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The Song of Achilles
The Song of Achilles
Madeline Miller | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.0 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
<blockquote>"I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world."</blockquote>

The vivid imagery encapsulates you inside it's pages and it is a true testament to the ten years that Madeline Miller spent writing this modern day retelling of one of the most famous stories ever told.

I had seen people praising this book for a long time and only now got round to finally seeing what all of the fuss was about and let me just say that it is well worth it. I can't remember the last time that a book made me feel like this, so beautiful in plot and in prose that it leaves you hanging on every last word. The intricacy and delicacy of the language makes even the most gruesome and explicit of scenes dance on the page and imprint themselves into your mind and will likely remain with you long after you've read the final page (which in my mind is one of the most beautiful parts of the whole book).

My emotions were stolen from me at every stage there's not one part which didn't have some sort of pull on my heartstrings although each very different.

In summary, I could be stabbed 700 times in the stomach and it still wouldn't be as painful as the song of achilles. Well done Madeline Miller, well done.
  
Here Be Sexist Vampires (Deep In Your Veins book #1)
Here Be Sexist Vampires (Deep In Your Veins book #1)
Suzanne Wright | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Just brilliant
Sam Parker is a vampire with a gift so strong and substantial that she is invited to partake in a test for a place in the Grand High Master Vampire’s private army. She finds that not only has the army never included a woman, but it has never included a Sventé vampire; a breed that is regarded by the super strong Pagori breed and the hypnotically beautiful Keja breed to be too tame and human-like. Most refuse to take her seriously, especially a Pagori commander named Jared who she craves in spite of herself.

The Grand High Master, however, sees her potential and offers her the position of Jared’s co-commander to help train the newest squad in time for the impending attack on his home. Sam has to demonstrate to Jared and the squad of chauvinists why it is incredibly foolish to underestimate a willful, temperamental, borderline-homicidal Sventé female.

Warning: This novel contains an iron-willed female vampire with an energy whip, a sexist male vampire who is determined to have her, explicit vampy sex, and a romance story with real bite.So when I looked at the title I thought this isn't going to be good but I am so glad I was wrong!! I loved it! From start to finish it was brilliant. I love that she's British I love that she kicks arse! Jared's not to bad either. It did remind me of the same style as some of Keri Arthur's books which I also love. So looking forward to reading more from Suzanne.
  
Reluctant Rockstar (Reluctant Rockstar #1)
Reluctant Rockstar (Reluctant Rockstar #1)
Frances Fox | 2023 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
the biggest warm and fuzzies!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Usually I write a little blurby bit, but I'm not going to here, I'm gonna jump straight in!

Cos, this book right?? It's so freaking good!

It's not ever so smexy, but it has passion and emotion. It's not explicit but it has steam! There isn't much drama, save for the idiot ex-manager and Martin making his decision. It's not very long, some 95 pages, but I'll come back to that bit shortly.

And all that is why I loved this book! Finding yourself after such a long time is what this is all about and Martin, once he makes the decision he does, he and Simon are a couple, after such a short space of time, and Martin leaving to finish what he needs to do gives them time to miss each other, even though they are in constant contact.

Back to the length of this book. I would probably have said, as I've done before, that this book is too short. However, I don't think this particular book would work as a longer piece, I really don't. It's the perfect page length for this story, for Simon and Martin to fall in love.

It's full of emotion and love, and gave me the biggest warm and fuzzies feeling I've had in a long time!

First I can see of this author, I want more if they are all this cute!

5 full and shiny stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Divided Road (The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024)
Anne Barwell | 2024 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This book is part of the Road to Rockoberfest 2024, but can be read as a stand alone to the other books in the series.

Owen is the fiddler in Flightless, an up and coming rock band. Jared joins as a stand in when the keyboard player takes some family time. But time is short for Owen and Jared.

For the most part, I liked this book.

Both Jared and Owen have a say, and they say a great deal. I liked that I was able to get into their minds a good deal.

It's not overly explicit but there are smexy times. No real angst or drama, I didn't think.

I did like the way it all played out.

It's an easy read, a Nice book.

*insert sigh*

I just felt I was missing MUCH information. About both men, and their history. Case in point: these guys met before, The Beer Guy incident. I needed that explained. I don't fully get that and I wanted it. I also found it was a little . . . flat . . .on the romance. They meet, they kiss, and they are in love. I wanted more build up.

BUT like I said, I did enjoy it, I'm just saying what I wanted that I didn't get.

3.5 stars, but rounded UP for the blog.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere