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I wanted to read this book for the first story by Mercedes Lackey, since I am a fan of the Five Hundred Kingdom series. This story featured Leopold and Brunnhilde in a setting straight out of Greek mythology. In short, I loved it. It weaves Leopold's quest for immortality in with the tale of Persephone and her union with Hades. The perspective is different from the usual story of a victimized Persephone, and turns her into a strong, young woman who will stop at nothing to be with the man she loves. To make Greek mythology fit in with the rest of the series, Lackey explains that the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus are half-Fae who have forgotten their origins thanks to the power of The Tradition.
I am not familiar with the second author, Michelle Sagara. This short story is a prequel to her Chronicles of Elantra series and introduces the reader to the character of Kaylin Neya. I was a little lost when I began this story because of the variety of characters that I was introduced to at the very beginning. I actually was not even sure who the story was about at first. The story seemed a bit bogged down with details and descriptions, and Kaylin seemed to get lost in the mayhem of Sagara's attempt to introduce the reader to the world of Elantra in such a short tale. I stuck with it, though, and by the end of the story I was intrigued enough to want to continue on with the series in Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1).
The third story, written by Caleron Haley, is meant to be a prequel to Mob Rules (Luna Books). I am not familiar with this author either, and when I began this story I realized immediately that this story was heavily-flavored with gangster-style speak and vocabulary, even more so than the urban fantasy elements. I really tried to adjust to the language used in the story, but the lack of explanation to accompany such terms as "juice" and "outfit", as well as the overabundance of foul-mouthed language and typical gangster lingo like "capping" someone mad me lose interest in the actual plot of the short story halfway through. I am sure there are other readers that enjoy this style of story-telling, but I am not one of them.
I am not familiar with the second author, Michelle Sagara. This short story is a prequel to her Chronicles of Elantra series and introduces the reader to the character of Kaylin Neya. I was a little lost when I began this story because of the variety of characters that I was introduced to at the very beginning. I actually was not even sure who the story was about at first. The story seemed a bit bogged down with details and descriptions, and Kaylin seemed to get lost in the mayhem of Sagara's attempt to introduce the reader to the world of Elantra in such a short tale. I stuck with it, though, and by the end of the story I was intrigued enough to want to continue on with the series in Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1).
The third story, written by Caleron Haley, is meant to be a prequel to Mob Rules (Luna Books). I am not familiar with this author either, and when I began this story I realized immediately that this story was heavily-flavored with gangster-style speak and vocabulary, even more so than the urban fantasy elements. I really tried to adjust to the language used in the story, but the lack of explanation to accompany such terms as "juice" and "outfit", as well as the overabundance of foul-mouthed language and typical gangster lingo like "capping" someone mad me lose interest in the actual plot of the short story halfway through. I am sure there are other readers that enjoy this style of story-telling, but I am not one of them.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Still Me in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Louisa Clark is headed to New York City to start a new job. Life in England is not going the way she had hoped, so across the pond she goes. She will be the personal assistant to Agnes Gopnik. Agnes is the new wife of Mr. Gopnik. So far Agnes's life being married has not been easy having to deal with all of the former Mrs. Gopnik's friends. Agnes looks to Louisa as a friend and a relief in her life. Louisa is trying to adjust to her new life as well. With her boyfriend in England and her this new life in New York, will Louisa be able to survive this new situation she has put herself in?
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
For me, this by far is the best book in the series. I'm not sure if it is because it was set in the United States or for another reason, but this one captivated me and I enjoyed it more than other books in the series.
After the death of Will Traynor and spending a few years close enough to home, Louisa has finally decided to take a big leap and go for her dreams. When she lands in New York, things seem to be going fairly well for her, but as Louisa life goes, things take a dramatic turn and she has to find a way to adjust to her new way of life. She goes on many adventures and discovers many new things about life, but also about herself in the process.
The Gopnik family is not quite what Louisa is expecting when she first arrives in New York. The job she signed up for and the one she tries to execute aren't quite the same, but she always does her best. When she is unexpected released from her duties, she has to scramble to find out what will happen next. An unlikely opportunity presents itself and Louisa finds joy in this new position, a joy she had never experienced before.
If you haven't read the series, I think it is important to start with book one. You have to go on the journey with Louisa. I don't know if her story will continue after this book, but it will be interesting to know what happens next. This book made the series as a whole more enjoyable for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
For me, this by far is the best book in the series. I'm not sure if it is because it was set in the United States or for another reason, but this one captivated me and I enjoyed it more than other books in the series.
After the death of Will Traynor and spending a few years close enough to home, Louisa has finally decided to take a big leap and go for her dreams. When she lands in New York, things seem to be going fairly well for her, but as Louisa life goes, things take a dramatic turn and she has to find a way to adjust to her new way of life. She goes on many adventures and discovers many new things about life, but also about herself in the process.
The Gopnik family is not quite what Louisa is expecting when she first arrives in New York. The job she signed up for and the one she tries to execute aren't quite the same, but she always does her best. When she is unexpected released from her duties, she has to scramble to find out what will happen next. An unlikely opportunity presents itself and Louisa finds joy in this new position, a joy she had never experienced before.
If you haven't read the series, I think it is important to start with book one. You have to go on the journey with Louisa. I don't know if her story will continue after this book, but it will be interesting to know what happens next. This book made the series as a whole more enjoyable for me.
Merissa (13937 KP) rated Wolf Leader (Arctic Brotherhood #6) in Books
Dec 20, 2017
Wolf Leader (Arctic Brotherhood #6) by Jane Godman
Wolf Leader is the final book in the Arctic Brotherhood series, and we deal with the last member of the Brotherhood who is unmated - Vigo. It starts with Vigo's past coming to bite him in the ass, but then we get carried away with defeating Fenrir. Amber is his mate, and she is very much a lone wolf, but that is not wholly through her choice. Something happened when she was young which made her this way. She is Vigo's mate, and she's not altogether pleased at the idea of being anyone's mate.
This book started off very well - all the ingredients were there to make this a smashing finale. However, for me, it just didn't quite work. The red herring was more than obvious and I don't think that he actually enhanced the story in any way. Amber's storyline was interesting, but could have been so much more. As for Vigo, it felt 'too' convenient. With the other wolves, it wasn't as obvious and had more depth. And the ending itself seemed rushed to me. Instead of going out with a bang, it was with a whimper.
That being said, this book was nicely written. The pace was smooth (until the end) and the scenes flowed from one to the next. This is the last book in the series, and I would definitely recommend you read them in order to get the full enjoyment of the storylines and the characters. I would recommend this series and urge you to read this book and make your own opinion.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This book started off very well - all the ingredients were there to make this a smashing finale. However, for me, it just didn't quite work. The red herring was more than obvious and I don't think that he actually enhanced the story in any way. Amber's storyline was interesting, but could have been so much more. As for Vigo, it felt 'too' convenient. With the other wolves, it wasn't as obvious and had more depth. And the ending itself seemed rushed to me. Instead of going out with a bang, it was with a whimper.
That being said, this book was nicely written. The pace was smooth (until the end) and the scenes flowed from one to the next. This is the last book in the series, and I would definitely recommend you read them in order to get the full enjoyment of the storylines and the characters. I would recommend this series and urge you to read this book and make your own opinion.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13937 KP) rated Emergence (Voodoo Butterfly #2) in Books
Oct 17, 2018
Emergence (Voodoo Butterfly #2) by Camille Faye
Emergence is the second book in the Voodoo Butterfly series, and we start pretty much where we left off. Sophia and Taj are still together, although things aren't quite as smooth as they were. However, trouble isn't far away, and Poppy ends up being injured. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and things quickly go downhill for Sophie. Add to that, Taj disappears mysteriously, quickly followed by Avi.
I'll be honest here, for a while I was worried this was going to become the ubiquitous love triangle, but Camille Faye managed to avoid that in this book. Now, I'm not saying it may not happen in the future, but for now, in this book, we're safe.
There is plenty of action and adventure in this book, possibly more than Voodoo Butterfly, and it is great to see Sophie growing in confidence and power. We also meet more of the Mambos, and find out more about them, which made for incredible reading.
I am absolutely loving this series, as it is exceptionally written, with no editing or grammatical errors that spoil my reading. The story is intricate and intriguing, definitely leaving me wanting more. With a great cast of supporting characters to round things off, there is simply nothing about this series/book that I don't like.
Fair warning though - there is still a mystery to solve regarding Taj, and it does end on a cliffhanger. I know something is going on with him, but I'll always be Team Jacques!
Definitely recommended by me!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I'll be honest here, for a while I was worried this was going to become the ubiquitous love triangle, but Camille Faye managed to avoid that in this book. Now, I'm not saying it may not happen in the future, but for now, in this book, we're safe.
There is plenty of action and adventure in this book, possibly more than Voodoo Butterfly, and it is great to see Sophie growing in confidence and power. We also meet more of the Mambos, and find out more about them, which made for incredible reading.
I am absolutely loving this series, as it is exceptionally written, with no editing or grammatical errors that spoil my reading. The story is intricate and intriguing, definitely leaving me wanting more. With a great cast of supporting characters to round things off, there is simply nothing about this series/book that I don't like.
Fair warning though - there is still a mystery to solve regarding Taj, and it does end on a cliffhanger. I know something is going on with him, but I'll always be Team Jacques!
Definitely recommended by me!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Kyera (8 KP) rated City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) in Books
Jan 31, 2018
City of Ashes is the second book in the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. It continues the fantastic world building that Cassie started in City of Bones. You delve further into the Shadow World and the politics of the Clave, although it still takes place solely in New York City. Some people have difficulty immersing themselves in the City of Bones because the pacing isn’t fast enough for them, but there are some good action sequences that might make this second book more appealing. I personally have not experienced that lack of engagement, but I appreciate the world building and that may cause me to approach the story from a different perspective.
As much as I loved the first book, you can see a marked improvement in Cassie’s writing even by this second book. There is a particular scene in which the setting is described so vividly that you can easily imagine the location building around you in your mind. Immersive world building is always very important to me in books, especially fantasy series, so I cannot recommend this series enough. Although it is the earliest of her writing, you cannot miss out on all of the details she provides about the world. You go on the journey with Clary as you both learn about Downworlders, the Clave, and demons.
City of Ashes further develops the relationships and connections between the characters. You can feel how much they care for one another and it’s really authentic. Although I’ve read this series before it has been a while since I delved into the series that started it all. I am being reintroduced to favourite characters and realizing just how much they’ve grown over the course of the numerous novels that Cassie has written. As I re-read interactions and laugh at witty lines, I fall in love with the characters all over again. I remember what it is that made me care for them in the first place, not just their strengths but their vulnerabilities.
There’s not much else I can say without discussing plot points or spoiling things from this or the first book, so I would just end it with – please, if you’re hesitant, give this series a chance. I would highly recommend it and in my opinion, it definitely needs to be read prior to reading Cassie’s newest series, the Dark Artifices. As incredible as the world building is in that series, it’s adding to the lore that has been built and evolved over the course of ten novels. It won’t be as impactful if you don’t have the foundational knowledge before you read the Dark Artifices.
As much as I loved the first book, you can see a marked improvement in Cassie’s writing even by this second book. There is a particular scene in which the setting is described so vividly that you can easily imagine the location building around you in your mind. Immersive world building is always very important to me in books, especially fantasy series, so I cannot recommend this series enough. Although it is the earliest of her writing, you cannot miss out on all of the details she provides about the world. You go on the journey with Clary as you both learn about Downworlders, the Clave, and demons.
City of Ashes further develops the relationships and connections between the characters. You can feel how much they care for one another and it’s really authentic. Although I’ve read this series before it has been a while since I delved into the series that started it all. I am being reintroduced to favourite characters and realizing just how much they’ve grown over the course of the numerous novels that Cassie has written. As I re-read interactions and laugh at witty lines, I fall in love with the characters all over again. I remember what it is that made me care for them in the first place, not just their strengths but their vulnerabilities.
There’s not much else I can say without discussing plot points or spoiling things from this or the first book, so I would just end it with – please, if you’re hesitant, give this series a chance. I would highly recommend it and in my opinion, it definitely needs to be read prior to reading Cassie’s newest series, the Dark Artifices. As incredible as the world building is in that series, it’s adding to the lore that has been built and evolved over the course of ten novels. It won’t be as impactful if you don’t have the foundational knowledge before you read the Dark Artifices.
Marylegs (44 KP) rated The Walking Dead: v. 1: Days Gone Bye in Books
Aug 14, 2019
So I have finally got started on reading these graphic novels. I have been an avid fan of the TV remake and am fully aware that the series and graphic novels do not run exactly scene for scene. Some characters have had longer roles or shorter roles, other characters added or omitted. That is not what I am concerning myself with whilst reading this novel.
What I am concerned with is how the book felt as I read it. I thought the frames were well drawn, if you take the time to look over each picture you really feel the emotions of each of the characters. At no point does it feel lacking from the sole use of greyscale, colour is unnecessary in this story. Considering there is limited writing used, the conversations between characters have been orchestrated to portray all the information and emotions needed.
It always takes me a few pages to get into a graphic novel, the switch to reading pictures and not written descriptions takes some getting used to, but this story is so gripping that it isn’t hard to get lost in it. Nothing is too gruesome or overdone (not that I mind gruesome) but some people may be put off as it is a tale set in a zombie ridden world, but actually this is a story about the effect on the people left standing. How they cope in this new harsh existence, and how they decide to make a new future for themselves. This is a great start to a series and I will be carrying on gladly and with a great deal of enthusiasm.
What I am concerned with is how the book felt as I read it. I thought the frames were well drawn, if you take the time to look over each picture you really feel the emotions of each of the characters. At no point does it feel lacking from the sole use of greyscale, colour is unnecessary in this story. Considering there is limited writing used, the conversations between characters have been orchestrated to portray all the information and emotions needed.
It always takes me a few pages to get into a graphic novel, the switch to reading pictures and not written descriptions takes some getting used to, but this story is so gripping that it isn’t hard to get lost in it. Nothing is too gruesome or overdone (not that I mind gruesome) but some people may be put off as it is a tale set in a zombie ridden world, but actually this is a story about the effect on the people left standing. How they cope in this new harsh existence, and how they decide to make a new future for themselves. This is a great start to a series and I will be carrying on gladly and with a great deal of enthusiasm.
Cynthia Armistead (17 KP) rated Shady Lady (Corine Solomon, #3) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
I have to give a fairly high rating to a book that involves a woman who largely saves herself from multiple assassins (natural and supernatural) sent by the head of a drug cartel. There are sexy men in her life (three, in fact), but she's definitely the heroine here, not a clinging vine. That's a refreshing approach.
To be honest I don't think this book should be shelved with paranormal romances at all. It deserves to be called urban fantasy, or something along those lines, because relationships are not the main focus of the plot.
Corine has changed a great deal from the beginning of the series, and we learn much more about her background in this volume, explaining some of her behavior. The exposition is never tiresome or without reason — it's worked into the plot very nicely. I enjoy seeing character development, and getting more of the "why" helps the reader make sense of her decisions.
This volume feels like the end of the series, but it was a nice little trilogy and well worth reading.
To be honest I don't think this book should be shelved with paranormal romances at all. It deserves to be called urban fantasy, or something along those lines, because relationships are not the main focus of the plot.
Corine has changed a great deal from the beginning of the series, and we learn much more about her background in this volume, explaining some of her behavior. The exposition is never tiresome or without reason — it's worked into the plot very nicely. I enjoy seeing character development, and getting more of the "why" helps the reader make sense of her decisions.
This volume feels like the end of the series, but it was a nice little trilogy and well worth reading.
Dawn Marie (22 KP) rated Anne with an E in TV
Jan 19, 2018
I couldn't make it through this whole series yes I know I am partial to the Megan follows as Anne version but was open to this new one even thought the title showed promise. I watched trying to keep an open mind but the more I watched the more upset I got. I am not only a fan of the movie version but I am a fan of the books! Too much was changed and it seemed to lag. Most of the characters were not likable or interesting to me except the lady playing marilla. I don t know if it was the girl playing Anne or the dialogue That was bad. Some may like this but I recommend the books or the 1985 movie
Mothergamer (1631 KP) rated Death on the Nile (2022) in Movies
Apr 22, 2022
I really wanted to like this because I grew up on Agatha Christie books and watching the PBS Poirot series with my grandmother. I love Poirot and I like this book, but the screen adaptation is odd. There were strange decisions like including the character Bouc when he's not even in this book and having something happen to him that is not part of the story at all. The pacing felt off with the movie feeling boring and slow in some spots and then a few moments of interesting sprinkled here and there. There didn't seem to be a lot of chemistry among the cast and the actress with four credits to her career so far did a better job emoting and acting than longtime veterans. Branagh did great as Poirot, he was great in the first movie too, but the movie took so long to get going and then when it got to the big reveal it got better. It felt so uneven and I was disappointed. It's not a complete disaster, but it's not stellar either.
Chelsee R Clawson (23 KP) rated Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (Immortals After Dark #4) in Books
Feb 4, 2018
The storyline (1 more)
How much you can relate to the characters
So where the begin! There will be no spoilers in this review not because I'm a mean person but this book is a treasure for your mind to delve into. This was the first book I read in the Immortals after dark series it was a present from a dear friend who has similar tastes in books as i . At first I didn't know some of the characters from previous books in the series (of course i didn't know about the full series till after this novel) but once finished the characters are ingrained into the very fibers of your being. I can tell you Nix is a legend, bowen is as cunning as a wolf and has a few caveman tenancies to be sure and the likeability and how much you can relate to mariketa is amazing I can tell you now I hunted down everything written by kresley Cole and pre ordered all future releases within minutes! the way kresley writes is positively enthralling, from the very first page until the back cover the words grip you by your eyeballs and sucks you into the very pages between your fingers! If you can put this book down you are a stronger willed person than I! This book was finished in one sitting, it was in the wee hours of the morning to my horror I finished reading ....Weeping and balling soon followed when the last page was turned it felt as though I lost the characters from my soul ... Soo I ended up reading it again and then again months later! My dear friends addiction is not a strong enough word for this book and all those that come before or follow on in the series, kresley Cole is one of my favourite authors and reading her books is an addiction to which I will never be able to abstain from. Surrender your mind and escape to a world like our own but with darker depths, surreal planes and exceptional beings of the lore that star in this series