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Smoke and Iron (The Great Library, #4)
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
13 of 235
Book
Smoke and Iron ( The Great Library #4 )
By Rachel Caine
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The opening moves of a deadly game have begun. Jess Brightwell has put himself in direct peril, with only his wits and skill to aid him in a game of cat and mouse with the Archivist Magister of the Great Library. With the world catching fire, and words printed on paper the spark that lights rebellion, it falls to smugglers, thieves, and scholars to save a library thousands of years in the making...if they can stay alive long enough to outwit their enemies.

So it’s all coming to an end! I’m so sad to see the series end but also so grateful I found it. Book one took two attempts to get through but once I had I didn’t look back.
I can’t imagine living in a world where The Library rules what we are exposed to where it is so corrupt it causes a world war. We all expect it from religion or politics but not from books and librarians. This is such a brilliant series to sink into.
Just a shame we are at its end!!
  
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Merissa (14206 KP) rated Scaling the Moon (A Wildewardian Tale #2) in Books

Mar 31, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Scaling the Moon (A Wildewardian Tale #2)
Scaling the Moon (A Wildewardian Tale #2)
Gwyneira Blythe | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
SCALING THE MOON is a Wildewardian Tale that accompanies the main series, The Wildeward Academy.

Evetta and Gemma are both supporting characters who still managed to have their own love story alongside Victoria and her coterie. HOWEVER, as with all of this author's characters, I wanted more. I wanted to know how they got together, what troubles they faced... You know what I mean. And this novella delivered all of that and more.

Evetta really comes into her own in this story. You understand more about the role she chooses with Victoria. As for Gemma, well, I already knew her 'father' was a piece of work but this just compounded it. Luckily for me, I've already read Victoria's story, so I knew what happened.

A brilliant side story to an amazing series. I would definitely recommend you read all of them, just so you don't miss anything. Absolutely fantastic.

** 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!
Mar 31, 2023
  
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Merissa (14206 KP) rated Midnight Sun (Arctic Love, #3) in Books

Dec 17, 2018 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)  
Midnight Sun (Arctic Love, #3)
Midnight Sun (Arctic Love, #3)
T.T. Kove | 2014
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

This is Frey's story - we've had Andreas and Varg's and now it's time for the 'quiet' twin. I have been enjoying this series. It's light but still manages to convey emotions and connections. I have been intrigued by Frey's story with the snippets we have already heard so I was looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately for me, this one seemed to fall a bit flat. I don't know if it's because of the short length, although this didn't seem to be a problem with the other books, or what. For me, the bare bones of the story was there but the meat was missing. It felt like the story was just skimmed over, rather than allowing the reader a bit more of an explanation and chance to digest.

I still liked the story and feel that Frey and Jørgen make a brilliant pair but I also feel a bit sorry that their story wasn't as good as I thought and hoped it would be.


December 18, 2018
  
Sparks (Sparks Saga #1)
Sparks (Sparks Saga #1)
R.S. McCoy | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a brilliant epic fantasy that grabs you from the start and refuses to let go throughout. It is an emotionally packed story that will keep you turning the pages, long after you should have put it down and gone to bed!

The main characters of Lark, Khea, and Micha are all fantastic and I loved all three of them for their varying abilities and differing personalities. I wasn't too sure about Avis to begin with, but before long, I was loving every scene he was in. As this book takes place over a number of years, you get to see each character's growth, trials, and tribulations as they grow.

Brilliantly written, smoothly paced and with intense and vivid scenes, this is classic Fantasy brought to life. Highly recommended.

*ps - I must add that there are some scenes that may just bring a tear to your eyes! Tissue warning, just in case!!*

* 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!
Sep 15, 2015
  
Redeem (The Caelian Cycle #2.5)
Redeem (The Caelian Cycle #2.5)
Donnielle Tyner | 2017 | Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
OK, so I will admit before even starting my review that I am biased towards Kian. I love him!!! He is brilliant in every way so I was ecstatic to receive this ARC. I was not disappointed as Donnielle Tyner has managed to make her voice 'male' and completely believable. You learn things about Kian's past that are only alluded to, which help make him a more rounded character, giving me a new understanding of him and his behaviour.

Although this is a novella, it covers a fair amount of time so be prepared for a couple of 'time jumps' as you read through. You don't feel like anything of importance is missed out though, and the reading flows.

With a smooth pace, well-written and with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, this is a wonderful addition to The Caelian Cycle, and I can't wait for the next book to come along! Highly recommended.

* 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!
Feb 10, 2016
  
The Twenty (Major Crimes, Book 2)
The Twenty (Major Crimes, Book 2)
Sam Holland | 2023 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A definite 5 star read for me and one of my books of 2023 so far ... an absolute cracker!!

I read a lot of crime and psychological thrillers and the odd horror book and it takes a lot to get me going but Sam Holland most definitely got me going with The Twenty. Oh my word!! Why? I hear you ask.

Excellent and interesting characters ... check.
Excellent serial killer ... check.
Gripping story line ... check.
Fast pace ... check.
Twists and turns ... check.
Gruesome scenes that give you the chills ... check.
Tension and suspense in spades ... check.

What more is there to be said? Oh yes, this might be book 2 but don't let that put you off, it can easily be read as a standalone but I would strongly suggest you read book 1, The Echo Man, it's also a cracker!!

Highly recommended to those of you who enjoy a dark, gritty and grisly crime thriller ... you won't go far wrong with Sam Holland and I must thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of the brilliant The Twenty.

I can't wait to see what comes next.
  
CW
Criers War ( criers war book 1)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
29 of 235
Kindle
Criers War (Book 1)
By Nina Varela
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, designed to be the playthings of royals, usurped their owners’ estates and bent the human race to their will.

Now Ayla, a human servant rising in the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging her family’s death…by killing the sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier.

Crier was Made to be beautiful, flawless, and to carry on her father’s legacy. But that was before her betrothal to the enigmatic Scyre Kinok, before she discovered her father isn’t the benevolent king she once admired, and most importantly, before she met Ayla.

Now, with growing human unrest across the land, pressures from a foreign queen, and an evil new leader on the rise, Crier and Ayla find there may be only one path to love: war.

This was one I didn’t want to put down. It was brilliant from start to finish a unique story. The characters are exactly how you expect them to be I just could not fault it. Highly recommended! Also a new author for me!
  
No Pucks Lost Between Us (Rush Hockey #6)
No Pucks Lost Between Us (Rush Hockey #6)
Elise Faber | 2023 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
NO PUCKS LOST BETWEEN US is the last in the Rosie & joel trilogy in the Rush Hockey series.

Rosie and Joel have had a rocky path to walk, with plenty of bumps and turns in the road. And so much - so much - is by them not talking. Not all of it, no, but enough. Joel is having a hockey crisis, and Rosie is trying to clear her name and figure out just what she wants to do with her life.

This was a great conclusion to their story, whilst still leaving parts of it wide open to be answered in the next trilogy (I presume.) Hot and steamy throughout, it's a brilliant addition to the Rush Hockey series.

For me, though, I think this is the end of the line for this series. It's just not holding my attention the way the rest of Elise Faber's books do.

** 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!
Nov 7, 2023