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Ross (3284 KP) rated Empire in Black & Gold in Books
Sep 13, 2017
This 10 book series deals with a future state of the human race where humans have evolved into different types of insect, each race taking on the traits of those insects (eg Beetles are hard-working but slow, Spiders are cunning and conniving, Moths are dark and mysterious, Wasps are evil and annoying etc).
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
This, the first in the series sees Stenwold Maker start to rediscover old fears of the Wasp Empire attempting to invade the peaceful, lowland city states. With nobody in his home city believing him he gathers together a crew of his students and old friend to find out what is happening on the borders of the empire.
This is one of the best books of the series, and a lot of action to come is set up here. I don't know if Tchaikovsky has intended to make this a whopping 10 books at this stage but it certainly felt like the start of something.
The action and fight scenes are well described but not laboured, and enough background to the world is given to understand it, though not in detail (just accept it and move on).
A large number of characters are introduced throughout the series, so it is worth getting to know them from the off.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Aftershock (Blood Never Lies #2) in Books
Nov 4, 2018
Another great book from Dianna Hardy!!
The Eye of The Storm series and The Witching Pen series are both connected in this novel - you don’t have to have read them though, in order to understand what’s going on in this series. I’d recommend them anyway, just because they’re really good!!
Claire and Pete take Jasmine to the US to avoid the dangers of those who would do her harm in the U.K. To all intents and purposes, Claire and Pete ARE Jasmine’s parents, even though she is actually the daughter of Claire’s best friend, Beth, and her lover, Amil, a Trident (think: evil, genetically engineered werewolf on bad drugs - although he wasn’t really evil). They want to protect her, but it becomes increasingly difficult. Her true self, even though she’s only six years old, is beginning to be revealed due to a Supermoon. And it’s not what you think!
I love this series - I love all of Dianna Hardy’s writing. Not only is it well written, the relationships feel ‘real’, and there’s loads of real emotion and excitement (lots of ‘heart in mouth’ moments!). I do love a bit of paranormal/ urban fantasy, and this ticks all the boxes.
I can’t wait to see where this story goes in the next book!
Claire and Pete take Jasmine to the US to avoid the dangers of those who would do her harm in the U.K. To all intents and purposes, Claire and Pete ARE Jasmine’s parents, even though she is actually the daughter of Claire’s best friend, Beth, and her lover, Amil, a Trident (think: evil, genetically engineered werewolf on bad drugs - although he wasn’t really evil). They want to protect her, but it becomes increasingly difficult. Her true self, even though she’s only six years old, is beginning to be revealed due to a Supermoon. And it’s not what you think!
I love this series - I love all of Dianna Hardy’s writing. Not only is it well written, the relationships feel ‘real’, and there’s loads of real emotion and excitement (lots of ‘heart in mouth’ moments!). I do love a bit of paranormal/ urban fantasy, and this ticks all the boxes.
I can’t wait to see where this story goes in the next book!
Merissa (13409 KP) rated Mack (Angelbound Offspring #6) in Books
Dec 18, 2020 (Updated Aug 8, 2023)
MACK is the sixth book in the Angelbound Offspring series and I would absolutely recommend you read it as part of a series. If you can't do that, then you NEED to read Kaps as this book is a continuation of hers.
The points of view change from Mack to Kaps and back again so you get a fully rounded story from both perspectives. They both want to be together but go full-on martyr when they both decide it's better for the other one if they're not. Gah! I wanted to bang their heads together!!
There are some interesting developments in this story, not the least being how Mack changes (I won't say more). There are cameos from others in the series, with Huntress and Gage playing a bigger role in helping Mack and Kaps see each other. I honestly can't wait for Huntress' book!
This was a great addition to the series and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
* 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!
Dec 18, 2020
The points of view change from Mack to Kaps and back again so you get a fully rounded story from both perspectives. They both want to be together but go full-on martyr when they both decide it's better for the other one if they're not. Gah! I wanted to bang their heads together!!
There are some interesting developments in this story, not the least being how Mack changes (I won't say more). There are cameos from others in the series, with Huntress and Gage playing a bigger role in helping Mack and Kaps see each other. I honestly can't wait for Huntress' book!
This was a great addition to the series and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
* 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!
Dec 18, 2020
Merissa (13409 KP) rated Dirty Laundry (Cole McGinnis #3) in Books
May 30, 2023
We are back in the thick of Cole McGinnis being a very dangerous person to be around. Everyone who gets close to him gets shot, and he usually ends up with pieces of their blood, bone and brain in his mouth. This time, there is a mystery surrounding a Korean fortune-teller and her clients, who are being killed off. I'll be honest, this confused me and I'm still not sure about the WHY of what happened.
Very well-written, and fast-paced with enough action to please everyone. This continues the series and the relationship between Cole and Jae-Min. Definitely to be read as part of the series and not standalone! Recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2016
Very well-written, and fast-paced with enough action to please everyone. This continues the series and the relationship between Cole and Jae-Min. Definitely to be read as part of the series and not standalone! Recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 20, 2016
Merissa (13409 KP) rated High Tide (Olympic Cove #5) in Books
Jul 5, 2024
HIGH TIDE is the fifth book in the Olympic Cove series and continues the overall story arc, so you really need to read them in order to get the full enjoyment from them.
In this one, we have Scott (who thinks he's a human), Orrin (a satyr), and Rian (who people think is a mer but is so much more.) Rian and Orrin are already a couple when Scott comes on the scene, and Rian is not happy with his appearance. This, for me, is where I lost a star. Rian's insecurity and jealousy were understandable and he didn't really receive any reassurances. Not only that, but his attitude did a 180 from disliking Scott to not. I would have liked a little more details about the change of heart, a little more build-up.
The story arc is coming along nicely and I am LOVING how it's going with Thetis. Instead of being a cartoon character baddie, she is fully dimensional and I found myself sympathising for her in this book. Loved that!
On the whole, this is a great addition to the series, just not one of my favourites. I still recommend it, plus the others in the series.
** 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!
Jul 4, 2024
In this one, we have Scott (who thinks he's a human), Orrin (a satyr), and Rian (who people think is a mer but is so much more.) Rian and Orrin are already a couple when Scott comes on the scene, and Rian is not happy with his appearance. This, for me, is where I lost a star. Rian's insecurity and jealousy were understandable and he didn't really receive any reassurances. Not only that, but his attitude did a 180 from disliking Scott to not. I would have liked a little more details about the change of heart, a little more build-up.
The story arc is coming along nicely and I am LOVING how it's going with Thetis. Instead of being a cartoon character baddie, she is fully dimensional and I found myself sympathising for her in this book. Loved that!
On the whole, this is a great addition to the series, just not one of my favourites. I still recommend it, plus the others in the series.
** 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!
Jul 4, 2024
Kyera (8 KP) rated Bitterblue in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Bitterblue is the third book in the Graceling Realm trilogy, and probably my favourite of the three. Graceling took place in a land of seven Kingdoms, then the second book, Fire, shifted the narrative's time and space. It took place many years before the events in Graceling and in a land quite unlike the one created in the first book. Bitterblue returns us to the world we began in, ten years later and in the final chapters weaves the story from Fire in more clearly.
It was nice seeing the characters from Graceling, like Katsa and Po making an appearance once more in this series. It's been a decade, so you're curious what has happened to everyone. I enjoyed the main characters in this book and enjoyed the scenes with both familiar and new faces.
The pace of this book wasn't frenetic or the plot action-packed, but it was engaging nonetheless. There's not much more that I can discuss without spoilers, other than the fact that I listened to this via audiobook. I quite enjoyed the narrator's performance and she also performed Fire, although she was not one of the narrators for Graceling.
Overall, I did enjoy this series but it is certainly not in my top ten fantasy series of all time.
It was nice seeing the characters from Graceling, like Katsa and Po making an appearance once more in this series. It's been a decade, so you're curious what has happened to everyone. I enjoyed the main characters in this book and enjoyed the scenes with both familiar and new faces.
The pace of this book wasn't frenetic or the plot action-packed, but it was engaging nonetheless. There's not much more that I can discuss without spoilers, other than the fact that I listened to this via audiobook. I quite enjoyed the narrator's performance and she also performed Fire, although she was not one of the narrators for Graceling.
Overall, I did enjoy this series but it is certainly not in my top ten fantasy series of all time.
David McK (3632 KP) rated The Loki Sword (Fireborn #3) in Books
Sep 18, 2022
I'm not sure why, but for some reason I haven't really connected with Angus Donald's 'Fire Born' novels, finding them to be the weakest of his three series that I have read (The Outlaw Chronicles and the Holcroft Blood series).
I don't know why that is; it's just one of those things.
However, I'll still read these novels, just not be in as much of a rush to do so as with the others.
This is the third in his FireBorn series (after both The Last Berserker: An action-packed Viking adventure and The Saxon Wolf: A Viking epic of berserkers and battle) and is also, for my money, the best of those three novels. That may be because of the nature of this - a band of travellers setting out on a quest, leading to a battle and a return home, with the author himself admitting the influence of the works of JRR Tolkien on this particular entry.
I don't know why that is; it's just one of those things.
However, I'll still read these novels, just not be in as much of a rush to do so as with the others.
This is the third in his FireBorn series (after both The Last Berserker: An action-packed Viking adventure and The Saxon Wolf: A Viking epic of berserkers and battle) and is also, for my money, the best of those three novels. That may be because of the nature of this - a band of travellers setting out on a quest, leading to a battle and a return home, with the author himself admitting the influence of the works of JRR Tolkien on this particular entry.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Abigail and the Tropical Island Adventure in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Children will learn about different locations though this book. It a quick read. You meet up with a little girl. Abigail goes to a place that is not raining. She meets a girl on an Island. What adventure does she go to. What does she learn that is new. All of this is read about in this book.
This book is a good one for children learning to read. It easy to read. Children ages 5-8. Parents can be at ease with this for their young children. The images are done really well. They describe the book when you are read it. This is book 8 of the series "Bedtime Stories Children's Books for Early & Beginner Readers".
You looking for a good series for young readers or beginner. You found a good series. I believe it even teaches about helping others. It also teaches of the values. Good for your imaginations as well.
This book is a good one for children learning to read. It easy to read. Children ages 5-8. Parents can be at ease with this for their young children. The images are done really well. They describe the book when you are read it. This is book 8 of the series "Bedtime Stories Children's Books for Early & Beginner Readers".
You looking for a good series for young readers or beginner. You found a good series. I believe it even teaches about helping others. It also teaches of the values. Good for your imaginations as well.
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Being West is Best (Ginnie West Adventures, #4) in Books
Feb 24, 2021
I loved Ginnie and Tillies adventures through this series. Both characters are full of life, somewhat sassy, and imaginative. Plus, I think they portray qualities that most kids of that age display. But one of my favorite things about this book (Really the series) is that Monique Buchger uses real life situations such as dysfunctional families, bullies, etc., to show the right ways to approach a situation. I truly commend her for not shying away from the tough issues and doing it in a clean way. While this is most likely the last book in this series, I hope to see more of Ginnie and Tillies adventures in the future.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the themes displayed, and for leaving me smiling.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the themes displayed, and for leaving me smiling.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.