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Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators
Book
What's it like to be the son or daughter of a dictator? A monster on the Stalin level? What's it...
BookInspector (124 KP) rated Who Will Cry When You Die? (Hindi) in Books
Sep 24, 2020
This book has 101 suggestions for the reader, of how to improve yourself and your life. Even though there are some great, thought-provoking suggestions, there some with which I don’t particularly agree. I find philosophy rather boring, and no, I am not going to read Seneka. I really enjoyed the quotes which the author used in this book, I think they are quite inspiring. This book is the one, which you have to reread from time to time or read it slowly, rethinking every chapter, and comparing it to your own life and experiences.
I really liked, that the author shared examples from his personal life or from conferences he attended. It made it more realistic and less school book like. Even though I do believe, that this book should be read at least once in a lifetime and kept in people’s personal libraries, I was struggling with it. I couldn’t concentrate properly on it, and my mind kept wondering. The chapters are very short, that is why I was able to finish it, I don’t think I would’ve done it otherwise.
So, to conclude, even though I was struggling with this book, I learned a lot from it. If you enjoy self-help books, this one is a must-have, I believe. I know I will forget most of the things I read, but for now, I might even do a list or two which Robin Sharma recommended. Maybe I will be more successful by doing them. 😀 But for now, do get this book and I hope it will bring improvement to your life 😀
I really liked, that the author shared examples from his personal life or from conferences he attended. It made it more realistic and less school book like. Even though I do believe, that this book should be read at least once in a lifetime and kept in people’s personal libraries, I was struggling with it. I couldn’t concentrate properly on it, and my mind kept wondering. The chapters are very short, that is why I was able to finish it, I don’t think I would’ve done it otherwise.
So, to conclude, even though I was struggling with this book, I learned a lot from it. If you enjoy self-help books, this one is a must-have, I believe. I know I will forget most of the things I read, but for now, I might even do a list or two which Robin Sharma recommended. Maybe I will be more successful by doing them. 😀 But for now, do get this book and I hope it will bring improvement to your life 😀
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Omega Stolen (Northern Lodge Pack #1) in Books
Aug 27, 2019
Omega Stolen is the first book in the Northern Lodge Pack series, and we get a fine introduction into just who they are, and why this pack was formed and living where it is. Kai doesn't have the best of starts (to say the least) and it says a lot when his life actually takes a turn for the better when he is sold by his father! Although he will be forced to have sex and possibly a pup, and then forced into giving up said pup, that hasn't actually happened yet. For the first time, he is fed and has friends. Luckily for him, Jenny is there and her brother is looking for her. Jake is determined to find his sister, and once he finds out she has others she won't leave behind, they're all on their way.
This was a fast-paced book, with no excess of words or scenes. It is very sweet, with the huge BOOM of instant mates. However, for a quick, sassy read, it was absolutely brilliant, and just what I needed. I don't know if I have read an updated version, but there were no editing, spelling, or grammar mistakes that disrupted my reading. Each chapter was titled with who was speaking so there was no confusion there.
A quick, hot, MM Shifter Mpreg book that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* 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!
This was a fast-paced book, with no excess of words or scenes. It is very sweet, with the huge BOOM of instant mates. However, for a quick, sassy read, it was absolutely brilliant, and just what I needed. I don't know if I have read an updated version, but there were no editing, spelling, or grammar mistakes that disrupted my reading. Each chapter was titled with who was speaking so there was no confusion there.
A quick, hot, MM Shifter Mpreg book that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
* 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!
LUCY and la petite nouvelle: The Newcomer (The Front Porch Diaries #1)
7.0
Rate It
Book
Nine-year-old Lucy Miller loved to dream about visiting other countries, but from her front porch...
Historical Children Middle Grade
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Ben (Assassin's To Order #2) in Books
Apr 25, 2023
BEN is the second in the Assassin's To Order series and focuses on Ben and his mates, Teilo and Nico.
Ben made some questionable decisions in Marvin's story but redeemed himself completely in this one! When he arrives in Paraguay and finds the scientist's facility, he also finds his mates who are dying. This was a horrific scene to read, being so well-written I felt as though I was there. Teilo and Nico are test-tube babies, trained with pain, and assassins without remorse... that they're allowed to show, anyway.
The story moves along in leaps and bounds as more things become clear but Ben always puts his mates first. Their needs and considerations shape the choices he makes, along with the lessons he has to learn as they figure out what being mates actually involves. Another scene that got me was when Teilo and Nico first met Ben's mom. Oh, boy, did that make my eyes leak?!
The last chapter leads us to the next lot of mates, which I really can't wait for. I don't know who it is yet, but I'm really hoping for either the grumpy 'gator OR Ben's brothers. I know have two groups I want stories for and if they intermingle, well, so much the better!
A brilliant addition to this series and HIGHLY 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 24, 2023
Ben made some questionable decisions in Marvin's story but redeemed himself completely in this one! When he arrives in Paraguay and finds the scientist's facility, he also finds his mates who are dying. This was a horrific scene to read, being so well-written I felt as though I was there. Teilo and Nico are test-tube babies, trained with pain, and assassins without remorse... that they're allowed to show, anyway.
The story moves along in leaps and bounds as more things become clear but Ben always puts his mates first. Their needs and considerations shape the choices he makes, along with the lessons he has to learn as they figure out what being mates actually involves. Another scene that got me was when Teilo and Nico first met Ben's mom. Oh, boy, did that make my eyes leak?!
The last chapter leads us to the next lot of mates, which I really can't wait for. I don't know who it is yet, but I'm really hoping for either the grumpy 'gator OR Ben's brothers. I know have two groups I want stories for and if they intermingle, well, so much the better!
A brilliant addition to this series and HIGHLY 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 24, 2023
This was not what I expected at all, from the very first chapter I knew that it was going to be a pleasure to read, and that’s exactly what it was. It’s not often that you find a crime novel that truly makes you laugh out loud, but there were definitely a few snorts while I was reading this one.
There are four different lives intertwined within this story and we change frequently throughout as to who we’re following: Daniel, Scott (Daniel’s father), Hannah (a police officer) and Ronan (the twin brother of someone found murdered). We follow Daniel as he struggles through life and him being bullied without him realising it, whilst also following Scott and finding out just how far he is willing to go to protect his son and wife. Hannah’s story is a bit sadder but I’m glad at the end of the book she comes to peace with everything that has been playing on her mind throughout the book. And then there’s Ronan, who’s twin brother can seemingly do no wrong in their mother’s eyes and after he is murdered Ronan still can’t understand why his mother doesn’t love him as much.
The story is ridiculous, but not in a way that it’s unbelievable. It’s a believable story of someone who gets caught up in the wrong world and the lengths that they’ll go to in order to try and get out of the hole they’ve found themselves in.
David Jackson’s writing was a pleasure to read and I have no doubt that I will pick up another of his books in the future.
There are four different lives intertwined within this story and we change frequently throughout as to who we’re following: Daniel, Scott (Daniel’s father), Hannah (a police officer) and Ronan (the twin brother of someone found murdered). We follow Daniel as he struggles through life and him being bullied without him realising it, whilst also following Scott and finding out just how far he is willing to go to protect his son and wife. Hannah’s story is a bit sadder but I’m glad at the end of the book she comes to peace with everything that has been playing on her mind throughout the book. And then there’s Ronan, who’s twin brother can seemingly do no wrong in their mother’s eyes and after he is murdered Ronan still can’t understand why his mother doesn’t love him as much.
The story is ridiculous, but not in a way that it’s unbelievable. It’s a believable story of someone who gets caught up in the wrong world and the lengths that they’ll go to in order to try and get out of the hole they’ve found themselves in.
David Jackson’s writing was a pleasure to read and I have no doubt that I will pick up another of his books in the future.
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Last Thrall of Asgard (Lovers of the Gods #2) in Books
Aug 15, 2025
LAST THRALL OF ASGARD is the second book in the Lovers of the Gods series, but the first one I have read. This is a complete standalone, so you don't need to have read the first one to enjoy this one.
Oli is a thrall, used for 'pleasure' by his owner. He finds out he is being sold to a neighbour, which his master doesn't have a problem with. It is after Oli finds this out that he curses the old gods while cleaning an altar. Maybe not the best idea. Anyway, Loki comes along, whisks him away, and tells him he can earn his freedom by doing what he does best for other gods. What follows is a fun frolic through the realms of Yggdrasil, with each chapter being a different god and different troubles and kinks!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable story as Oli learnt about himself at the same time as helping others. It wasn't just s3x though. The moments between Oli and Loki were perfect, with their back-and-forth flirting and anger, putting their foot in it, and general chaos and mayhem. Saying all that, the epilogue was all the warm fuzzies you could wish for.
A great story that I definitely recommend, and I hope to return to the series soon. I already know I love this author's writing. This book just confirms it once again.
** 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!
Aug 15, 2025
Oli is a thrall, used for 'pleasure' by his owner. He finds out he is being sold to a neighbour, which his master doesn't have a problem with. It is after Oli finds this out that he curses the old gods while cleaning an altar. Maybe not the best idea. Anyway, Loki comes along, whisks him away, and tells him he can earn his freedom by doing what he does best for other gods. What follows is a fun frolic through the realms of Yggdrasil, with each chapter being a different god and different troubles and kinks!
This was a thoroughly enjoyable story as Oli learnt about himself at the same time as helping others. It wasn't just s3x though. The moments between Oli and Loki were perfect, with their back-and-forth flirting and anger, putting their foot in it, and general chaos and mayhem. Saying all that, the epilogue was all the warm fuzzies you could wish for.
A great story that I definitely recommend, and I hope to return to the series soon. I already know I love this author's writing. This book just confirms it once again.
** 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!
Aug 15, 2025
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Next Door Protector (Hot as Sin #3) in Books
Apr 16, 2025
NEXT DOOR PROTECTOR is the third book in the Hot as Sin series, featuring firefighters from the same unit. You don't need to have read the others to get this one. If you haven't read a Kitty O'Bliss book before, then you need to know they are short and hot, without much of a backstory.
Alexandra is a dancer who has been stalked for the past three years, moving countless times, but he always finds her. She isolates herself from everyone, not trusting anyone or wanting anyone to get close. Until Jake bangs on her door after deciding she is his. He has decided she is his to protect and claim and he won't take no for an answer. Sounds to me like Alexandra now has two stalkers!
This short story is told completely from Jake's perspective and is incredibly fast-paced. I expected to read more about the stalker, but that would have made it a longer book. Instead, everything is pretty much sorted without any danger or suspense.
While I enjoyed the second book in the series, this one was just too out there for me, especially with just how stalkerish and caveman-like Jake was, and there were some errors in the last chapter that jolted my reading. This is a hot read if that's what you're looking for.
** 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!
Apr 16, 2025
Alexandra is a dancer who has been stalked for the past three years, moving countless times, but he always finds her. She isolates herself from everyone, not trusting anyone or wanting anyone to get close. Until Jake bangs on her door after deciding she is his. He has decided she is his to protect and claim and he won't take no for an answer. Sounds to me like Alexandra now has two stalkers!
This short story is told completely from Jake's perspective and is incredibly fast-paced. I expected to read more about the stalker, but that would have made it a longer book. Instead, everything is pretty much sorted without any danger or suspense.
While I enjoyed the second book in the series, this one was just too out there for me, especially with just how stalkerish and caveman-like Jake was, and there were some errors in the last chapter that jolted my reading. This is a hot read if that's what you're looking for.
** 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!
Apr 16, 2025
Merissa (13197 KP) rated Chimera's Prisoner (Prime Omegaverse #6) in Books
Jun 10, 2025
CHIMERA'S PRISONER is the sixth book in the Prime Omegaverse series, and if you haven't figured it out yet, the trigger warnings are there for a reason. This is a dark monster romance with dub-con. If that's not your thing, move along.
Amelia is a nurse who has been captured by the felines for transportation to a breeding centre. Funnily enough, she's none too keen on the idea. When Mother Nature sends a storm to help out, she is quick to take advantage. Unfortunately for her, Vex is flying overhead, patrolling his territory, when he spots her and scents her.
I loved Vex! Yes, he was an Alpha, but he also had a heart. And although he knew from the beginning that Amelia was his, he wasn't obnoxious about it either, unlike some of the others I've read.
With some high heat, this story also had emotions, connections, and action. The Council are none too pleased with Vex claiming Amelia and will do anything to retrieve her.
I wasn't too keen on the last book, but I did enjoy this one a lot more. Chapter 16 was repeated in my copy, but on the whole, there were fewer repetitions than in previous stories. I am hoping for all the stories to connect at some point, but am enjoying the different scenarios as they each conclude.
** 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!
Jun 10, 2025
Amelia is a nurse who has been captured by the felines for transportation to a breeding centre. Funnily enough, she's none too keen on the idea. When Mother Nature sends a storm to help out, she is quick to take advantage. Unfortunately for her, Vex is flying overhead, patrolling his territory, when he spots her and scents her.
I loved Vex! Yes, he was an Alpha, but he also had a heart. And although he knew from the beginning that Amelia was his, he wasn't obnoxious about it either, unlike some of the others I've read.
With some high heat, this story also had emotions, connections, and action. The Council are none too pleased with Vex claiming Amelia and will do anything to retrieve her.
I wasn't too keen on the last book, but I did enjoy this one a lot more. Chapter 16 was repeated in my copy, but on the whole, there were fewer repetitions than in previous stories. I am hoping for all the stories to connect at some point, but am enjoying the different scenarios as they each conclude.
** 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!
Jun 10, 2025
EmersonRose (320 KP) rated The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5) in Books
Nov 20, 2019
Alert! Before I begin this review, I need to let it be known that in the case of this particular book I may be a little biased, well maybe really biased! This is the tenth book I have read by this author and the last in the second series I have read. It is safe to say I love these books or else I would not have read this many.
Alright, now that that is out of the way, let me begin. This book is called Blood of Olympus, it is the fifth and final book in the Heroes of Olympus series (if you should ever desire to read these book, I would recommend starting with the Percy Jackson, and the Olympians series as this series is a sequel series. The author of this book is a writer by the name of Rick Riordan. This book is a young adult fantasy novel. It is the final chapter of the adventure of a group of seven young adults who happen to be demigods, modern day children of the ancient gods of Greece and Rome. This adventure, like many great adventures, is a race to save the world.
For me, the initial draw of the book was that it is a fantasy novel, which is one of my favorite genres, and its focus is on Greek Mythology, something of an obsession of mine. The mythology in these books may not always satisfy all mythology nerds because they do take liberties in how the myths are presented in order to showcase how they might have changed to fit in the modern day world. The way Riordan chooses to represent mythology is often fairly close to original stories, showing that he spends the time researching the myths, and they are clever, funny, and entertaining.
As I read the books, I found myself drawn to the relationships between the characters, not surprising as characters are a key draw for me in literature. By this point in the series, the relationships became especially interesting because you have known some of the characters for ten books now while others are just in their second or third book appearances. The central characters have grown into a substantial group that each have their own unique backgrounds, personalities, and even mythologies that create intriguing tension and bonds. Their bonds grow stronger as they work through new struggles and adventures with the added drama of them being a group of teenagers, which obviously means that there is a fair bit of romance involved as well.
For me personally to get into a story the most important aspect is to be very invested in61w3pqVMCZL._US230_ the characters. This does not mean I have to like them, but I do need to be completely invested in what happens to them. If the storyteller can do this, then I will most likely binge the entire thing whether book, movie, tv show, comic…. regardless whether or not the story is good or my normal cup of tea. This was definitely an initial draw in me reading this second series because I was already very invested in both Percy and Annabeth’s characters, who are among the main characters in this series and the main characters in the previous series. The majority of the characters in this book did capture my emotional investment, which kept me reading all five books, but there were a few I found lacking. Maybe I am the only one who felt this, but I thought that Riordan didn’t spend enough time on some of the new characters to pull me into their plots. Unfortunately, this is common in stories that feature such a large cast of main characters, had the time on each character been even plot points might not have been as successful and honestly, I might have been annoyed to not spend as much time on my favorites.
I would be lying if I were to say this was my favorite book in this series but I still greatly enjoyed it. Besides my problem with not feeling emotionally invested enough in some of the characters, I really do not have any other complaints about the book. It was successful in finishing this series story arc while having plenty of plot of its own. And it ended wrapping just about everything up so that I was satisfied, but open enough to still want more. If this were a regular series, the leftover cliffhangers would be dreadful! But Riordan writes series that capture over-arching plots but that connect to his other book series in this same world, so an ending like this simply promising more books about these characters in another series.
Overall I liked this book, if young adult fantasy is your genre, then I would definitely suggest looking at these books. They do what I require of my urban fantasy stories, mix magic into our real world enough that a part of me can almost believe it could be possible. Characters, world, and plot flowing together into an engaging story that obviously captured my interest enough to read ten and counting of these novels.
*This was a review I found while cleaning that I write a few years ago. I have since read two more Riordan novels and counting! I love the way Riordan writes and appreciate how he seems to continually grow as a writer, always tackling new issues and allowing his characters to have growth. Annabeth and Percy especially, they are two of my all-time favorite characters. I highly recommend reading his books!
Alright, now that that is out of the way, let me begin. This book is called Blood of Olympus, it is the fifth and final book in the Heroes of Olympus series (if you should ever desire to read these book, I would recommend starting with the Percy Jackson, and the Olympians series as this series is a sequel series. The author of this book is a writer by the name of Rick Riordan. This book is a young adult fantasy novel. It is the final chapter of the adventure of a group of seven young adults who happen to be demigods, modern day children of the ancient gods of Greece and Rome. This adventure, like many great adventures, is a race to save the world.
For me, the initial draw of the book was that it is a fantasy novel, which is one of my favorite genres, and its focus is on Greek Mythology, something of an obsession of mine. The mythology in these books may not always satisfy all mythology nerds because they do take liberties in how the myths are presented in order to showcase how they might have changed to fit in the modern day world. The way Riordan chooses to represent mythology is often fairly close to original stories, showing that he spends the time researching the myths, and they are clever, funny, and entertaining.
As I read the books, I found myself drawn to the relationships between the characters, not surprising as characters are a key draw for me in literature. By this point in the series, the relationships became especially interesting because you have known some of the characters for ten books now while others are just in their second or third book appearances. The central characters have grown into a substantial group that each have their own unique backgrounds, personalities, and even mythologies that create intriguing tension and bonds. Their bonds grow stronger as they work through new struggles and adventures with the added drama of them being a group of teenagers, which obviously means that there is a fair bit of romance involved as well.
For me personally to get into a story the most important aspect is to be very invested in61w3pqVMCZL._US230_ the characters. This does not mean I have to like them, but I do need to be completely invested in what happens to them. If the storyteller can do this, then I will most likely binge the entire thing whether book, movie, tv show, comic…. regardless whether or not the story is good or my normal cup of tea. This was definitely an initial draw in me reading this second series because I was already very invested in both Percy and Annabeth’s characters, who are among the main characters in this series and the main characters in the previous series. The majority of the characters in this book did capture my emotional investment, which kept me reading all five books, but there were a few I found lacking. Maybe I am the only one who felt this, but I thought that Riordan didn’t spend enough time on some of the new characters to pull me into their plots. Unfortunately, this is common in stories that feature such a large cast of main characters, had the time on each character been even plot points might not have been as successful and honestly, I might have been annoyed to not spend as much time on my favorites.
I would be lying if I were to say this was my favorite book in this series but I still greatly enjoyed it. Besides my problem with not feeling emotionally invested enough in some of the characters, I really do not have any other complaints about the book. It was successful in finishing this series story arc while having plenty of plot of its own. And it ended wrapping just about everything up so that I was satisfied, but open enough to still want more. If this were a regular series, the leftover cliffhangers would be dreadful! But Riordan writes series that capture over-arching plots but that connect to his other book series in this same world, so an ending like this simply promising more books about these characters in another series.
Overall I liked this book, if young adult fantasy is your genre, then I would definitely suggest looking at these books. They do what I require of my urban fantasy stories, mix magic into our real world enough that a part of me can almost believe it could be possible. Characters, world, and plot flowing together into an engaging story that obviously captured my interest enough to read ten and counting of these novels.
*This was a review I found while cleaning that I write a few years ago. I have since read two more Riordan novels and counting! I love the way Riordan writes and appreciate how he seems to continually grow as a writer, always tackling new issues and allowing his characters to have growth. Annabeth and Percy especially, they are two of my all-time favorite characters. I highly recommend reading his books!