Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Salt Grows Heavy in Books
May 12, 2024
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The Salt Grows Heavy
By Cassandra Khaw
⭐️⭐️⭐️
After the murder of her husband and the fall of his empire, a mermaid and her plague doctor companion escape into the wilderness. Deep in the woods, they stumble across a village where children hunt each other for sport, sacrificing one of their own at the behest of three surgeons they call "the saints." These saints play god with their magic, harvesting the best bits of the children for themselves and piecing the sacrifices back together again.
To save the children from their fates, the plague doctor must confront their past, and the mermaid must embrace the darkest parts of her true nature.
This was certainly not the story I’m used to reading when it comes to mermaids. This was fully of gore and dark meanings. Some parts are hard to read and not for the context but it’s like a full dictionary has been thrown in and it really put me off. Overall it’s a deeply dark fairytale of mermaids and death. For a small book it packs a punch in places.
Enlightenment
10.0
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Thomas and Grace are fellow worshippers at the Baptist chapel in the small Essex town of Aldleigh....
Finding Harbor (The Long Shadow Series #3)
6.0
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Part of The Long Shadow Series by Duncan Gaye Patrick Callahan comes to Cape Breton expecting...
MM Historical Romance
ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Sirens in Books
Nov 23, 2025
Nature, the sea and the landscape of New South Wales all play a major role in this book, and the descriptions were so evocative. As someone who has never been to Australia, I was able to imagine the setting of this story.
The relationship between the sisters is a strange one: the older sister, Jess, seems very disconnected from her younger sister, doesn’t stay in touch, and when Lucy arrives unannounced at her house, Jess isn’t there. The house is in a state, and no-one knows where she is.
I really enjoyed the 1800 timeline: the oppression of the Transportation ship, the sisters, and their ending was *chef’s kiss* (I’m not saying 🤐).
A book of male violence and manipulation, and an interesting way to deal with it! I enjoyed this, but I do think it could be a marmite book (I like marmite).
The Ashes That Remain (Cimmerian Moon #2)
10.0
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We’re at war against the aliens that have invaded Earth, fighting the only way we can—by...
Young Adult Dystopian
Merissa (14188 KP) rated Pulse and Prejudice (The Confession of Mr. Darcy, Vampire #1) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
What I got was a book that thrilled me with the story just as much as the original did. The language is true to form, the behaviour, the attitudes, it's all there. Only now add in the spice of an even more haughty and sultry Mr Darcy as he tries to contend with his vampiric nature.
Trust me when I say that this paranormal addition actually added something for me, it certainly didn't take anything away from the story. I devoured this book, only putting it down when I absolutely had to. If you like Paranormal and also the British Classics, then I really can't recommend this highly enough. It combines the two with excellent narrative, skill and aplomb. Highly 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!
Jul 18, 2015
Flirting With Fire (A Witch’s Night Out #1)
8.0
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Apprentice witch Catalina Gato is prohibited from assuming her human form in front of her new...
Paranormal Romance Novella
Dirty Game (Annie Carter #1)
8.5
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Adultery, murder and dangerous love collide in Jessie Keane’s gritty debut thriller set in the...
David McK (3918 KP) rated Kingdom of Bones (Sigma Force #16) in Books
Oct 22, 2023
It was a little uncomfortable doing so at first, especially as the main driver for the plot was the start of a worldwide pandemic that badly affected the Human Race.
Caused by mans encroachment of, and deforestation of, Nature.
Sound at all familiar?
Indeed, in his foreward the author even states that he debated finishing the novel for that very reason ...
Anyway, once you get past the uncomfortable feeling, what you have here is a fairly standard Sigma Force story, with Guy Pierce and his team racing against the clock to find the cause of, and a cure to, the contagion whilst other members of the team look for a scientific solution.
I have to say, however, that this particular entry didn't gel as much with me: perhaps because of the complete sidelining of Seichan and Guy's home life? Perhaps because I didn't find the heavy focus on the natural world as interesting as those that focus more on history (and mythology).
Whatever the reason, it just didn't come across as enjoyable to me.
True Story
8.0
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After a college party, two boys drive a girl home: drunk and passed out in the back seat. Rumours...