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Only Ashes Remain (Market of Monsters #2)
Only Ashes Remain (Market of Monsters #2)
Rebecca Schaeffer | 2019 | Young Adult (YA)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

Only Ashes Remain by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second novel in her Market of Monsters series. To give a fair review, I read the first book, Not Even Bones. I will review the first book, but this review concerns only Only Ashes Remain.

After Nita escaped and destroyed the black market, she just wants to be left alone. When a video of her abilities appears on the dark web, she knows she must go on the offensive. With the help of Kovit, Nita starts to take revenge on the person who sold her to her kidnappers. With everyone searching for her, Nita needs to do whatever it takes to stay alive and free.

Even though I enjoyed the first book, I discovered I needed a break before reading the second. Once I did begin reading this, I found I enjoyed this more than the first book. This book could be read as a stand-alone novel, but reading the first book would enhance this one.

This story is darker than the first, but it is a fun read since the writing makes you feel for all of the characters, including Kovit.

A third novel, When Villains Rise, was published in 2020.

This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com.
  
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Swift Run in Books

May 23, 2021 (Updated May 23, 2021)  
Swift Run
Swift Run
Laura DiSilverio | 2012 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Running Down Gigi’s Ex
With Charlie out recovering from their last case, running Swift Investigations has fallen to her partner, Gigi. And Gigi is very reluctant to take on their new client when the last person she wants to see walks through the door – Heather-Anne, the woman that Gigi’s ex-husband Les ran away with over a year ago. Now Heather-Anne is back in town and wants to hire Swift Investigations to track down Les, who she also claims is back in Colorado Springs. Can Gigi and Charlie find him?

Sadly, this appears to be the final book in this series. Fortunately, it is another fabulous book. Once again, we are treated to a great mystery with plenty of twists and turns. And we get lots of laughs from the situations that Charlie and Gigi find themselves in. Since this is more Gigi’s story than Charlie’s, she takes over first-person narration duties, but Charlie still gets plenty of time in the spotlight thanks to chapters from her third-person point of view. We also get some good character growth, especially for Gigi, something she has needed. While a couple of threads aren’t wrapped up, I was satisfied with how the series ended. If you are looking for a light mystery, check out these books.
  
Ready Player Two
Ready Player Two
Ernest Cline | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
5
4.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a direct sequel to Ready Player One, picking up not soon after the events of that previous novel.

It also follows the same characters, told in the same first person point of view as previous - I must admit, I initially found that a bit jarring, as I would have expected (with a title such as it is) that it would follow a different character - after all, how often IRL is Player Two the same person as Player One in a computer game?

Anyway, Wade Watts.

Still an obsessed geek; still fan-worshipping the creator of the Oasis James Halliday (at least initially). However, with the release of new technology by the company he now owns that not only allows its user to control an avatar, but to *feel* like they actually are that person - sight, taste, hearing, sensations and all - and with further experiences (I don't want to give too much away), Watts finds his hero-worshipping lessening somewhat.

If I'm honest, I did also find parts of this novel to drag somewhat, especially in the lengthy section where Cline goes into great detail around the Oasis world dedicated to 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince' (which just made me uncomfortable). I also had to shake my head at just how some of the characters behaved ...

(yes, I know they're not real. Still need to to be believable, though!)
  
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
Mission: Impossible 2 (2000)
2000 | Action, Mystery
7
5.6 (19 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Flaming Birds
Mission: impossible II- this is a strange sequel, on one hand its good, on the other its bad. So lets call it in the middle, good but bad. Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames both return. I like how each movie is directed by a different director. The first one was Brain De Palma so his take was putting spy, suspense and thrills in the first one. In this one John Woo directs it. That means alot of slow-mo, birds, and that pretty much it.

The plot: Tom Cruise returns to his role as Ethan Hunt in the second installment of "Mission: Impossible." This time Ethan Hunt leads his IMF team on a mission to capture a deadly German virus before it is released by terrorists. His mission is made impossible due to the fact that he is not the only person after samples of the disease. He must also contest with a gang of international terrorists headed by a turned bad former IMF agent who has already managed to steal the cure.

Its good, but the first one was better.
  
Reading Up a Storm focuses more on characters outside of the library staff than the first two novels in the series, and Lucy has a new friend in this one who is accused of murder. Of course she doesn't trust that the police will see past her friend Stephanie's apparent motive for the crime, and is soon getting herself into trouble asking questions and trying to solve the case by herself. She probably figured it out long before I did, but it was gratifying to find that the killer was the person I suspected, for once.

And for those of you who enjoy a little romance with your cozy mystery - I love where the author has taken the romantic triangle that was developing in the first two books. I can't say anything more without spoilers, but I was very pleased with the outcome.
  
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Charlotte (184 KP) rated The File in Books

Mar 25, 2023  
The File
The File
Gary Born | 2023 | Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Intriguing and gripping from the first page.

Gary Born is a master at creating a vibrant and descriptive story. He has a way of transporting you through time that gets you lost, in a good way!

Sara West is our heroine, I love her. She is equal parts intelligent, brave and capable.
    Sara is the first person we meet and it's apparent straight away that she is a strong independent woman.

I'm not going to head into too much detail as you seriously need to climb aboard for this cracking story and discover the twists for yourself.

I'd recommend savouring The File snuggled up on the sofa with snacks (you know this is my favourite thing by now). It would also be a great choice for a book club or just a casual thing with friends!