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Kaz (232 KP) rated The Girl In Between in Books
Nov 5, 2019
‘The Girl In Between’ was the first book I read for the ‘Disability Read-a-Thon’ in October and, because this was a free download, I didn’t have high expectations for this book at all. However, I was very pleasantly surprised.
This book’s main character Bryn has a sleeping syndrome, which means that she can suddenly sleep for weeks and months on end. This didn’t mean however, that she a poor defenseless girl, in fact she was the opposite. She was funny, sarcastic and a fully rounded teenager and I thought she was relatable and likeable.
This book wasn’t just about Disability but the book does cover some of the issues that, even though I don’t have the same condition as Bryn, I could relate to, when I was growing up. However, it was also a complex mix of real life, fantasy and Bryn’s condition, which was seamlessly and imaginatively, incorporated into the story.
There were a couple of times when I thought that this book would develop into a slushy teen romance, but thankfully, this just managed not to turn into this and any kind of romance was maturely and sensitively handled.
I found the pace of this to be excellent. In no part of the book did I feel the story dragged and I really wanted to know what would happen to the characters.
I think that the ending was really good and it resolved enough to feel satisfied at the end, but it left enough for me to want to read the rest of the series.
I will definitely be reading the rest of this series at some point. I would recommend reading this book, whether you want to read something with a strong main character who has a Disability, or you enjoy a good Fantasy read.
My Rating ****
This book’s main character Bryn has a sleeping syndrome, which means that she can suddenly sleep for weeks and months on end. This didn’t mean however, that she a poor defenseless girl, in fact she was the opposite. She was funny, sarcastic and a fully rounded teenager and I thought she was relatable and likeable.
This book wasn’t just about Disability but the book does cover some of the issues that, even though I don’t have the same condition as Bryn, I could relate to, when I was growing up. However, it was also a complex mix of real life, fantasy and Bryn’s condition, which was seamlessly and imaginatively, incorporated into the story.
There were a couple of times when I thought that this book would develop into a slushy teen romance, but thankfully, this just managed not to turn into this and any kind of romance was maturely and sensitively handled.
I found the pace of this to be excellent. In no part of the book did I feel the story dragged and I really wanted to know what would happen to the characters.
I think that the ending was really good and it resolved enough to feel satisfied at the end, but it left enough for me to want to read the rest of the series.
I will definitely be reading the rest of this series at some point. I would recommend reading this book, whether you want to read something with a strong main character who has a Disability, or you enjoy a good Fantasy read.
My Rating ****
Merissa (13828 KP) rated To Look the Devil in the Eye (Broken Halos #5) in Books
Nov 7, 2019
To Look the Devil in the Eye is the penultimate book in the Broken Halos series, and MUST be read as part of the series, or it just won't make sense. This one starts where The Devil in Disguise left off.
Hel knows she needs to, but doesn't want to, help free her dad, Satanael. Eric always has her back and will do whatever he can to support her. Satanael needs to get to know his daughter, and quickly finds out she isn't prepared to just do as she is told, or accept what she knows is untrue.
As with the whole series so far, there is an awful load of sass and attitude, which I adore! I loved reading Maya Daniels' books as each of them has a strong female lead who doesn't take any c**p. Beezlebub is still my favourite demon (sorry Eric, but you're already taken!) but Colt has grown up in this one, and sticks up for Helena when no one else does. The Trowe, Narsi, also grows beyond belief in this book, but you really have to read it to understand.
Now, bearing in mind we only have one book left, you KNOW it's going to go out with a bang, on a humungous cliffhanger (because what else would Maya Daniels do?!). And I wasn't disappointed! Fair warning though, you will probably have to re-read the ending a couple of times, just to make sure you don't miss anything. That's it. I'm done for. Ms Daniels has me reading blurry words as my eyes are leaking. She has officially killed me with the ending to this book.
Do I recommend this book? Only by about 1000%. Just make sure you start at the beginning so you don't miss a single moment of attitude!
* 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!
Hel knows she needs to, but doesn't want to, help free her dad, Satanael. Eric always has her back and will do whatever he can to support her. Satanael needs to get to know his daughter, and quickly finds out she isn't prepared to just do as she is told, or accept what she knows is untrue.
As with the whole series so far, there is an awful load of sass and attitude, which I adore! I loved reading Maya Daniels' books as each of them has a strong female lead who doesn't take any c**p. Beezlebub is still my favourite demon (sorry Eric, but you're already taken!) but Colt has grown up in this one, and sticks up for Helena when no one else does. The Trowe, Narsi, also grows beyond belief in this book, but you really have to read it to understand.
Now, bearing in mind we only have one book left, you KNOW it's going to go out with a bang, on a humungous cliffhanger (because what else would Maya Daniels do?!). And I wasn't disappointed! Fair warning though, you will probably have to re-read the ending a couple of times, just to make sure you don't miss anything. That's it. I'm done for. Ms Daniels has me reading blurry words as my eyes are leaking. She has officially killed me with the ending to this book.
Do I recommend this book? Only by about 1000%. Just make sure you start at the beginning so you don't miss a single moment of attitude!
* 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!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Guns of the Dawn in Books
Nov 14, 2019
A couple of years a go I was involved in a Twitter conversation about strong female characters in fantasy. The conclusion what that they were there but not very common. This book addresses this by adding another in the shape of Emily Marshwic.
Born into a priviliged family, she is nothing but practical, sparring with the local governor whom she blames for the suicide of her father. Then war breaks out with a neighbouring country and as the fighting drags on, taking the men of the Marshwic household, Emily ends up joining the army to do her bit. The war is brutal and through her experiences Emily finds out unexpected things about not only herself but those around her.
This story is entirely driven by character, not only of Emily but of all of those she meets and this is where Tchaikovsky shines, conjuring up a host of main and supporting cast, all of whom are three dimensional and painted in shades of light and shadow, even those whose lives are destined to be cut short. Emily herself is the central pillar of the book and is more than capable of that task.
The descriptions of the war - both of the frantic, muddled fighting and the times in between - is spot on, showing the futility of it all but also why the sides feel they must fight on. The plot is far from predictable and takes sudden turns onto new territory just as the reader becomes comfortable with the current situation.
The world is well drawn. This is definitely fantasy in style and there are magic users in the shape of the flame wielding Warlocks, but the main fighting is with muskets and flintlock pistols and it is clear that the war is driving technology on.
The only problem with this book? It is stand alone. I would definitely read more stories about Emily and will now be searching out Tchaikovsky's epic Shadows of the Apt series for future reading.
Advisory: Voilent scenes of battle and some sexual violence and references
Born into a priviliged family, she is nothing but practical, sparring with the local governor whom she blames for the suicide of her father. Then war breaks out with a neighbouring country and as the fighting drags on, taking the men of the Marshwic household, Emily ends up joining the army to do her bit. The war is brutal and through her experiences Emily finds out unexpected things about not only herself but those around her.
This story is entirely driven by character, not only of Emily but of all of those she meets and this is where Tchaikovsky shines, conjuring up a host of main and supporting cast, all of whom are three dimensional and painted in shades of light and shadow, even those whose lives are destined to be cut short. Emily herself is the central pillar of the book and is more than capable of that task.
The descriptions of the war - both of the frantic, muddled fighting and the times in between - is spot on, showing the futility of it all but also why the sides feel they must fight on. The plot is far from predictable and takes sudden turns onto new territory just as the reader becomes comfortable with the current situation.
The world is well drawn. This is definitely fantasy in style and there are magic users in the shape of the flame wielding Warlocks, but the main fighting is with muskets and flintlock pistols and it is clear that the war is driving technology on.
The only problem with this book? It is stand alone. I would definitely read more stories about Emily and will now be searching out Tchaikovsky's epic Shadows of the Apt series for future reading.
Advisory: Voilent scenes of battle and some sexual violence and references
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Tell Me It's Real (At First Sight, #1) in Books
Nov 18, 2019
Well, right from the start this had me laughing as Paul introduced himself. It was very frank and pretty much laugh-out-loud at times. He doesn't have the best opinion of himself, bless him, but he's so fun. And then he meets eyes with Vince while out at his friends drag queen performance at a bar/club and things go from there. Vince is not backing down about his intentions to date Paul, while Paul cannot believe that this younger, attractive, really nice if slightly dumb man, wants him and fights it tooth and nail.
They have a text conversation about a third of the way through the book that almost had me laughing like an idiot. The text faces that Vince was sending Paul were frigging hilarious. The Sex Face one is going to stick with me for a long time: >_<
And let's not forget Paul's parents. Oh. My. God! They are so funny it's not fair. I almost had tears streaming down my face at one point. They all go to nan's house for a meal and ignoring Johnny Depp, the homophobic parrot, they get into a conversation about how they met and it's stuff like this that has me crying with laughter at times. Vince, bless him. Not the smartest but he's a real sweetheart.
"He was choking to death in a restaurant," Vince explained
"I was not!" I said.
"On like a burrito or something."
"It was spinach."
"Anyway, he would have died had I not done the haemorrhoid manoeuvre."
"Heimlich. It's Heimlich."
There were so many conversations like this, with some crazy stuff being discussed and I LOVED it! They were such a cute couple and they gelled so well. It was so obvious they truly needed each other at the time that they found each other. Paul needed to let himself be loved and Vince needed someone to be there for him after a family issue. It was amazing!
I'm going to be keeping my eye out for other books in this series.
They have a text conversation about a third of the way through the book that almost had me laughing like an idiot. The text faces that Vince was sending Paul were frigging hilarious. The Sex Face one is going to stick with me for a long time: >_<
And let's not forget Paul's parents. Oh. My. God! They are so funny it's not fair. I almost had tears streaming down my face at one point. They all go to nan's house for a meal and ignoring Johnny Depp, the homophobic parrot, they get into a conversation about how they met and it's stuff like this that has me crying with laughter at times. Vince, bless him. Not the smartest but he's a real sweetheart.
"He was choking to death in a restaurant," Vince explained
"I was not!" I said.
"On like a burrito or something."
"It was spinach."
"Anyway, he would have died had I not done the haemorrhoid manoeuvre."
"Heimlich. It's Heimlich."
There were so many conversations like this, with some crazy stuff being discussed and I LOVED it! They were such a cute couple and they gelled so well. It was so obvious they truly needed each other at the time that they found each other. Paul needed to let himself be loved and Vince needed someone to be there for him after a family issue. It was amazing!
I'm going to be keeping my eye out for other books in this series.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Deadly Harm in Books
Nov 25, 2019
Mackenzie is a survivor. She has survived a brutal kidnap ordeal and now runs a refuge for women who need to escape domestic violence. But when she has to turn a young woman away only for her husband to kill her, Mackenzie blames herself and resolves that she will do anything to prevent anything like that happening again. It isn't long before she must test her resolve. She has survived before. What will she do to survive now?
Once again Mullen demonstrates his credentials as one of the best crime writers out there, throwing a couple of extra murders into the mix and once again having dogged and dog-eared policeman Andrew Geddes play a large part, not only as an upholder of the law but also as Mackenzie's potential love interest. But how can a man who lives in terms of black and white cope when his girlfriend lives in the grey areas? The moral choices made by the leading characters may be questioned by the reader, but their motivations are always clear.
And what a cast of characters. The beauty of this is that everyone - Mackenzie, Geddes, the women at the refuge and killer Malkie Boyle - are all damaged from their lives and experiences. Even when Mullen's clean-cut private investigator Charlie Cameron crops up, it only serves to cast a light that reveals the shadows around the others. Everybody rings very true and the whole plot is very believable, and could be playing out at this moment.
And speaking of the plot, as usual this moves along at a breezy pace, introducing characters as it goes without slowing its momentum. This isn't a classic 'whodunnit' - it is clear exactly who did what - but isn't without twists and surprises, several plots simmering along next to each other and coming to the boil perfectly throughout the book.
Another fantastic read from simply one of the best authors there is. Very highly recommended
Once again Mullen demonstrates his credentials as one of the best crime writers out there, throwing a couple of extra murders into the mix and once again having dogged and dog-eared policeman Andrew Geddes play a large part, not only as an upholder of the law but also as Mackenzie's potential love interest. But how can a man who lives in terms of black and white cope when his girlfriend lives in the grey areas? The moral choices made by the leading characters may be questioned by the reader, but their motivations are always clear.
And what a cast of characters. The beauty of this is that everyone - Mackenzie, Geddes, the women at the refuge and killer Malkie Boyle - are all damaged from their lives and experiences. Even when Mullen's clean-cut private investigator Charlie Cameron crops up, it only serves to cast a light that reveals the shadows around the others. Everybody rings very true and the whole plot is very believable, and could be playing out at this moment.
And speaking of the plot, as usual this moves along at a breezy pace, introducing characters as it goes without slowing its momentum. This isn't a classic 'whodunnit' - it is clear exactly who did what - but isn't without twists and surprises, several plots simmering along next to each other and coming to the boil perfectly throughout the book.
Another fantastic read from simply one of the best authors there is. Very highly recommended
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Witch's Legacy (Supernatural Evolvement #0.5) in Books
Nov 28, 2019
The first book in a new series by outstanding young adult author Katrina Cope is something of a big deal. Both her previous series are particular favourites of both mine and my teenage children. Set in the same universe as her Afterlife series, this tells the story of an ancient feud between witches and shapeshifters.
Living in a coven with her mother, Della has to put on a front of cruelty to fit in with the other witches, especially when her mother makes one of her frequent disappearances. One day she accidentally discovers a terrible secret that means that she must go on the run, attempting to survive in a modern world she is unprepared for and with few allies. With the whole might of the coven on her trail she must adapt and find friends to survive.
Once again Cope proves why she is one of the best young adult authors out there. Although the members of the coven do perhaps veer to towards a cackling stereotype at times they do come across and dangerous, evil and threatening. The other characterisation is up to the usual high standard. Della is a very likeable - and sometimes fallible- protagonist and grows as a person throughout her experiences. The other people she meets are also carefully described and have their own distinct personalities and goals.
The plot perhaps isn't complex, dealing as it does with setting the basics for the series to come, but does have a couple of twists if not any major surprises. But the story is always interesting and engaging and the reader will definitely be siding with Della and holding their breath as things get tight.
I very much enjoyed this and so will the young adult audience. 5 stars even though I know very well that every book in the series will just get better and better and I have left myself nowhere to go. But that's been the case with both of Cope's other series.
Living in a coven with her mother, Della has to put on a front of cruelty to fit in with the other witches, especially when her mother makes one of her frequent disappearances. One day she accidentally discovers a terrible secret that means that she must go on the run, attempting to survive in a modern world she is unprepared for and with few allies. With the whole might of the coven on her trail she must adapt and find friends to survive.
Once again Cope proves why she is one of the best young adult authors out there. Although the members of the coven do perhaps veer to towards a cackling stereotype at times they do come across and dangerous, evil and threatening. The other characterisation is up to the usual high standard. Della is a very likeable - and sometimes fallible- protagonist and grows as a person throughout her experiences. The other people she meets are also carefully described and have their own distinct personalities and goals.
The plot perhaps isn't complex, dealing as it does with setting the basics for the series to come, but does have a couple of twists if not any major surprises. But the story is always interesting and engaging and the reader will definitely be siding with Della and holding their breath as things get tight.
I very much enjoyed this and so will the young adult audience. 5 stars even though I know very well that every book in the series will just get better and better and I have left myself nowhere to go. But that's been the case with both of Cope's other series.
A Bibliophagist (113 KP) rated Century: Eastern Wonders in Tabletop Games
Jan 25, 2020
Simple to learn (1 more)
multiple strategies make for good replayability.
Strategic yet simple
Played this for the first time recently and it was the hit of the game night. It felt balanced and very playable even for just two people. We learned the rules quickly and only found the wording vague on one subject. We had to refer to BGG for clarification. Play moved quickly and it tickled our chess fancy, as we were able to be very strategic and plan our movies carefully and in advance. My partner and I adopted very different strategies and the game ended up being very close which is a good sign in terms of balance and replayability.
For those who are unaware of the games mechanics, you create a board of tiles, each tile representing a market where you can trade, and the trade requirements for that particular market. The commodities are different colored cubes, one tile may allow you to trade 2 yellow cubes for 2 reds, another a red for a green, etc. You can pay cubes for additional movement and to create outposts that allow you to trade. The goal is to acquire the needed commodities for the different ports, which have a changing request via small tiles placed on the port tiles, these may require a variety of cubes, if you are the first to bring that combo to that port, you score the victory points. There are also victory points and special tiles that affect gameplay available via outpost placing, which encourages you to spread your presence on the board. My partner chose this strategy and built nearly all twenty of his outposts, I milked only a couple tiles for their trade combos, focusing on commodity acquirement and port fufillment. I won, but we only had a few point difference.
We really enjoyed it, and look forward to playing it again, it's mechanics are unique enough that it stands out in our game library and it was a comfortable length for casual play!
For those who are unaware of the games mechanics, you create a board of tiles, each tile representing a market where you can trade, and the trade requirements for that particular market. The commodities are different colored cubes, one tile may allow you to trade 2 yellow cubes for 2 reds, another a red for a green, etc. You can pay cubes for additional movement and to create outposts that allow you to trade. The goal is to acquire the needed commodities for the different ports, which have a changing request via small tiles placed on the port tiles, these may require a variety of cubes, if you are the first to bring that combo to that port, you score the victory points. There are also victory points and special tiles that affect gameplay available via outpost placing, which encourages you to spread your presence on the board. My partner chose this strategy and built nearly all twenty of his outposts, I milked only a couple tiles for their trade combos, focusing on commodity acquirement and port fufillment. I won, but we only had a few point difference.
We really enjoyed it, and look forward to playing it again, it's mechanics are unique enough that it stands out in our game library and it was a comfortable length for casual play!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated Buried to the Brim in Books
Jan 29, 2020
Brimming with Fun, Doggone It!
Cousins Scarlett and Viv have an unusual new client for their hat shop. Betty Wentworth, Scarlett’s fiancé Harrison’s aunt, is about to enter a dog show with her dog, Freddy, and she is hoping that a top hat will launch him from second place to first place this year. At first Viv, who designs the hats, is reluctant, but soon she is on board, and everyone is delighted with the results. However, the contest weekend gets off to a rocky start during the cocktail party that kicks things off when Betty gets into an argument with Gerry Swendson, the owner of the dog food company that sponsors the show. The next morning, Freddy is the one to find Gerry’s very dead body. With the police looking at Betty, Scarlett begins digging in, trying to figure out who else had motive. It quickly becomes apparent that this dog show is far from cute. But who committed murder?
It’s been a couple of years since the last book in this series came out, and it was wonderful to catch up with these old friends. Some time has passed for them as well, but the relationships were as great as ever. We saw plenty of the supporting characters and I loved every minute of it. The mystery was just as strong, with plenty of suspects and a fantastic ending. I did find one thing near the climax pushed me out of the book and I didn’t remember a few instances of very mild swearing in earlier books, but both are worth noting only in passing. The running gags involving puns were always one of my favorite things in the series, and it is as delightful as ever here. And the dogs! There are some very cute moments with the dogs here. Fans of the series will be delighted to get to revisit these characters.
It’s been a couple of years since the last book in this series came out, and it was wonderful to catch up with these old friends. Some time has passed for them as well, but the relationships were as great as ever. We saw plenty of the supporting characters and I loved every minute of it. The mystery was just as strong, with plenty of suspects and a fantastic ending. I did find one thing near the climax pushed me out of the book and I didn’t remember a few instances of very mild swearing in earlier books, but both are worth noting only in passing. The running gags involving puns were always one of my favorite things in the series, and it is as delightful as ever here. And the dogs! There are some very cute moments with the dogs here. Fans of the series will be delighted to get to revisit these characters.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Dead and Buried in Books
Jan 5, 2020
Pretty Good Thriller
I am ashamed to say that this book has been in my "to be read" pile since it was published in 2015; my New Year's Resolution for 2020 is to read at least 1 book per month from my pile in order to get through the backlog - this is the first of the year so doing pretty well so far!
Anyway, this is a pretty good read and although the subject matter is harrowing at times, I enjoyed it and found it an engaging and riveting read.
The book alternates between the past and the present and follows the story of Conor amongst the backdrop of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland during the 1990's and the present day; I admit you do have to have your wits about you when reading in order not to get confused as to which time you are in however, I found it quite easy to stay on track and only had to check back a couple of times to double check.
The story is told from Conor's perspective throughout and his character is well developed and believable as are all the main characters in this book. What I particularly liked and which felt authentic, was how the internal battle Conor fought with himself around trying to do the right thing whilst being forced to do wrong in order to protect himself and his family.
This is a dark and gritty story with plenty of action and scenes of peril; the writing is at a good pace and easy to read with the difficulties Conor faces being a Catholic married to a Protestant being dealt with sensitively and, in my opinion, without bias towards either side.
Overall, a pretty good thriller set in a time and place that few books I have read previously have touched upon and I would certainly read further books from this author.
Thank you to Carina UK/HQ Digital and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Anyway, this is a pretty good read and although the subject matter is harrowing at times, I enjoyed it and found it an engaging and riveting read.
The book alternates between the past and the present and follows the story of Conor amongst the backdrop of "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland during the 1990's and the present day; I admit you do have to have your wits about you when reading in order not to get confused as to which time you are in however, I found it quite easy to stay on track and only had to check back a couple of times to double check.
The story is told from Conor's perspective throughout and his character is well developed and believable as are all the main characters in this book. What I particularly liked and which felt authentic, was how the internal battle Conor fought with himself around trying to do the right thing whilst being forced to do wrong in order to protect himself and his family.
This is a dark and gritty story with plenty of action and scenes of peril; the writing is at a good pace and easy to read with the difficulties Conor faces being a Catholic married to a Protestant being dealt with sensitively and, in my opinion, without bias towards either side.
Overall, a pretty good thriller set in a time and place that few books I have read previously have touched upon and I would certainly read further books from this author.
Thank you to Carina UK/HQ Digital and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2502 KP) rated A Simple Murder (Will Rees, #1) in Books
Feb 9, 2020
Simple Time but Complex Murder
It’s 1795, and Will Rees has spent the last few years as a traveling weaver while grieving his wife. He’s left his son and his Maine farm in the care of his sister and her husband, but his most recent trip home leads to the discovery that they’ve been abusing that trust, and his son, David, has run away to a Shaker community over a day’s travel away. Will goes to try to repair their relationship only to find himself involved in a murder. One of the Shaker women has been killed in their community, and the Elders have asked Will to find the killer. His problem, however, is that he is an outsider. Will anyone trust him enough to share the information he needs to solve the case?
I’m always on the lookout for a good historical mystery, so I was quite eager to pick this one up. I’m not familiar with the Shakers, so that was also an interesting aspect of the book. The plot is good with plenty of twists and a logical conclusion, however, I felt like the pacing could have been better. That might have just been me since Will could only talk to a couple of people at a time if he had to travel far to talk to them. This is a historical mystery, after all. That travel time may have helped lead me to feel like things were slow. The characters are strong. I really came to care for Will and several of the others. The characters were just as strong, and I had no trouble keeping them apart. However, as Will begins to find complex family relationships, I had a hard time keeping all of those straight. The everyday details of life in the time period were strong and helped make me feel like I was back in time when I was reading the book. I am definitely planning to visit Will again to find out what happens to him next.
I’m always on the lookout for a good historical mystery, so I was quite eager to pick this one up. I’m not familiar with the Shakers, so that was also an interesting aspect of the book. The plot is good with plenty of twists and a logical conclusion, however, I felt like the pacing could have been better. That might have just been me since Will could only talk to a couple of people at a time if he had to travel far to talk to them. This is a historical mystery, after all. That travel time may have helped lead me to feel like things were slow. The characters are strong. I really came to care for Will and several of the others. The characters were just as strong, and I had no trouble keeping them apart. However, as Will begins to find complex family relationships, I had a hard time keeping all of those straight. The everyday details of life in the time period were strong and helped make me feel like I was back in time when I was reading the book. I am definitely planning to visit Will again to find out what happens to him next.