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The Daughter of The Ice (Age of Rekindling #1)
The Daughter of The Ice (Age of Rekindling #1)
Luís Falcão de Magalhães | 2023 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE DAUGHTER OF THE ICE is the first book in the Legends of Elessia: Age of Rekindling series and I found it helpful, although not necessary, to have read other books in the linked series by this author.

Eregar is one of the main characters of this story, along with others including Erika, Lucius' sister. They are given the task of finding out why people are going missing. Unbeknownst to them, Elaine has risen and is busy making her army with all those missing people.

Now, I'm going to be honest here, I found it a bit puzzling that Elaine, the Daughter, was attacking villages and The Tower when they were in the North and followed her ways. That was just a small matter though and I could look over it as the action leapt off the page.

I enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing where it takes me next. Recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
  
Watcher In The Woods
Watcher In The Woods
Kelley Armstrong | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I am always excited for a new Rockton novel. This one did not disappoint. The action picks up immediately after the end of the last novel making the series run seamlessly. We get to find out a bit more about Casey, Rockton and its residents, which is a rich source material that author Kelley Armstrong knows how to utilize. Learning about Casey’s family was interesting although, in one of the very few issues with these books, it seems unbelievable that her parents would have behaved a certain way being “scientists” and considering themselves “overachieving medical geniuses”. Either way, Kelley Armstrong can do no wrong in my opinion. A must read!!
  
The Village (The Spread #2)
The Village (The Spread #2)
Iain Rob Wright | 2020 | Horror, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Following on from "The Hill", the first in this series and one which I do think you need to have read in order to get the full picture of just what the heck has gone on, this is another great book from Iain Rob Wright.

Here we have the survivors from "The Hill" making their way to "The Village" in the hope of safety and salvation. What they get is quite the opposite.

Iain creates brilliant characters each with their own interesting back story and all with their part to play. He also creates suspense, tension and the unexpected - one thing I have learned with Iain's books is not to get too comfortable with any of the characters no matter how big or small ... no one is safe!

This is an interesting take on the zombie theme and one which I am looking forward to seeing where it goes with subsequent books - I'm here for the ride and I know it's going to be bumpy!
  
The Dark Tower (2017)
The Dark Tower (2017)
2017 | Horror, Sci-Fi, Western
Stephen King let them make this?
I'll start off by saying I knew I was going to hate this film. From the moment I heard of the casting and then saw the first trailer. I get the justification for them making this film completely different (i.e. Horn of Eld - but was that even in the film?!), but for me it just doesn't work.


The book series is a fantasy masterpiece, but they appear to have made a standalone Dark Tower film pulled together with a vague mishmash of characters and ideas from the entire book series. It just doesn't work, especially not in a paltry 90 minutes. This is just far too different from the books - the characters are undeveloped, their motives are unclear. You almost have to have read the books to get an understanding of the characters as it just doesn't come across in this. Casting for me was poor too. McConaughey and Elba are fantastic actors but it doesn't show in this, they're let down by a poor script and a poor plot.

My only hope for this film is that it prompts those who haven't read the books to pick them up and realise how awesome they are.
  
If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)
If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5)
Rachel Vincent | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well I feel I have to say that this isn't my favourite series in the world...but I think this has been the best books so far.

Maybe it was the whole Kaylee and Tod thing, which I've been rooting for since early on, or something else that I cant put my finger on, but I enjoyed this one more than the previous.

Nash annoyed me no end in this, I know he's angry and upset but really? I thought you'd got it all out of your system in the last one! You've gone down in my expectations, I'm afraid.

Sabine wasn't as bitchy as usual; she actually helped Kaylee for a change instead of making stuff harder for her.

Book 6 is on hiatus for a bit until I read other books that I just cant wait to read (sorry Before I Wake, nothing personal)
  
A Dog Called Demolition
A Dog Called Demolition
Robert Rankin | 1996 | Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book follows the story of Danny, a young man who has always wanted a dog but has never been allowed one. So he builds one himself, a path that will eventually lead to him discovering a horrifying truth about the world.

This book is full-on Robert Rankin, meaning that unless you have read a few of his books and are used to his writing style and in-jokes a lot of this one will just make no sense (although making sense is never the aim of a Rankin book). The plot is a slight one to hang a whole novel off of and so there is a lot of inconsequential writing around the main story. Enjoying this book relies on the reader enjoying passing the time with these bits when the main plot isn't going anywhere. I enjoy spending time with Rankin's writing so enjoy the book. Others may feel otherwise.

So the book itself is full of the usual Rankin nonsense, walk on parts of characters from other books, repeated phrases and general strangeness. It's not brilliantly funny but it's pretty amusing.

Also worth noting is Danny's cameo in another book, which casts a whole different light in what might really be going on in this one.
  
The Black Book
The Black Book
James Patterson | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
8
7.9 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Detective Billy Harney comes from a family of cops. His dad is a cop, the head of detectives and his twin sister is a cop. Billy likes to play by the rules, he's a good cop. When he takes down a brothel in the middle of Chicago filled with the city's most prominent people, the mayor, the arch bishop, etc., he is faced with a few difficult situations to get him through this arrest and trial. With the help from Goldie, a family friend and the head of Internal Affairs, Billy will get to the bottom of this case one way or another. But then those involved in the case end up dead, including himself, briefly, and his memory leading up to the trial is erased. Will he be able to find his memory before he is charged with the deaths?

James Patterson has long been on of my go-to authors. His books may be long(100+ chapters), but they are always a quick read. I've been making my way through his standalone books this year and I have to say that his is one of the best he's written in a long time as well as one of the best I've read this year.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and as soon as I though I knew who did what, I quickly found out I was wrong. The end was unpredictable and enjoyable.

I hope James Patterson continues to give us books like this.
  
Wolfwater (Travelers #3)
Wolfwater (Travelers #3)
Alia Hess | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Imaginative, well written story
Once again, Alia Hess knocks one outta the park. Wolfwater follows all the Travelers characters as they find themselves on more harrowing and suspenseful adventures. The story flows nicely from one book to the next, and the characters evolve as the life they once knew changes. Several times I found myself wishing I could meet the people of Nis, especially Sasha & Trav, and Owl, and well, Dewbell, Dusty & Corvin too! Ms. Hess’ does an superb job making them all feel so real!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the books in this series and am looking forward to reading the next! I received an advanced reader copy of the book and leave this review of my own volition. Wolfwater gets a 4.9/5? from me.
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated A Missing, Presumed in Books

Jan 12, 2018 (Updated Jan 12, 2018)  
A Missing, Presumed
A Missing, Presumed
Susie Steiner | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a pretty good book, not the best I’ve read, but pretty good. There are some great characters, especially the lead protagonist DS Manon Bradshaw with whom I felt able to connect with. The writing flowed well making it easy to read. The story kept my interest throughout and I felt the police investigation aspect was quite believable.

This is the first in a series of books featuring DS Bradshaw, I am tempted to read more.

Thanks go to the publisher, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased review.
  
A Spark Of Light
A Spark Of Light
Jodi Picoult | 2018 | Contemporary, Crime
5
8.0 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
3.5/5: I believe this was an important story to be told. I however did not like a few things about it. The starting at the end and counting backwards in the storyline was a bit difficult to get use to. I also felt as though she tried to write 2 different books and mashed them together, all the intertwining of lives seemed like a second story in the making. I don't like how unfinished the book was left. There were many questions I was left with not life pondering questions just unfinished story line because we wrote too much sub-plot.