Playing God: The Evolution of a Modern Surgeon
7.0
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What does it mean to be a doctor? “I am a doctor.” Every year, thousands of medical school...
Ross (3284 KP) rated House of Sacrifice in Books
Aug 14, 2019
Anna Smith Spark broke onto the scene with The Court of Broken Knives (which always annoyed me because the place in the book is named the Court of the Broken Knife), a truly dark and gritty fantasy tale mixing magic, ambition, political intrigue and good old fashion hacking limbs off with blunted swords. Her narrative tone made her debut stand out, being much more lyrical and poetic than the rest of the genre. While this took time to get used to, it added to the immersion of the story and made the reader feel like they were experiencing the conflict themselves. The lyrical prose added to the underlying story. This continued into the second book, where Marith's journey to taking over/destroying the world continued, as did the turmoil in the heart of the empire.
Here, however, the story seems to have been put on the back-burner in favour of more literary prose. A whole lot of not a lot happens. While a large chunk of this is in favour of some character development, it is laboured and a real slog. I hated the first quarter of the book, and while I could see that what little was happening would be important in telling Marith's story, it really did take forever and was so utterly rammed home that I found it frustrating. So much so that I had to put the book aside so that my mood didn't ruin my family holiday.
The book serves as something of a conclusion to the trilogy with a lot of wrongs righted and paths ended. However, so much of it is simply gratuitous war for the sake of war (which I get as part of Marith's character but I grasped that after the first couple of unnecessary towns were razed).
However, with less of import happening, the reader starts to focus on the world-building, and I certainly started to realise how little of the "magic" in the world was explained or even described. So many instances of "shadowbeasts" just appearing and I cannot remember them being introduced in any detail at all. I really couldn't remember what was so special about Marith after all.
And the ending was so much of a damp squib I just had to laugh. After everything Marith had been through, for that to be the ending was ludicrous. While I appreciated the circularity of it, I didn't like it.
A disappointing case of style over substance in this dragged out ending to a series that could easily have squeezed into two book.
For the Love of Rivers: A Scientist's Journey
Book
Rivers and streams supply our water and capture our imaginations. We seek the more pristine ones to...
Texas Hold'em for iPad
Games and Entertainment
App
★★★ Start your poker career and hone your skills in 7 amazing casinos with online multiplayer...
Putnam and Beyond
Titu Andreescu and Razvan Gelca
Book
This book takes the reader on a journey through the world of college mathematics, focusing on some...
Who Fears Death
4.0
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In a post-apocalyptic Africa, the world has changed in many ways; yet in one region genocide between...
The app’s streak system, rewards, and challenges create a sense of motivation and consistency, encouraging users to practice regularly. I love how it incorporates listening, speaking, reading, and writing, providing a well-rounded approach to mastering a language. The interactive exercises and immediate feedback help reinforce understanding and improve retention.
Duolingo’s inclusion of cultural insights and conversational practice makes the experience feel authentic and practical for real-world use. The variety of languages available is impressive, with courses designed by native speakers to ensure accuracy and relevance.
The free version is incredibly generous, while the premium option offers an ad-free experience with additional features like offline lessons. The app’s community and discussion forums further enhance learning by connecting users with others on the same journey.
Overall, Duolingo turns language learning into a fun, rewarding adventure. It’s perfect for anyone wanting to expand their linguistic horizons and grow their global connections!
Top Football Manager
Games and Sports
6.0
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Coach a club of soccer stars who dream to be top of the league! Do you dream of coaching a team of...
The Good Father
8.0
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From the creator and writer of the Emmy Award-winning series Fargo, based on the Oscar-winning Coen...
Daughter of Sparta (Daughter of Sparta, #1)
8.0
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Seventeen-year-old Daphne has spent her entire life honing her body and mind into that of a warrior,...