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Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars, #4)
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fourth entry in Jack Campbell/John Hemrys spin-off series from 'The Lost Fleet' series (and I've lost count of what entry number this is in total), this is set back in what-used-to-be Syndicate Space, with The Syndicate themselves (as always) coming across as Stalin-era Soviets.

While they do put in an appearance, they're not actually the maion threat in this entry - rather, that is provided in the form of the alien Enigmas who, previous novels have shown, are to blame for the centuries-long war between The Alliance and The Syndicate and who, in this, are pushing into/trying to gain a toe-hold on a planet that falls with Human space.

All of which is a long way of saying: more of the same; more political machinations, space battles (in 'real-time' (as it were), and more ground battles.

A bit of a guilty pleasure, in short.
  
The X-Files: Cold Cases
The X-Files: Cold Cases
Joe Harris | 2019
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The X Files was a big part of my teenage years.

And, frankly, I don't remember it being this explicit about the alien conspiracies, cover-ups, etc, etc …

More of a radio show than an audio book, this has David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson returning to their signature roles as Mulder and Scully respectively, alongside several other characters who 'died' in the series proper. It's also very 'episodic' - so was the TV show, alongside the larger occasional mythology episodes - although there is a narrative through-line throughout it all.

To be honest, I also found myself fast forwarding (or listening at sped-up speed) to large parts of it: I'm not sure whether it was the content, or because this misses a key component of the TV series (The visuals, and the lighting), but to me this was only OK: nothing in it that would make me want to rush out and purchase the sequel. A pity.
  
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)
Marissa Meyer | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (36 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was a great continuation of the story, however, I feel it suffered a bit from middle book syndrome - ie, where is purpose is to move the overall series plot forward, and so neglected to find its own internal arch. This resulted with a slightly unsatisfying feelings. This won't matter in the long run, as I'm still intrigued and captured by the series plotting, but as a stand alone it lacks a little bit of spark. Also, still no world building as to what causes Cyborgs to be reviled, though still not a deal breaker it would be nice if this was explained. Prejudices generally don't stem from pure revulsion. There's always some kind of warped logic or distortion of history. In my head canon it's that cyborg technology came about following the fourth world war, and the disgust at the horrors of that war, linked to all the now cyborg ex soldiers fueled the prejudice.
  
This series keeps getting better and better!

So many things grabbed me about this one: Sicarius and Sespian growing a little closer, that one (slightly) hot scene between Sicarius and Amaranthe, Akstyr's growth as a person: no longer the whiney young man he used to be...the group has just grown as a whole and I'm glad I followed their journey.

I'm still holding out for some more hot scenes between Sicarius and Amaranthe *fingers crossed* but after the ending of this and the journey they're going to go on to make everything right, I have a feeling there may not be any *sighs*

Nevertheless this is turning into one of my all time favourite series' ever! Lindsay Buroker you are a genius and I cant wait to read more of your work. Think I'll need a bit of a break in between though, lol, because they are emotionally tiring at times.
  
Pucked Off (Pucked #5)
Pucked Off (Pucked #5)
Helena Hunting | 2017 | Erotica, Humor & Comedy, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Pucked Off is the story of the sweet and haunted Lance and sports physio Poppy. Lance met Poppy when he was at his lowest, recovering not only from a sports injury playing ice hockey, but also when he was struggling to recover from the emotional abuse that seemed to follow him through his life.

Whilst this is predominantly part of a comical and erotic driven romance series, there is something sweet about this edition to the series. It allows this kind genuine man, surrounded by his "family" of ice hockey players and their partners,getting the girl of his dreams, a girl who will nurture and support him even on his darkest days. But will it be smooth running? Will it be a happy ending?

Helena Hunting again demonstrates her sense of humour and wickedness with Pucked Off, leaving the reader in stitches whilst their heart melts. Really enjoyed this story and couldn't think of a cuter pair!
  
Devil's Way (Kate Marshall #4)
Devil's Way (Kate Marshall #4)
Robert Bryndza | 2023 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is 4th in the Kate Marshall series and, in my opinion, this is a great series. This might not be the best one out of the 4 but it is equally as good. You don't have to have read any of the previous books as this works well as a standalone, but if you want my advice, I would read them anyway because they are really very good!

The characters are really strong and I am now quite attached to Kate and Tristan; they make an excellent partnership and I am particularly enjoying their character development as each book comes along. The pace was perfect for me and the story was full of intrigue and although I guessed the twist ... eventually, I really enjoyed how it all played out.

Mr Bryndza is now one of my go-to authors and I highly recommend his books and I must thank Raven Street Publishing and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of Devil's Way.
  
A Game of Thrones
A Game of Thrones
George R.R. Martin | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
4
8.8 (87 Ratings)
Book Rating
A Game of Thrones is one of the biggest success stories in my homeland of Northern Ireland, with many of our locations used in the HBO drama series.

Despite that, and despite knowing various people who are either directly involved (as extras) or peripherally involved (costumers) in the filming of the series, I've never actually seen a single episode of it.

Similarly, I (thought) I hadn't read any of the books in the series until I finally got round to reading this one, and realised not that far into it that, actually, yes, I had read it before - it just didn't really *stick* all that much with me (never a good sign).

Nevertheless, I still made it the entire way through the novel, which is told from a different character's perspective chapter about. As a result (I felt) the book feels somewhat fractured: just as
you're getting used to a particular narrator and their perspective, it's over to someone else ...

If I'm honest, there were also times when I felt like skipping chapters and sections of the book (those dealing with Sansa in particular), with not all the plot threads as gripping as each other.

The acid test of the novel? Would it make me more likely to hunt out and watch the TV series? Sadly, the answer is 'No, not really'.
  
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Angel
Cassandra Clare | 2010 | Children
8
9.0 (37 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well I have to say that I wasn't as in to this book as I was the Mortal Instruments series, but that is not at all to say that it wasn't a good read. It was. I think where I got hung up was in trying to figure out how this series ties in to the Mortal Instruments. I think if I had been able to let that go I would have enjoyed it more.
Clare's writing is still very well done. The plot took a little longer to develop than in her other books, but once it got going it did hook me in. The characters weren't as interesting to me. They seemed a bit too similar to Jace, Clary, & Alec. I will give the next book a read, but I will be hoping that it either ties in better to the first series or that the characters become more themselves than copies of the previous characters in her books.