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Merissa (12339 KP) rated Exodus (Valen's Pack #2) in Books
Apr 11, 2023
So Valen is happily mated with Aaron and life is good, right? Well, not quite. In this sequel to Run With The Moon, the pack is still integrating and although Valen is doing what he can, it is still a 'them and us' situation. Still, he manages to come up with an idea which will help both sides work together as well as building up their village.
Of course, nothing is quite as straightforward as that and Rivvie and Matthew are the ones we hear most about (as it's their book). They get off to a very rocky start but the attraction quickly flares up. Matthew is feeling very insecure as he used to be the one that all the ladies wanted as they knew he wouldn't make them pregnant. Now, he's surrounded by all the buff bodies of the shifters and he feels like he's not needed anymore. Add to that, he's upset because Rivvie isn't flirting with him anymore and he doesn't quite understand that as he thought he was into females.
So we have all that going on but hey, that's nowhere near enough. Throw in a couple of natural disasters - earthquakes, twisters, floods and storms - plus some rabid humans, a missing shaman and a mother who can't work past her grief. This book is full-on action with a fast pace that will keep you turning the pages. There is more to Rivvie than just being a joker and there is more to Matthew than just being a stud, but it takes the two of them time and patience to learn that.
A brilliant second book in the series and I can't wait to read more. Thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommended.
* 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!
January 20, 2017
Of course, nothing is quite as straightforward as that and Rivvie and Matthew are the ones we hear most about (as it's their book). They get off to a very rocky start but the attraction quickly flares up. Matthew is feeling very insecure as he used to be the one that all the ladies wanted as they knew he wouldn't make them pregnant. Now, he's surrounded by all the buff bodies of the shifters and he feels like he's not needed anymore. Add to that, he's upset because Rivvie isn't flirting with him anymore and he doesn't quite understand that as he thought he was into females.
So we have all that going on but hey, that's nowhere near enough. Throw in a couple of natural disasters - earthquakes, twisters, floods and storms - plus some rabid humans, a missing shaman and a mother who can't work past her grief. This book is full-on action with a fast pace that will keep you turning the pages. There is more to Rivvie than just being a joker and there is more to Matthew than just being a stud, but it takes the two of them time and patience to learn that.
A brilliant second book in the series and I can't wait to read more. Thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommended.
* 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!
January 20, 2017
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Merissa (12339 KP) rated The Herlequin (Pitch & Sickle #6) in Books
May 1, 2023
THE HERLEQUIN is the sixth out of eight in the Pitch & Sickle series and I honestly fall for these guys more with each story. You need to read it as a series, otherwise, it just won't make sense and you'll be missing out.
They have to leave Bess' Sanctuary and race across country to try to evade the big bad. Of course, things are not that easy, and to read it made me feel exhausted! Pitch and Sickle are so much stronger when they are together but circumstances don't always allow for what you want. I love how their relationship has changed from the beginning and how, even when things are dire, they grab every moment they can - even if all they get up to is spending the night in each other's arms. There are sexy moments but only where they should be and fitting with the story.
Speaking of the story, one thing that has stood out to me from the beginning is the care and research this author has done into local legends, before weaving them into her own world. I loved how Black Annis was brought into Book 1, and this time we have Sherwood Forest. I'll let you guess the myth because you won't guess how it works in this world. I was amazed and loved it.
This is a dark series, with this one no exception. My eyes were full of tears on more than one occasion - which I loved because it meant I was completely immersed in the story and with the characters.
My only complaint is I've got to wait for the seventh book to come out! I can't wait until they are all released and I can buy them and have them sitting pretty on my bookshelf! HIGHLY 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 1, 2023
They have to leave Bess' Sanctuary and race across country to try to evade the big bad. Of course, things are not that easy, and to read it made me feel exhausted! Pitch and Sickle are so much stronger when they are together but circumstances don't always allow for what you want. I love how their relationship has changed from the beginning and how, even when things are dire, they grab every moment they can - even if all they get up to is spending the night in each other's arms. There are sexy moments but only where they should be and fitting with the story.
Speaking of the story, one thing that has stood out to me from the beginning is the care and research this author has done into local legends, before weaving them into her own world. I loved how Black Annis was brought into Book 1, and this time we have Sherwood Forest. I'll let you guess the myth because you won't guess how it works in this world. I was amazed and loved it.
This is a dark series, with this one no exception. My eyes were full of tears on more than one occasion - which I loved because it meant I was completely immersed in the story and with the characters.
My only complaint is I've got to wait for the seventh book to come out! I can't wait until they are all released and I can buy them and have them sitting pretty on my bookshelf! HIGHLY 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 1, 2023
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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2269 KP) rated Poison Pen in Books
Jul 15, 2022 (Updated Jul 15, 2022)
Was That a Suicide Note?
Back in college, Claudia Rose became friends with Lindsey Alexander. While the two had a falling out several years ago, Claudia is still upset to learn that Lindsey has died. Thanks to the note she left behind, the police have ruled it a suicide, but Ivan, Lindsey’s business partner, thinks that something happened to Lindsey. He hires Claudia, a forensic handwriting expert, to look at the note and determine if Lindsey really wrote it or not. Claudia does agree that it looks suspicious, but as she digs to find a hand writing sample she can use to make a definitive decision, she starts to uncover secrets that Lindsey and those around her were hiding. Break ins and attacks lead her to think something else is going on. Can she figure it out?
I’ve had this book in one form or another since it first came out, but I recently bought the 2021 reissue and read that. This is definitely darker than the cozies I mostly read, and it has the content to go with the darker themes. The plot was strong, with plenty to keep us engaged. There was one aspect I didn’t like, but it’s probably just me. I’ll still definitely give the series another read. That’s partially because of the characters. I really liked Claudia and her friends, plus some of the people she met along the way. I did find a few references in the version I read that dated when the book originally came out. Hard to believe how much things have changed in only 15 years. There are more than a handful of missing words – enough to be jarring but not enough to make the reading experience bad. I loved the LA setting and the celebrities who were name dropped. Hopefully, I can visit Claudia again sooner rather than later.
I’ve had this book in one form or another since it first came out, but I recently bought the 2021 reissue and read that. This is definitely darker than the cozies I mostly read, and it has the content to go with the darker themes. The plot was strong, with plenty to keep us engaged. There was one aspect I didn’t like, but it’s probably just me. I’ll still definitely give the series another read. That’s partially because of the characters. I really liked Claudia and her friends, plus some of the people she met along the way. I did find a few references in the version I read that dated when the book originally came out. Hard to believe how much things have changed in only 15 years. There are more than a handful of missing words – enough to be jarring but not enough to make the reading experience bad. I loved the LA setting and the celebrities who were name dropped. Hopefully, I can visit Claudia again sooner rather than later.
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Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Appeal in Books
Aug 31, 2022
After having read The Twyford Code first, I was desperate to read The Appeal having heard rave reviews about it for the last year. I was apprehensive that it might not live up to the hype, but it didn’t disappoint me. I didn’t want to put it down and it kept me guessing until the very last page.
The Appeal is written as a series of correspondences: first as a letter from a lawyer to two of his students, then as messages between the two students and then the bulk of the book is emails, texts, handwritten notes and even police transcripts. It is interesting to try and work out what is happening when you only have some of the story (we don’t have all of the correspondence as some is quite obviously missing and we only have the replies) and there are so many layers and deceptions that you need to work through.
The bulk of the messages centre around a few main characters Issy, The Haywards: Martin and James, and Sarah-Jane and her husband Kevin. Trying to pick your way through their many messages between each other to try and work out what parts of their correspondence were real and which were fabrications was part of what kept me so enthralled in the whole book. Just as I thought I had it all worked out, we would go back to the lawyer and his two law students and it would make me rethink my theory and start all over again.
Janice Hallett has a great way of writing, and both of her books that I have read have been so different to anything I’ve ever read. I’ve read books were messages were included, but never one that was solely written in messages. I hope Janice Hallett has plans for more books, as I would like to see what else she can come up with that makes her books stand out.
The Appeal is written as a series of correspondences: first as a letter from a lawyer to two of his students, then as messages between the two students and then the bulk of the book is emails, texts, handwritten notes and even police transcripts. It is interesting to try and work out what is happening when you only have some of the story (we don’t have all of the correspondence as some is quite obviously missing and we only have the replies) and there are so many layers and deceptions that you need to work through.
The bulk of the messages centre around a few main characters Issy, The Haywards: Martin and James, and Sarah-Jane and her husband Kevin. Trying to pick your way through their many messages between each other to try and work out what parts of their correspondence were real and which were fabrications was part of what kept me so enthralled in the whole book. Just as I thought I had it all worked out, we would go back to the lawyer and his two law students and it would make me rethink my theory and start all over again.
Janice Hallett has a great way of writing, and both of her books that I have read have been so different to anything I’ve ever read. I’ve read books were messages were included, but never one that was solely written in messages. I hope Janice Hallett has plans for more books, as I would like to see what else she can come up with that makes her books stand out.
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Debbiereadsbook (1303 KP) rated Twilight's Touch (Prairie Smoke Ranch #2) in Books
Feb 24, 2022
Only Perry speaks and I wanted Will!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Prairie Smoke Ranch series. I have not read book 1, Dawn's Desire. I didn't feel like I was missing anything, but for the discovery of the bones! I want to go back and read it, though. I'm intrigued, but it's not a necessity to have read, I don't think.
Perry works at Prairie Smoke Ranch, mostly with the horses who don't trust people. He reads to them. Ancient Greek history of all things. I loved this, even if I had no clue who he was reading about!
Will and Perry have a bit of a moment, a while back and its been playing on his mind but Perry, the wonderful human that he is, doesn;t want anyone to know. It could harm his mum and his grandfather and Perry won't do that.
Somewhere along the way, Will gets so far into Perry mind, he crosses into his heart and it really was delightful watching these two dance in the rain!
I loved that Will, bad boy that he is, doesn't want to corrupt Perry, he wants Perry to see it's ok to let go, to be yourself, to TRULY be you.
Or at least that is what I think he wants to do. Because Will doesn't get a say and thats the only reason I can't stretch to the full 5 stars. Perry speaks, and only Perry. And I really wanted Will. Especially after I found they had that moment before. When they were dancing in the rain, and really wanted to hear from Will when Perry finally, FINALLY lets him in.
All in all, a beautifully written book, a wonderful tale, and I want to go back and forward with this series!
4 wonderful stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Prairie Smoke Ranch series. I have not read book 1, Dawn's Desire. I didn't feel like I was missing anything, but for the discovery of the bones! I want to go back and read it, though. I'm intrigued, but it's not a necessity to have read, I don't think.
Perry works at Prairie Smoke Ranch, mostly with the horses who don't trust people. He reads to them. Ancient Greek history of all things. I loved this, even if I had no clue who he was reading about!
Will and Perry have a bit of a moment, a while back and its been playing on his mind but Perry, the wonderful human that he is, doesn;t want anyone to know. It could harm his mum and his grandfather and Perry won't do that.
Somewhere along the way, Will gets so far into Perry mind, he crosses into his heart and it really was delightful watching these two dance in the rain!
I loved that Will, bad boy that he is, doesn't want to corrupt Perry, he wants Perry to see it's ok to let go, to be yourself, to TRULY be you.
Or at least that is what I think he wants to do. Because Will doesn't get a say and thats the only reason I can't stretch to the full 5 stars. Perry speaks, and only Perry. And I really wanted Will. Especially after I found they had that moment before. When they were dancing in the rain, and really wanted to hear from Will when Perry finally, FINALLY lets him in.
All in all, a beautifully written book, a wonderful tale, and I want to go back and forward with this series!
4 wonderful stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
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David McK (3495 KP) rated The Honour of Rome (Cato and Macro #20) in Books
Apr 24, 2022
Entry #20 in Simon Scarrow's Macro and Cato series, which means there's been approximately one entry per year.
I can't believe it's been going that long (ummm ... in a good way).
Anyway, we're now back at the original setting of the series - back in Brittania; back after Cato and Macro's various adventures across the Roman Empire.
Things have changes since then, however - Macro is now retired from the legions, whereas Cato (originally Macro's optio) now outranks him and now has a family of his own to look after.
The previous entry in the series (The Emperor's Exile is the one in which Macro retired, leaving - with his new wife Petronella - to travel back to Brittania to reconnect with his own mother and to look after his share of an inn that she has opened in Londinium. As a result, he was missing for large chunks of the narrative: circa three quarters or so of the story, let us say.
Meanwhile, Cato was charged with accompanying Emperor Nero's mistress Claudia Acte into exile on Sardinia, with the bulk of the novel then following Cato, the burgeoning romance between him and Claudia and events on that island.
This novel mirrors that approach, with the larger bulk of this following Macro and his adventures in Londinium and in the veterans colony of Camulodunum (which I've just found out is Colchester, and the first Roman Capital of the province) before the two principal characters finally reunite circa - again - three quarters of the way into the story.
There's also the groundwork laid here for, to paraphrase the closing words of the novel, the brewing storm, with the inclusion of characters from earlier novels (round about When the Eagle Hunts) who belong to the Iceni tribe, and with how they are being treated by their new Roman overlords. Anybody with a passing knowledge of UK history will know who I mean ...
I can't believe it's been going that long (ummm ... in a good way).
Anyway, we're now back at the original setting of the series - back in Brittania; back after Cato and Macro's various adventures across the Roman Empire.
Things have changes since then, however - Macro is now retired from the legions, whereas Cato (originally Macro's optio) now outranks him and now has a family of his own to look after.
The previous entry in the series (The Emperor's Exile is the one in which Macro retired, leaving - with his new wife Petronella - to travel back to Brittania to reconnect with his own mother and to look after his share of an inn that she has opened in Londinium. As a result, he was missing for large chunks of the narrative: circa three quarters or so of the story, let us say.
Meanwhile, Cato was charged with accompanying Emperor Nero's mistress Claudia Acte into exile on Sardinia, with the bulk of the novel then following Cato, the burgeoning romance between him and Claudia and events on that island.
This novel mirrors that approach, with the larger bulk of this following Macro and his adventures in Londinium and in the veterans colony of Camulodunum (which I've just found out is Colchester, and the first Roman Capital of the province) before the two principal characters finally reunite circa - again - three quarters of the way into the story.
There's also the groundwork laid here for, to paraphrase the closing words of the novel, the brewing storm, with the inclusion of characters from earlier novels (round about When the Eagle Hunts) who belong to the Iceni tribe, and with how they are being treated by their new Roman overlords. Anybody with a passing knowledge of UK history will know who I mean ...
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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Truly Dead ( Elise Sandburg book 4) in Books
Jun 20, 2022
Contains spoilers, click to show
110 of 230
Kindle
Truly Dead ( Elise Sandburg book 4)
By Anne Frasier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When a demolition crew uncovers several bodies inside the walls of a house where serial killer Frank J. Remy once lived, the discovery sends shock waves through the Savannah Police Department. All of the bodies were hidden before Remy’s imprisonment and subsequent death thirty-six years earlier—except for one belonging to a missing child.
Homicide partners Elise Sandburg and David Gould were the Savannah PD’s dream team, solving uncrackable crimes and catching killers. But their last case resulted in their termination from the squad, until the coroner calls them back to consult, unofficially, on a body found in the wall of a house once occupied by Remy, a killer Elise’s own father sent to jail—a killer who died in prison. The MO seems uncomfortably similar to that of a serial killer wreaking havoc in Florida.
Does Elise have a copycat on her hands? Is Remy’s influence reaching from beyond the grave? Or is Elise making connections where there are none? When her father warns her to back off the case, Elise’s shadowy family history threatens to swallow her once again. But whatever force is at work, she won’t rest until the killing stops.
Now at odds with everyone she cares about and forced to acknowledge her worsening emotional state, Elise struggles to protect the people she loves as the body count rises.
I have loved this series so much. From book one to the end of this I have laughed and cried with Elise and this book was just the perfect finish to the series! Elise finally got to find peace and hopefully heal those scars mentally and physically. I think the book itself I would have given it a 4⭐️ but decided on the 5⭐️ as it’s a fitting ending.
Kindle
Truly Dead ( Elise Sandburg book 4)
By Anne Frasier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When a demolition crew uncovers several bodies inside the walls of a house where serial killer Frank J. Remy once lived, the discovery sends shock waves through the Savannah Police Department. All of the bodies were hidden before Remy’s imprisonment and subsequent death thirty-six years earlier—except for one belonging to a missing child.
Homicide partners Elise Sandburg and David Gould were the Savannah PD’s dream team, solving uncrackable crimes and catching killers. But their last case resulted in their termination from the squad, until the coroner calls them back to consult, unofficially, on a body found in the wall of a house once occupied by Remy, a killer Elise’s own father sent to jail—a killer who died in prison. The MO seems uncomfortably similar to that of a serial killer wreaking havoc in Florida.
Does Elise have a copycat on her hands? Is Remy’s influence reaching from beyond the grave? Or is Elise making connections where there are none? When her father warns her to back off the case, Elise’s shadowy family history threatens to swallow her once again. But whatever force is at work, she won’t rest until the killing stops.
Now at odds with everyone she cares about and forced to acknowledge her worsening emotional state, Elise struggles to protect the people she loves as the body count rises.
I have loved this series so much. From book one to the end of this I have laughed and cried with Elise and this book was just the perfect finish to the series! Elise finally got to find peace and hopefully heal those scars mentally and physically. I think the book itself I would have given it a 4⭐️ but decided on the 5⭐️ as it’s a fitting ending.
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Merissa (12339 KP) rated Duron (Assassin's To Order #3) in Books
Jul 21, 2023
DURON is the third book in the Assassin's To Order series, continuing to delight.
Duron is the one who has lingered on Marvin, knowing he wasn't his but still... It turns out that it wasn't Marvin he wanted, but the closeness and affection he'd never had before. And Beaumont brings that in spades.
Oh, man. These two are delightful. Both are so protective of each other and find each so sexy that no furniture is safe! I loved how Beaumont was an alligator shifter. There aren't many cold-blooded reptile shifter stories and I loved this one. As for Duron, he's a hybrid, housing a multitude of animals who all play their own part.
They meet in Paraguay as they try to help Ben's brothers in hunting down the Devil. It became obvious early on just who he was, but the emotional devastation was no less for knowing! Beaumont about killed me with his reactions, and Duron was perfect in allowing him time - plus his own special way of helping!
I am absolutely loving this duo of authors. Each time, they produce the highest quality of writing and fresh storylines that keep my interest from the very beginning. The only downside - if you can call it that - is that I would recommend reading the Tangled in Tentacles series first, just to get a grounding of what has happened to this point, followed by the first and second books in this series. No, it's not absolutely necessary to do so, but you're missing out on some amazing stories and backgrounds if you don't.
Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY 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!
Jul 17, 2023
Duron is the one who has lingered on Marvin, knowing he wasn't his but still... It turns out that it wasn't Marvin he wanted, but the closeness and affection he'd never had before. And Beaumont brings that in spades.
Oh, man. These two are delightful. Both are so protective of each other and find each so sexy that no furniture is safe! I loved how Beaumont was an alligator shifter. There aren't many cold-blooded reptile shifter stories and I loved this one. As for Duron, he's a hybrid, housing a multitude of animals who all play their own part.
They meet in Paraguay as they try to help Ben's brothers in hunting down the Devil. It became obvious early on just who he was, but the emotional devastation was no less for knowing! Beaumont about killed me with his reactions, and Duron was perfect in allowing him time - plus his own special way of helping!
I am absolutely loving this duo of authors. Each time, they produce the highest quality of writing and fresh storylines that keep my interest from the very beginning. The only downside - if you can call it that - is that I would recommend reading the Tangled in Tentacles series first, just to get a grounding of what has happened to this point, followed by the first and second books in this series. No, it's not absolutely necessary to do so, but you're missing out on some amazing stories and backgrounds if you don't.
Absolutely brilliant and HIGHLY 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!
Jul 17, 2023
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David McK (3495 KP) rated Quantum Leap: Carny Knowledge in Books
Jul 23, 2023
"Theorising that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Doctor Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished... He woke to find himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own, and driven by an unknown desire to change history for the better ..."
Recently, I've started watching the Paramount+ revival of one of my favourite 'tweenage' years shows.
I'm not yet - as of the time of writing - sold on it.
Having watched an episode or two, I thought I would revisit the original, albeit in literary rather than audiovisual form - I know that, in the past, I had read Quantum Leap 00: Too Close for Comfort and Knights of the Morningstar, but I had never read this one. When I cam across it, therefore, I thought I would give it a go.
I have to say, also, that - unfortunately - I just wasn't really all that impressed by it. I don't know whether that's because this was #1 in the book series, or because of the subject matter - being from the UK, carnivals (and the people who run them, known as Carnies (or so I've heard) ) aren't really all that much of a thing here! Nor do I particularly like roller-coasters ...
In this, Sam finds himself in the body of one such 1950 Carnie, a childhood polio survivor, who seems to have visions of the future in which people die after a roller-coaster derails on its maiden run, with all the hopes and dreams of the Carnival workers pinned on that roller coaster. This, I found, was bit slow in starting, although it did pick up towards the end! There's also segments in the (1990s!) future, showing what is missing from the revival in the Waiting Room, and explains a bit better than that revival does why Al is Sam's hologram as opposed to Addison being Ben's.
Worth a read for nostalgia factor, maybe.
Recently, I've started watching the Paramount+ revival of one of my favourite 'tweenage' years shows.
I'm not yet - as of the time of writing - sold on it.
Having watched an episode or two, I thought I would revisit the original, albeit in literary rather than audiovisual form - I know that, in the past, I had read Quantum Leap 00: Too Close for Comfort and Knights of the Morningstar, but I had never read this one. When I cam across it, therefore, I thought I would give it a go.
I have to say, also, that - unfortunately - I just wasn't really all that impressed by it. I don't know whether that's because this was #1 in the book series, or because of the subject matter - being from the UK, carnivals (and the people who run them, known as Carnies (or so I've heard) ) aren't really all that much of a thing here! Nor do I particularly like roller-coasters ...
In this, Sam finds himself in the body of one such 1950 Carnie, a childhood polio survivor, who seems to have visions of the future in which people die after a roller-coaster derails on its maiden run, with all the hopes and dreams of the Carnival workers pinned on that roller coaster. This, I found, was bit slow in starting, although it did pick up towards the end! There's also segments in the (1990s!) future, showing what is missing from the revival in the Waiting Room, and explains a bit better than that revival does why Al is Sam's hologram as opposed to Addison being Ben's.
Worth a read for nostalgia factor, maybe.
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ClareR (5779 KP) rated Our Hideous Progeny in Books
Aug 15, 2023
Our Hideous Progeny by C E McGill picks up the history of the Frankenstein’s where Mary Shelleys novel left off, give or take a generation. Except Mary in this story doesn’t know anything about her Great Uncle Victor. She does know that he went missing in the Artic in mysterious circumstances, but it’s not until she finds some letters that she learns the extent of his work.
Mary is a keen scientist, helping her husband Henry in his geological work. Without wealth and connections though, there is little they can do to really make their names in the field. So when she discovers Victor’s papers, she and her husband decide that there is only one thing to do. So they take themselves off to Henry’s old family home in Scotland to try and create a monster of their own.
Henry is a bit of an idiot though, and has managed to make himself some enemies, and one such turns up on the doorstep demanding money. When they explain to him what they’re doing, he demands to take part - and then things start to go wrong.
I really liked the female characters in this: Mary, and Henry’s reclusive and sickly sister, Maisie. They are determined (even in Maisie’s illness she isn’t a walkover) and intelligent. It was quite frustrating to see Mary treated so badly, whilst at the same time the men relied on her to do a lot of the work. It is her moral compass that grounds the endeavour, but to be fair, they don’t seem to listen to her much (of course, they know better!).
There’s a real sense of time and place in this - from the attitudes of the men towards the women, to the attitudes of the upper classes towards the lower. Horse and carriages, steam trains and bathing houses all entrenched the novel firmly in the Victorian age.
This really is a phenomenal read, and I loved it. There’s nothing like a strong female character or two having a go at the patriarchy to make my day!!
Mary is a keen scientist, helping her husband Henry in his geological work. Without wealth and connections though, there is little they can do to really make their names in the field. So when she discovers Victor’s papers, she and her husband decide that there is only one thing to do. So they take themselves off to Henry’s old family home in Scotland to try and create a monster of their own.
Henry is a bit of an idiot though, and has managed to make himself some enemies, and one such turns up on the doorstep demanding money. When they explain to him what they’re doing, he demands to take part - and then things start to go wrong.
I really liked the female characters in this: Mary, and Henry’s reclusive and sickly sister, Maisie. They are determined (even in Maisie’s illness she isn’t a walkover) and intelligent. It was quite frustrating to see Mary treated so badly, whilst at the same time the men relied on her to do a lot of the work. It is her moral compass that grounds the endeavour, but to be fair, they don’t seem to listen to her much (of course, they know better!).
There’s a real sense of time and place in this - from the attitudes of the men towards the women, to the attitudes of the upper classes towards the lower. Horse and carriages, steam trains and bathing houses all entrenched the novel firmly in the Victorian age.
This really is a phenomenal read, and I loved it. There’s nothing like a strong female character or two having a go at the patriarchy to make my day!!