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Alana (9 KP) rated Reflection in Books

Jun 26, 2019  
Reflection
Reflection
Elizabeth Lim | 2018 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well written and planned out (1 more)
Original concept
Missed a plot point which could have further extended the books narrative (0 more)
A true twist on a classic!
Contains spoilers, click to show
A fantastic original concept created using a classic well loved Disney character Mulan.
Title is clever, referring to character growth throughout Mulans journey and a part of the book where she must face the chamber of mirrors in order to complete her challenge and save Shang from moving on before he is ready.
This original concept fits well with character which is not easy to do when using characters who are household names and often remind us of our childhood watching Disney classics but it is a risk that has played off.
There is little to critique but I do however believe that there should have been a chapter written exploring Mulan returning home to her family after the war, seeing if she was correct in the chamber of mirrors about her father and mothers reactions to her running off to war as this could differ greatly from the classic plot, I personally would have loved to see grandmother Fa's reaction to Mulans trip to the underworld or at the very least mushu's reaction- as this would have extended the plot leaving a more well rounded ending.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Akin in Books

Oct 2, 2019  
Akin
Akin
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Touching. Witty. Heartbreaking. Emma Donoghue’s latest is all of those and more. This was such a wonderful read that I found myself savoring it, reading only a chapter or so a night, making it last.

Noah is a retired chemistry professor living in New York. His wife, Joan, passed away nearly a decade ago. Noah is originally from France, and he’s finally planned a trip to his birthplace, Nice. But shortly before his trip, he receives a call from social services: he is the only available relative able to take care of Michael, an eleven-year-old great-nephew he’s never even met. Noah reluctantly agrees to take Michael on his trip. This unlikely pair take on Nice together: looking at France through two very different lenses. But Michael’s tech savvy helps Noah as he attempts to unravel some details about his family’s past, and Noah can’t help but see some of his late troubled nephew in this funny, acerbic boy.

I fell hard for Noah and Michael. Donoghue captures them perfectly. Their wit, their banter, and their various insecurities. This book is alternately hilarious and heart wrenching. It’s beautifully written, touching, and just a lovely read. 4+ stars. Highly recommend!
  
Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3)
Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3)
Timothy Zahn | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The third Thrawn book written in the 'new' Star Wars canon (i.e. after Disney's buyout of the Star Wars brand), this is different than the previous (Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances) in that it is set entirely within one timeframe (early days of the Empire, round about the time of the fourth season of the Star Wars: Rebels cartoon), and that it does not skip character about per chapter.

Like the previous novel, however, it does take efforts to portray threat of the Gryssk, even (at one point) going so far as to insinuate that they are behind the Rebellion, with Thrawn himself becoming embroiled in a dispute between Director Krennic (see Rogue One) and Grand Moff Tarkin and with the future of his own TIE Defender programme on the line.

While Star Wars: Rebels may have shown his more ruthless side, these novels take great pains to show his loyalty to his crew and, in return, their loyalty back to him. The Treason of the title may be slightly (purposefully?) misleading, with Thrawn himself also uncovering a conspiracy as his own loyalty - and that of his protégé from the first 'new' novel, who is now seconded to work with the Chiss - is called into question.
  
A Darkling Plain (Mortal Engines #4)
A Darkling Plain (Mortal Engines #4)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Final part in Philip Reeve's steampunk Predator Cities/Mortal Engines quadrilogy, finally closing off the story of Tom Natsworthy and Hester Shaw alongside that of their daughter Wren.

This particular entry opens on the character of Theo Ngoni, who here and throughout plays a much larger role than he previously did in Infernal Devices. Theo Ngoni is not the only character to return from previous novels however: Fishcake (yes, that's the name he is given) also plays a large role and finally gets a decent end to his story, as does Professor Pennyroyal (still providing the comic relief), the Stalkers Fang and Shrike (with the latter also finally getting a decent pay-off in the last chapter), and both Oenone Zero and General Naga also returning.

I also have to say that I found this to be the longest of the four stories in the quadrilogy: I'm not sure whether that is because it actually is (I read it as part of an e-book compilation, which makes it hard to compare relevant lengths), because I'd read it back to back with the previous entry, or simply because I was beginning to get tired with the series as a whole!
  
Comedy Can Be Deadly
Comedy Can Be Deadly
Ryan Rivers | 2024 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder Complicates Shakespeare
Levi has landed the role of Puck in the local theater’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sho is happy with his role as stage manager until an accident forces him to take on the role of Lysander. Things are anything but smooth sailing with all the personalities in the cast and crew. But then some dies after falling from the upper platform of the theater. Was it an accident or murder?

I love this series, so I was so happy to get the latest entry. The plot is lots of fun with plenty of secrets on the way to the climax, which is the best version of this kind of climax I’ve read. The comedy was a little toned down, but that was a good thing, and there was plenty of laughs. I love how the main characters were developed here again, and the suspects helped pull us into the story. The last chapter sets up the next book, as always, but it’s a bit surprising given some of what happens here. There are some references to past stories, so I recommend you read them in order. You’ll appreciate the character growth more as well. But when you want to laugh while solving a mystery, this is a series you’ll love.