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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Invisible Library ( Book 1) in Books
Jul 7, 2022
116 of 230
Kindle
The Invisible Library ( Book 1)
By Genevieve Cogman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case – permanently . . .
Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.
Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested – the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.
Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.
The Invisible Library is followed by the second adventurous title in the The Invisible Library series, The Masked City.
I thought this was brilliant! It was definitely an appealing concept. Librarians crossed with Sherlock Holmes set in a steam punk environment with supernaturals what’s not to love? This is a new author for me too and I just loved her style. I’m so looking forward reading the rest of this series and more from the author too. I’m a sucker for Dragons too and this has powerful Dragons!
Kindle
The Invisible Library ( Book 1)
By Genevieve Cogman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case – permanently . . .
Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.
Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested – the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.
Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.
The Invisible Library is followed by the second adventurous title in the The Invisible Library series, The Masked City.
I thought this was brilliant! It was definitely an appealing concept. Librarians crossed with Sherlock Holmes set in a steam punk environment with supernaturals what’s not to love? This is a new author for me too and I just loved her style. I’m so looking forward reading the rest of this series and more from the author too. I’m a sucker for Dragons too and this has powerful Dragons!
Merissa (13931 KP) rated Frozen (Dark Faeverse #2) in Books
Dec 8, 2025
FROZEN is the second book in the Dark Faeverse series, although you don't need to have read book one first. The previous characters are mentioned, but not in a way that you need to know more about them.
Elise is the spoiled daughter of a merchant who is up to his neck in debt. So of course he sells his daughter. That's how the Frost Court planned it. Once Elise is there, her latent omega qualities come out, along with some brainwashing. Atarus gets what he wants, but isn't satisfied.
I am giving the three stars for the premise of this story. I liked the idea, even though I didn't find Atarus or Elise particularly likeable. What this book needed, though, was a massive edit! Even being read through by a beta reader should have picked up the plot holes, repeated (again and again!) questions and events, and the constantly changing personalities. And I'm not disrespecting beta readers at all! I won't list all the occasions, but they had me frequently scratching my head.
I have read quite a few by this author, and while I generally like them, I was disappointed in this book. However, after reading the last chapter, which introduces the next couple, I would still like to continue with the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dec 8, 2025
Elise is the spoiled daughter of a merchant who is up to his neck in debt. So of course he sells his daughter. That's how the Frost Court planned it. Once Elise is there, her latent omega qualities come out, along with some brainwashing. Atarus gets what he wants, but isn't satisfied.
I am giving the three stars for the premise of this story. I liked the idea, even though I didn't find Atarus or Elise particularly likeable. What this book needed, though, was a massive edit! Even being read through by a beta reader should have picked up the plot holes, repeated (again and again!) questions and events, and the constantly changing personalities. And I'm not disrespecting beta readers at all! I won't list all the occasions, but they had me frequently scratching my head.
I have read quite a few by this author, and while I generally like them, I was disappointed in this book. However, after reading the last chapter, which introduces the next couple, I would still like to continue with the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dec 8, 2025
Debbie (52 KP) rated Hooked on Murder (Crochet Mystery, #1) in Books
Aug 15, 2018
Hooked On Murder By: Betty Hechtman
Cozy Mystery 280 pages
Setting: Tarzana, California
I just love quick and fun mysteries. This book was one of those. I gave this book 4 stars. It is the first book in a series but not the first one I have read of hers. I have read this series out of order. It was nice to finally know somethings about the main character.
The main character is Molly Pink and she is a widow. Her husband left her in a good position so that she didn't have to work if she didn't want to. She has decided to go work and she works at a book store as an event coordinator. One of the events she has is a crocheting club, which she doesn't know how to do at the beginning of the book. The main leader in this group is murder and who finds her. You guess it it is Molly. You learn about the crochet leader and Molly in this book. One of the detectives is dating Molly and the other has it out for her because she wants Molly boyfriend. Did Molly kill the crochet leader? What about the boyfriend issue.I am afraid to go into a lot of detail because I don't want to spoil it for you.
At the back of the book the author gives you a recipe and a crochet pattern. I always like the little extras.
I hope you read this book and the rest of the series. They are fun.
Cozy Mystery 280 pages
Setting: Tarzana, California
I just love quick and fun mysteries. This book was one of those. I gave this book 4 stars. It is the first book in a series but not the first one I have read of hers. I have read this series out of order. It was nice to finally know somethings about the main character.
The main character is Molly Pink and she is a widow. Her husband left her in a good position so that she didn't have to work if she didn't want to. She has decided to go work and she works at a book store as an event coordinator. One of the events she has is a crocheting club, which she doesn't know how to do at the beginning of the book. The main leader in this group is murder and who finds her. You guess it it is Molly. You learn about the crochet leader and Molly in this book. One of the detectives is dating Molly and the other has it out for her because she wants Molly boyfriend. Did Molly kill the crochet leader? What about the boyfriend issue.I am afraid to go into a lot of detail because I don't want to spoil it for you.
At the back of the book the author gives you a recipe and a crochet pattern. I always like the little extras.
I hope you read this book and the rest of the series. They are fun.
Merissa (13931 KP) rated The Rogue King (Inferno Rising #1) in Books
Jul 30, 2019
The Rogue King by Abigail Owen
The Rogue King is the first book in the Inferno Rising series, and has firmly placed this author on my favourites list, even though this is the first book of hers I have read!
It has quite a sad beginning, which sets the story for the rest of it. You immediately get a feel of who is 'good' and who is 'bad', even if the characters themselves are unsure just where they belong. Speaking of the characters, I loved Brand and Kasia. They are the perfect match, and I loved Kasia's stubborn, feisty, yet at times oh-so-logical attitude. Brand is the possessive alpha who has no idea he's met the woman who is his perfect match.
The story is intriguing from start to finish, and I really want to continue with this series. I need to know more about each of the sisters, and just what their stories will be. The epilogue is intriguing and I can't wait to see the sparks between Skylar and Ladon.
It's not very often I will give out a five-star review for the first of a series, but this one just ticked all of my boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
It has quite a sad beginning, which sets the story for the rest of it. You immediately get a feel of who is 'good' and who is 'bad', even if the characters themselves are unsure just where they belong. Speaking of the characters, I loved Brand and Kasia. They are the perfect match, and I loved Kasia's stubborn, feisty, yet at times oh-so-logical attitude. Brand is the possessive alpha who has no idea he's met the woman who is his perfect match.
The story is intriguing from start to finish, and I really want to continue with this series. I need to know more about each of the sisters, and just what their stories will be. The epilogue is intriguing and I can't wait to see the sparks between Skylar and Ladon.
It's not very often I will give out a five-star review for the first of a series, but this one just ticked all of my boxes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Absolutely recommended by me.
* 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!
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2528 KP) rated The Decorator Who Knew Too Much in Books
Mar 19, 2022
Did Madison Find a Dead Body?
It’s been seven months since we last saw Madison, and she’s been enjoying her new relationship with Hudson James. When he suggestions they take a working vacation to Palm Springs to help his brother-in-law with a project he has going on there, she accepts. However, their first day there, Madison spots a dead body below the surface of the river that runs near the project site. By the time the police show up, the body is gone. The delays to the project and the suspicion that Madison just imagined what she said she saw begin to make the trip stressful. How can Madison prove she was right?
As I expected, I was caught up in Madison’s latest adventure once I opened the book. The stakes are soon personal, and I loved watching how everything unfolded. The climax was suspenseful and answered all of our questions. We do get some updates on someone back in Dallas, but the focus is, naturally, on Madison and Hudson for this book. The rest of the characters are just as sharp. The Doris Day movie that inspired this title was the only one I had watched before starting to read this series, and I enjoyed picking up on the Easter eggs from the film in this book. Not that you need to be familiar with the film to enjoy this story. If you are looking for a creative series that will keep you glued to the page, this is the series for you.
As I expected, I was caught up in Madison’s latest adventure once I opened the book. The stakes are soon personal, and I loved watching how everything unfolded. The climax was suspenseful and answered all of our questions. We do get some updates on someone back in Dallas, but the focus is, naturally, on Madison and Hudson for this book. The rest of the characters are just as sharp. The Doris Day movie that inspired this title was the only one I had watched before starting to read this series, and I enjoyed picking up on the Easter eggs from the film in this book. Not that you need to be familiar with the film to enjoy this story. If you are looking for a creative series that will keep you glued to the page, this is the series for you.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2528 KP) rated Murder at the Majestic Hotel in Books
Jul 14, 2023 (Updated Jul 14, 2023)
Honeymoon Interrupted but a Not So Sweet Death
This book picks up a couple of days after the third book ended. The newly married Stella and Lyndy have just arrived in York for their honeymoon, but they discover that, despite their reservation for the honeymoon suite, it has been taken by someone else for the night. The interloper is Horace Wingrove, owner of England’s most popular chocolate company. The next morning, Wingrove is dead, and Stella and Lyndy can’t help but worry that this might have been their fate had their reservation been honored. But Stella sees a few things that don’t quite make sense to her. Will she figure out what is really going on?
If you haven’t read this series yet, be aware that this book spoils some of the previous book in the series. It only makes sense considering what happened and how close in time this book is to the previous one. The plot seemed to wander a bit before it came into focus, but once it did, I was hooked, and things made sense at the end. While I enjoyed seeing Stella and Lyndy’s relationship continue to grow, I did miss some of the other regulars and the complications they bring. But the characters we did get to meet are good. The multiple viewpoint narration is great at bringing us the story as always. I also enjoyed the little bit of real history that is twisted into the plot. Fans of historical mysteries will be glad they picked up this series.
If you haven’t read this series yet, be aware that this book spoils some of the previous book in the series. It only makes sense considering what happened and how close in time this book is to the previous one. The plot seemed to wander a bit before it came into focus, but once it did, I was hooked, and things made sense at the end. While I enjoyed seeing Stella and Lyndy’s relationship continue to grow, I did miss some of the other regulars and the complications they bring. But the characters we did get to meet are good. The multiple viewpoint narration is great at bringing us the story as always. I also enjoyed the little bit of real history that is twisted into the plot. Fans of historical mysteries will be glad they picked up this series.
Debbiereadsbook (1715 KP) rated Cypher (The Dragon's Bidding #2) in Books
Aug 9, 2021
read book 1 first!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in The Dragon’s Bidding series, and it cannot be read as a stand-alone. You NEED to read A Hero For an Empire before this one and I would recommend you read them back to back. It’s been 4 years since I read the first one, and I think that’s why I feel as I do about this one. I did not have time to reread book one before reading this one!
I found this a much more difficult read, to follow. It’s heavy on the technical stuff and at times I struggled to keep up.
It moves fast, and even though I had to slow down my reading (which is usually a good thing!) I still struggled a bit.
Fitz and Wolf’s relationship is intense in book one, and that flows over into this one. That fact, and the fact we meet Cypher here, are what made me able to finish this book.
Cypher takes over Wolf’s body, his muscles and his bones but not his mind. He can see what Cypher is doing and is helpless to stop it. He has to trust his love for Fitz, Ari and the others in his life will tide him through and THEY will get to the bottom of it all.
It is HEAVY on the fighting/violence scale. While I enjoyed that in book one, it was a not so much here.
Things are still not where Wolf, Fitz and Ari want them to be, and I expect it may take more than one more book to make it so.
I have Cypher’s book to read next, and given what happens here, I’m looking forward to that.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This is book 2 in The Dragon’s Bidding series, and it cannot be read as a stand-alone. You NEED to read A Hero For an Empire before this one and I would recommend you read them back to back. It’s been 4 years since I read the first one, and I think that’s why I feel as I do about this one. I did not have time to reread book one before reading this one!
I found this a much more difficult read, to follow. It’s heavy on the technical stuff and at times I struggled to keep up.
It moves fast, and even though I had to slow down my reading (which is usually a good thing!) I still struggled a bit.
Fitz and Wolf’s relationship is intense in book one, and that flows over into this one. That fact, and the fact we meet Cypher here, are what made me able to finish this book.
Cypher takes over Wolf’s body, his muscles and his bones but not his mind. He can see what Cypher is doing and is helpless to stop it. He has to trust his love for Fitz, Ari and the others in his life will tide him through and THEY will get to the bottom of it all.
It is HEAVY on the fighting/violence scale. While I enjoyed that in book one, it was a not so much here.
Things are still not where Wolf, Fitz and Ari want them to be, and I expect it may take more than one more book to make it so.
I have Cypher’s book to read next, and given what happens here, I’m looking forward to that.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Debbiereadsbook (1715 KP) rated Make The Hurt (Pretty Deadly Things #4) in Books
Apr 1, 2026
thoroughly enjoying these books!
Independent reviewer fro BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, and I do recommend that you read these books in order. There is an ongoing plot arc, that is referenced but not fully recapped.
I found this one a bit darker that the other 3, and they have all had darker undertones, but this one hit me a little different. I'm not really sure why, but Book Feelings, people, I'm all about the Book Feelings!
Ozzy rescues Salem from a trafficking ring. Then it all spirals out of control and Ozzy and Salem are running, her father has surfaced after years and there is a shock for all involved.
What I'm iking about these books is, I can see the net closing in, around this traficking ring they are all trying to pull down. Slowly, but it's still closing. Things move fast in this book, with a few twists and turns I really did not see coming! Seriously, those twists were pulled out of nowhere and I was like, say WHAT NOW??
I've tagged this book as happy for now, because Ozzy and Salem's story feels unfinished. And I think their HEA will come in the next book. There are some things that need concluding, and they aren't here.
There is a sneak peek at the next book. BAr the first line, I did not read it. I will read the book when it comes out, but I didn't want to be left hanging for Lord knows how long!
I'm thoroughly enjoying these books, this author. While they are all very similar, they are sufficently different to keep me entertained.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 4 in the Pretty Deadly Things series, and I do recommend that you read these books in order. There is an ongoing plot arc, that is referenced but not fully recapped.
I found this one a bit darker that the other 3, and they have all had darker undertones, but this one hit me a little different. I'm not really sure why, but Book Feelings, people, I'm all about the Book Feelings!
Ozzy rescues Salem from a trafficking ring. Then it all spirals out of control and Ozzy and Salem are running, her father has surfaced after years and there is a shock for all involved.
What I'm iking about these books is, I can see the net closing in, around this traficking ring they are all trying to pull down. Slowly, but it's still closing. Things move fast in this book, with a few twists and turns I really did not see coming! Seriously, those twists were pulled out of nowhere and I was like, say WHAT NOW??
I've tagged this book as happy for now, because Ozzy and Salem's story feels unfinished. And I think their HEA will come in the next book. There are some things that need concluding, and they aren't here.
There is a sneak peek at the next book. BAr the first line, I did not read it. I will read the book when it comes out, but I didn't want to be left hanging for Lord knows how long!
I'm thoroughly enjoying these books, this author. While they are all very similar, they are sufficently different to keep me entertained.
4 very good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Brooklyn Nine-Nine in TV
Dec 3, 2019 (Updated Dec 3, 2019)
Brooķyn 99 out of 100
Contains spoilers, click to show
I was not expecting to like this series, but I actually found it drew me in.
Detective Jake Parolta is a cop in the 99th precinct New York, young, headstrong and obsessed with all things cop.
Working by his side are Amy Santiargo, a rule following stationary lover, Rosa Diaz, a hard and scary detective who like her weapons and Sargent Terry Jeffords, a super buff health but who refers to himself in the third person.
The series starts with the introduction of their new captain; Raymond Holt, a hard working and articulate chap, who is not a shower of emotions.
These are just some of the characters, and just a few of their details, there are so many more as they work hard to rid the streets of Brooklyn of crime.
As the series progresses we learn more about the characters and follow them as they live their lives, and face the titles and tribulations of being a cop in a big city.
It is clever, funny with a lot of heart, not to mention the silly and the slapstick, there is something for everyone.
Though I am starting to feel it is looking it's way, I hope it will find it's way back.
Detective Jake Parolta is a cop in the 99th precinct New York, young, headstrong and obsessed with all things cop.
Working by his side are Amy Santiargo, a rule following stationary lover, Rosa Diaz, a hard and scary detective who like her weapons and Sargent Terry Jeffords, a super buff health but who refers to himself in the third person.
The series starts with the introduction of their new captain; Raymond Holt, a hard working and articulate chap, who is not a shower of emotions.
These are just some of the characters, and just a few of their details, there are so many more as they work hard to rid the streets of Brooklyn of crime.
As the series progresses we learn more about the characters and follow them as they live their lives, and face the titles and tribulations of being a cop in a big city.
It is clever, funny with a lot of heart, not to mention the silly and the slapstick, there is something for everyone.
Though I am starting to feel it is looking it's way, I hope it will find it's way back.
Clarissa Oakes
Book
Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin tales are widely acknowledged to be the greatest series of...