoat
Sarah Hall | 2021 | Contemporary, Dystopia, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novella really packs a punch - as all good novellas do!
It’s set in a world that we all know a little about. A Covid-19-type virus, except far more severe, breaks out and social panic ensues. Society goes ion to lockdown, hospitals are unable to cope with the sheer volume of cases, and the army is drafted in to keep order. Shops are looted, food is rationed, people die horrifically.

Edith Harkness looks back on her life as she prepares to enter the last stages of Long-Nonovirus. It’s a much more serious version of Long-Covid, where the affected person dies. Edith looks back on her life, from her childhood where she lives with her brain-damaged mother, to her years of study and consequent art prizes, and then her time in lockdown with her lover, a Bulgarian Turk.

It’s a book about love, sex, desire, illness, caring, family and grief. Those are some big topics for a slim book, but it’s beautifully told.
Now I need to read some more Sarah Hall books.
  
What Remains (Southern Spirits #6)
What Remains (Southern Spirits #6)
Bailey Bradford | 2015 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What Remains is like a book 2 for Laine and Sev, and whilst I really like them, I personally would have loved to have heard more about the others as well. The spirits of McKinton go missing, all at the same time, and it coincidentally at the same time as a Wiccan Coven visits and Sev gets a phone call from his sort-of estranged sister.

Whilst the story itself is just as hot and entertaining as the others, I would have liked more about why the ghosts disappeared when they did, and why. Where did they go and did they have a choice to come back or not? I did like how all of the other couples got a mention, albeit a quick one.

Showing nice growth to the series and the characters, this is a good addition to the Southern Spirits.

* 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!
Nov 9, 2015
  
The Fire King's Daughter (The Descendants #1)
The Fire King's Daughter (The Descendants #1)
T.E. Ridener | 2022 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE FIRE KING'S DAUGHTER is the first in The Descendants series and we start with Heidi and Isaiah. Both of them are heirs to the throne, of the Fire and Ice thrones respectively, but they are sent to Earth to protect them from the war that is currently raging. Isaiah finds his feet quickly enough, but Heidi struggles.

This was a quick read that draws you in, giving out information about the kingdoms, the monarchies, Heidi, Isaiah, plus others, as and when needed rather than being an info-dump. There is a possible romantic connection here between Heidi and Isaiah that I look forward to reading more about. Let's just say... they have potential!

This story is only just starting and you are left with a cliffhanger, so fair warning! A great start to a series 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Jun 22, 2022  
Author Amanda M. Thrasher visits my blog today with an interview about her children's fantasy adventure THE MISCHIEF SERIES. There's also a giveaway for a chance to win signed copies of all the books in the series, a copy of Amanda's young adult adventure novel Captain Fin, and a $50 Starbucks gift card.

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/06/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-mischief.html

**THE MISCHIEF SERIES, BOOK 1 SYNOPSIS**
Where do fairies get their magical fairy dust?

After leaving the mushroom patch without permission, two mischievous fairies find themselves in more trouble than they can handle. Boris, with a broken ankle and a bent wing, is unable to walk or fly, and Lilly must devise a plan to escort him safely back to the mushroom patch. As with all actions, there are consequences! Lilly and Boris have broken colony rules and wasted precious fairy dust. Sentenced to work in the dust factory, the two learn a valuable lesson about the production of fairy dust, but can they survive the foreman?
     
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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Anniversary in Books

May 15, 2023  
The Anniversary
The Anniversary
Stephanie Bishop | 2023 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is one of those books where I’m glad I commit to the 30% rule. After the first stave (I read it on The Pigeonhole, so it was split up over 10 days), I wanted to give up. I felt pretty much the same after day 2, but at day 3, I wanted to know what had happened. I wanted the Ruth, and I was all in!

It’s a very introspective book, lots of descriptions of places, people, scenes and above all, feelings. JB has a lot of feelings, although she appears to be in a state of shock for a majority of the novel. I mean, her husband falls off the ship they’re celebrating their anniversary on. Not an ideal situation!

And then the truth starts to come out about the reality of their marriage.

The word “marmite” has been bandied around quite a lot regarding this book, and I’ve come down on the “like it” side. It’s certainly a book that gave me a lot to think about - even when I wasn’t reading it!
  
Flirting with Death (The Hunted #1.5)
Flirting with Death (The Hunted #1.5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Flirting With Death is a short standalone story, set in the same world as The Reapers. It can be read before or after as there are no spoilers in here.

I actually enjoyed this one slightly more than The Reapers, I think because there is no triangle. What you get is someone whose time is about up, who acts like a complete jerk, so you actually have no sympathy for him anyway. Then there is Evander, who I loved, and Piper, who was brilliant.

For a short story, this had everything that you need, complete with a HEA (sort of) if you're a sap like me. I would absolutely love this story to be developed into a longer book as I need to know more about Piper and Evander. Definitely recommended.

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Feb 15, 2016
  
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Merissa (14146 KP) rated Awake in Books

May 24, 2023  
Awake
Awake
Natasha Preston | 2015 | Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
4
5.0 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book has all the ingredients for a good Young Adult Thriller, but for me, it just didn't quite work out that way. Perhaps it was the insta-love going on, with marriage mentioned very quickly into their 'relationship'. Perhaps it was the best friend who wasn't a best friend at all that I actually felt sorry for. Perhaps it was the dodgy behaviour of the main characters. I don't know. It just didn't quite work for me. There is also the fact that Scarlett makes a HUGE deal about not remembering anything before she was four, but has no hesitation in talking about it to a complete stranger at the first opportunity.

An interesting premise, with a cult aspect, that just didn't work for me. Try it for yourself though, don't take my word for it!

* 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!
Mar 2, 2016