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LR
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
48 of 220
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Lies Ripped Open ( Hellequin Chronicles 5)
by Steve McHugh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Over a hundred years have passed since a group of violent killers went on the rampage, murdering innocent victims for fun. But even back then, sorcerer Nate Garrett, aka Hellequin, knew there was more to it than simple savage pleasure—souls were being stolen.

Nate’s discovery of the souls’ use, and of those supporting the group’s plan, made him question everything he believed.

Now the group Nate thought long dead is back. Violent, angry, and hell-bent on revenge, they have Hellequin firmly in their sights. And if he won’t come willingly, they’ll take those closest to him first.

The battle begins again.

This series is something else! You ever find a series that just grips you from start to finish? Well this is one of mine I actually got so excited when I saw it up next on my kindle. Nate has to be one of my favourite men ever! With each book I find him that little bit more addictive. This series bring us all the myths and legends that we can only dream of from gods to manticores and griffins, from the UK to the mythical realms of Avalon. This has to be my favourite yet this one takes us back in parts to 1888 and Jack the Rippers London. With Nate and friends chasing a group of fanaticals that also resurface in modern day. Just so so enjoyable to read and I highly recommend! Oh and Merlin really is pushing his luck!
  
Shattered (Dark Reflections #4)
Shattered (Dark Reflections #4)
Dean Murray | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
WOW! Dean Murray did warn me on my blog review of Ambushed that this one might blow my mind. He knew what he was talking about as it did! At the beginning, Alec and Adri still aren't speaking following their separation at the end of the last book. Carson is training Alec and Adri is still trying to help Taggart in every way she can apart from killing.

We spend time with different characters in this book as it moves forward. Addison, James' mum, makes a discovery which may just put our Sanctuary pack in danger but she is one of theirs - will they go ahead anyway? You know the answer is yes but how it is written will keep you on edge for every moment. There is a lot of action in this book, as well as long-awaited outcomes and new revelations. I won't give anything away by mentioning specifics but suffice it to say, if you have read the first three Dark Reflections books then I honestly can't see how you won't love this instalment.

This book had me reading faster and faster the closer to the end it got while at the same time, I was desperately hoping that it would never end. Unfortunately for me, it did end and what an ending it was. Now I just need to (im)patiently wait for the next one.

Good one, Dean, brilliant once again.
 
* 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!
July 20, 2016
  
House Of Leaves
House Of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski | 2000 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.4 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unique (1 more)
Creepy
Confusing (1 more)
Some people will simply give up on it
Not for everyone, but if you like weird try it!
This book is definitely unique and of course it was its uniqueness that first interested me.

This is a book put together by a guy named Johnny who finds an incomplete mass of manuscript and notes in a chest in a room of a blind man who just recently died, named Zampano. He supposedly died of old age, but even that was questionable. The scatter of pages are written about a serious of videos about a house. This house is by no means your average house. The chilling oddity begins with the discovery that the house is actually bigger on the inside than it is on the outside... I cant say any more on this without possible spoilers... The whole story is presented as true, and the videos referenced were shot by the family living in the house.

 The manuscript gets into incredible detail with a million footnotes and at first glance some pages could be out of a text book. Johnny, who has compiled the mass into book form, has decided that 95% of the references don't actually exist. Johnny makes his own notes and includes his own story in amongst the footnotes.

At first, I was not at all interested in Johnny's story or his many sexcapades, but the further in you go, the more the book ends up intruding into his own life. Also, the first many pages of Zampano's writings are difficult to get into. The flip flop between Johnny and Zampano's radically different writing styles takes a bit to get used to.

However, once you've gotten into the book, you're in completely and tangled in its labyrinth. This is not your average story, book, anything.
  
TL
The Language of Secrets
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Justin Fisher was just an ordinary guy—he was a manager of a hotel, married with a son, and a great future ahead of him. But he decides that he must go back to his home, because he hasn’t spoken with his family in years.

When he arrives, his parents are dead—and his gravestone is beside theirs.

Justin embarks on an amazing terrifying journey of mystery, self discovery, and secrets to try to fix his broken past—or at least figure out who he is.

The Language of Secrets was powerful, ironic, and profound. I was instantly swept away by Dixon’s prose and illustrations. My jaw literally dropped as I read the opening paragraphs, the writing was so fluid and descriptive. It was all written in third person, but switched perspectives every few chapters.

Near the middle I felt like I was in the middle of two separate stories, and I wasn’t sure how they connected, but I knew they did because they were about the same characters. Watching the story unfold in almost a mystery-novel way was incredible: it was a complex series of events woven together expertly so that you can’t even find the seams.

I loved the ending. The Language of Secrets finishes up the story, concludes it, leaves you satisfied, and then throws something at you in the very last paragraph of the very last chapter that you didn’t expect. It sent my eyebrows to the ceiling and my jaw to the floor. I think my eyeballs are still rolling around on the ground somewhere.

The Language of Secrets was amazing—it’s staying on my shelf for a definite re-read.

Content: medium language, some violence, mention of sex but no details, mention of rape but no details.

Recommendation: Ages 16+
  
Chimera (Parasitology, #3)
Chimera (Parasitology, #3)
Mira Grant | 2015
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was the final book in the Parasitology series that I started reading back when the first book came out. I really have the same thing to say about it as I did the other two books.

This whole book was filled with great plot twists and great characters. I didn’t expect the curveballs that were thrown at me, and I enjoyed the discovery and the unfolding of the story.

My complaints were the same as the other books as well. The series was a good concept with poor execution. I was frustrated on a regular basis by the writing style, grammar, and sentince structure (or lack therof). It was repetitive, exhausting, and at times, quite petty. I normally don’t comment on the writing style, except when it’s a problem. And in this case, it did distract from the story, and Sal’s constant interior monologue made me want to slap her. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed the book, I just would have enoyed it more if it had been written well.

The ending was somewhat lacking, and I would have liked to see more finality and more resolution from some of the characters. The plot ending itself was everything it needed to be, it was just a few little things that were missing; conversations that were never had, conflicts that were never resolved, characters that never fixed (or ended) their relationship. It wasn’t at all an “open ending,” but it wasn’t as closed as it could have been.

All in all I gave it the 3 star rating because it wasn’t a bad book and it wasn’t a waste of my time, it just wasn’t a good book either.
  
The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
The Legacy (Children's House, #1)
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir | 2018 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The book began with a scene of 3 young children, parent-less, sitting on a bench, while a group of adults decided what would happen to them. Would the children be split up, or kept together? What were the pros and cons of each? The children were split up and sent to opposite sides of the country, and since they were young enough, they would never remember.

The story then completely changes pace and goes forward about 30 years to a crime being committed, and that's where the main characters, Freyja and Huldar show up. Freyja is a child trauma psychologist, and Huldar is a recently-promoted detective in charge of his first case.

The first few chapters I really struggled to follow the characters, as it switched 4 times between different perspectives, but then once I figured out who was who I started to follow better. I loved how quickly the characters were developed and built, but it didn't feel like building, it felt like a gradual discovery. I figured out "who's the bad guy" about 15 seconds before it was revealed, which is my favorite way to discover a crime thriller. Looking back, of course there were subtle hints, but there's no way I would have figured it out on my own.

I'm very happy with the ending. It was conclusive enough to feel satisfactory, but definitely open to more adventures in the future. I anxiously await the next two books in the series, and will keep my eyes out for the author. (And no, I have no clue how to pronounce her name.)

Content/Recommendation: 17+, violence, language. It goes without saying that a crime thriller is for adults only, but I'll stress that even having read many crime thrillers over the past 10 years, this one managed to shock me.