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Britain etc.
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Mark Easton's Britain Etc. looks at the UK through its relationship to 26 subjects - one for each...
Alana (9 KP) rated Reflection in Books
Jun 26, 2019
Well written and planned out (1 more)
Original concept
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.
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.
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!
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!
David McK (3705 KP) rated Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3) in Books
Oct 7, 2019
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.
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.
Florida Animals for Everyday Naturalists
Book
Did you know fawns have no scent, an evolutionary defense against predators? And that the eastern...
PP
Pagan's Progress: A Geography Primer
Book
In an age of ecological turbulence, our understanding of the hills, rivers and fields we live among...
Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
Book
The most important investigation of genetic science since The Selfish Gene, from the author of the...
David McK (3705 KP) rated A Darkling Plain (Mortal Engines #4) in Books
Dec 20, 2021
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!
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!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2484 KP) rated Comedy Can Be Deadly in Books
Oct 17, 2024
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.
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.
Cassie Osbourne (6 KP) rated Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game, #1) in Books
Nov 9, 2018
Prim and proper Enne Salta is looking forward to her graduation from finishing school when her adoptive mother goes missing in New Reynes, otherwise known as the City of Sin. In an effort to find her, she must rely on the help and street smarts of gambler Levi Glaisyer. I think that it is safe to say that the blurb of this book caught me by the nose and I couldn't wait to read it so moving into a new house where there was no internet to distract me seemed as good an opportunity as any.
This book starts pretty slowly, or rather it tries to be interesting while still explaining the quite complex world and history since the Great Street War (which we actually know very little about) as well as introducing all the different characters and their blood talents and split talents. Even writing that sentence has made my head spin a little, and I've read the book! However, at about page 200 or 250 it really starts to pick up. Suddenly all the information and repetition (more on that later) starts to fall into place, and the plot and characters get SO much more interesting. Until that point though, it's all a bit meh.
With the exception of Chez, I have to say that I loved all the characters. I liked Levi pretty much from his first chapter, the villains were very cool, manipulative and all round imposing even without being in the book that much and all the rest of the characters got better as the book progressed (most notably Enne who becomes a complete badass). There's even a sequel, so perhaps Chez will grow on me after all. I would just like to add here that I love Jac and I want to have his babies.
The atmosphere, for the most part, was very meh. A lot of it was kind of bland and non-descript, which is not really something that you'd expect from a place called 'the City of Sin'. That being said, when Foody really goes for it on the atmosphere, she gets it pretty well spot on! The atmosphere during the second fight with Chez, the basement in the House of Shadows and pretty much any scene with Torren are all winners. It's just a shame that it wasn't that way for the whole book because Foody has proved that she can do it really well.
The writing style was good on the whole, but there were definitely two things that irritated me with it. I mentioned earlier that the first 200 pages have a lot of repetition, but it goes beyond merely parroting things that we already know. Sometimes whole sections of text are repeated from other chapters which I would be completely behind if it was used to offer a different perspective, but it wasn't. Reading these bits just felt like they had been copied and pasted, so it became redundant and annoying. The other problem which became hugely distracting (and which I have seen other people commenting about) is the use of 'muck' or 'mucking' instead of actual swearing. This is a young adult book with drugs and prostitutes in it and where words like 'piss' and 'ass' are used pretty commonly so when 'muck' appears (often said by a Street Lord), the reader can't help but groan. The sort of swearing and sort of not just really doesn't work. Pick a camp and stick to it!
As with the intrigue of the book, the plot got much better as it went along, with new twists and turns and plot points added to it along the way. Unlike the intrigue though, the plot was good from the beginning.
The logic was pretty good most of the time, but there were some notable moments (all heavily for the plot) that I just did not buy. This also kind of ties in with the whole 'muck' thing as well. It just takes you right out of the world.
All in all, I did enjoy this book, and I have to say that my biggest disappointment is that I have to wait another year for the sequel to come out.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Intrigue: 7.5/10
Logic: 7.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
This book starts pretty slowly, or rather it tries to be interesting while still explaining the quite complex world and history since the Great Street War (which we actually know very little about) as well as introducing all the different characters and their blood talents and split talents. Even writing that sentence has made my head spin a little, and I've read the book! However, at about page 200 or 250 it really starts to pick up. Suddenly all the information and repetition (more on that later) starts to fall into place, and the plot and characters get SO much more interesting. Until that point though, it's all a bit meh.
With the exception of Chez, I have to say that I loved all the characters. I liked Levi pretty much from his first chapter, the villains were very cool, manipulative and all round imposing even without being in the book that much and all the rest of the characters got better as the book progressed (most notably Enne who becomes a complete badass). There's even a sequel, so perhaps Chez will grow on me after all. I would just like to add here that I love Jac and I want to have his babies.
The atmosphere, for the most part, was very meh. A lot of it was kind of bland and non-descript, which is not really something that you'd expect from a place called 'the City of Sin'. That being said, when Foody really goes for it on the atmosphere, she gets it pretty well spot on! The atmosphere during the second fight with Chez, the basement in the House of Shadows and pretty much any scene with Torren are all winners. It's just a shame that it wasn't that way for the whole book because Foody has proved that she can do it really well.
The writing style was good on the whole, but there were definitely two things that irritated me with it. I mentioned earlier that the first 200 pages have a lot of repetition, but it goes beyond merely parroting things that we already know. Sometimes whole sections of text are repeated from other chapters which I would be completely behind if it was used to offer a different perspective, but it wasn't. Reading these bits just felt like they had been copied and pasted, so it became redundant and annoying. The other problem which became hugely distracting (and which I have seen other people commenting about) is the use of 'muck' or 'mucking' instead of actual swearing. This is a young adult book with drugs and prostitutes in it and where words like 'piss' and 'ass' are used pretty commonly so when 'muck' appears (often said by a Street Lord), the reader can't help but groan. The sort of swearing and sort of not just really doesn't work. Pick a camp and stick to it!
As with the intrigue of the book, the plot got much better as it went along, with new twists and turns and plot points added to it along the way. Unlike the intrigue though, the plot was good from the beginning.
The logic was pretty good most of the time, but there were some notable moments (all heavily for the plot) that I just did not buy. This also kind of ties in with the whole 'muck' thing as well. It just takes you right out of the world.
All in all, I did enjoy this book, and I have to say that my biggest disappointment is that I have to wait another year for the sequel to come out.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Intrigue: 7.5/10
Logic: 7.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10