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Shannon Messenger | 2020 | Children
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Unlock Something Different – and Special – with this Book
This is an unusual release. The first 500 pages are a guide to the world of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, with character information, info on animals, background on the races, and a few fun activities. The last 250 pages are a “novella” (it is short for this series) and picks up where Legacy, the previous book in the series, left off. It’s not just filler, but it contains lots of plot developments that fans will be glad they read. It splits time between Sophie, the main character, and Keefe, one of her friends who is going through quite a bit here.

If you are new to the series, you really don’t want to start here. Yes, I said guide, but it comes with lots of spoilers for the first eight books in the series. Back up and start at the beginning; it’s worth it. This is more a love letter to fans. If you are a fan, you’ll definitely enjoy the information contained in this book. And the novella will leave you satisfied. It feels like a complete story and made me laugh and cry. Yes, there is another cliffhanger, so now begins the wait for book 9.
  
The Birthday (Detective Natalie Ward #1)
The Birthday (Detective Natalie Ward #1)
Carol Wyer | 2018 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
6
6.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The 1st book in the Detective Natalie Ward series
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. “The Birthday” is the first in the Detective Natalie Ward series, a new series by Carol Wyer. A five-year-old girl goes missing at a classmate’s birthday party. Two years later her body is found. Soon after, another little girl, who was also at the party, disappears. Det. Ward is in charge of the investigation and worries it will end like her last job which did not end well.
I enjoyed the story-line involving the disappearances of the little girls. However, her last job was mentioned often and did not move the story along. Also included is the detective’s house life with her husband and two teenage children. I found myself attempting to skim those parts too. For me, the disappearance story-line has a nice pace to it. It does not drag or rush the story. The other parts just broke up that story-line and it did not seem to flow well.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. According to the scale used by Goodreads, which means it’s OK. I did not think the book was a waste of time. I would read another book by Wyer but it would not be a priority “to be read” book.
  
Hmm...

I liked certain parts of this and others kinda bored me.

Rudy was hard work and sometimes I thought he was really sweet and others he annoyed me a little, though I know that's a lot unfair. It isn't his fault after all. I really feel for Ellis in this too.

Jon was amazing for both of them and likewise Ellis was Jon's salvation.

That being said I'm not sure if I want to continue this series.
  
Monstrous Regiment: (Discworld Novel 31)
Monstrous Regiment: (Discworld Novel 31)
Terry Pratchett | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
8
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
One of the rare Discworld Standalone novels
Updated 2023 review

I wonder how this was affected by Pratchett's 'embuggerance'?

Original 2011 review

Not one of the strongest of Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld books, this is only loosely - even more so than normal - connected to any of his other books in the series. Loosely connected, but not to the level of ""Small Gods"" (which is set centuries before the rest of the series), or "Pyramids".

In "Monstrous Regiment", Pratchett introduces a whole host of new characters - none of who have yet, been heard of again - as well as some new nations, with Commander Sam Vimes (from the City Watch books) and William De Worde (from "the Truth") only really having cameos in the story. He also exaggerates, to comic effect, the famous stories of women secretly joining the army, with this providing the basis for his plot.

As I said at the top, this is not one of the best of Pratchetts works, but even a below-par Pratchett is miles above any other author in the same genre