Search

Search only in certain items:

Storm Front: The Dresden Files, Book 1
Storm Front: The Dresden Files, Book 1
Jim Butcher | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.1 (57 Ratings)
Book Rating
A great read and an addictive world worth diving into headlong. (0 more)
Suffers only from it being the first novel and the world not quite feeling polished yet. (0 more)
An exellent introduction into Harry Dresden's world
My lowest score for a Dresden novel ad it's only because I read this book after watching the short-lived TV series The Dresden Files. My perception of Harry was skewed by the excellent Paul Blackthorn portrayal and this book suffered because of it, in my eyes.
I went back to reread this book after the second novel came out and realised my error. The book was so much better than I remembered. Harry as a flawed individual but he is very human in that regard and we can identify with him, despite his magical powers.
Give it a read and dive into the world that keeps getting better with every new book, short story and graphic novel.
  
Murder In Steeple Martin
Murder In Steeple Martin
Lesley Cookman | 2006 | Crime, Mystery
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Slow starter but soon pulls you in
This book starts a little slowly but very soon rewards those who stick with it and becomes one of the most engaging books I have read in a long time. Vaguely reminiscent of Agatha Raisin, in that the heroine is a dumpy middle-aged, neurotic woman who lives in deeply rural England with a cat. Yet this is by no means a rip-off.

Somewhat less manic than A.R., both series carry on an old and well-established style of British Mystery writing. That said, it is clear that Lesley Cookman has gone out of her way to break some of the rules. For example there is only -shock, horror!- *one* murder in her book;her characters have no access to the Police enquiry, so are working completly in the dark; and as much as she can she has avoided having characters do obviously stupid things.

This is not an earth-shattering book, but it is a thoroughly good read.
  
TS
The Syndrome (Kingdom Keepers, #7.5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
When Amanda can’t reach any of the Kingdom Keepers for a few days, she travels from California to Florida to try to find them – only when she arrives, she discovers it is worse than she feared. Meanwhile, Jess is having visions again that show Amanda might be in danger. What is going on?

How could this DisNerd not love this series, and the transition book to a new story is filled once again with twists, danger, and lots of fun. The scenes in the parks are exceptionally well done as always, plus I felt that we really got to know Amanda and Jess in this book. The first person narration does alternate between several people, and it works well, although at times I feel like it needlessly repeats scenes. My biggest complaint is sloppy editing, however.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/08/book-review-syndrome-by-ridley-pearson.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Ready Player One
Ready Player One
Ernest Cline | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.9 (161 Ratings)
Book Rating
10 years late I figure out how to review after I already posted the rating - OOPS - I shall never do that again.

I'm a sucker now for gaming books, who knew? Sci Fi and Gaming has now become some of my favourite genres to read. This book has a very specific gaming objective - find the egg. My kind of game, aside from the plethora of infoduming available in this book, which kind of got annoying (a bit over descriptive to me) it was a joy to read all of the old 80s things, and of course, find out who wins! I do believe Art3mis was my favourite of the characters in the book, not main but she held her own - and the great and powerful og (I died when I read that line) was superb.

I'm taking a stab at book 2 now that this is a series <spoiler> I believe that it's going to have to do with the button of doom </spoiler>
  
When the Gloves Come Off
When the Gloves Come Off
Armada West | 2017 | Erotica, Fiction & Poetry, Romance
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (2 more)
Unpredictable
Smut Scenes
Twists & turns that are sure to keep you guessing
I was first introduced to Armada West when I read her vampire series war/SONG and I definitely fell in love with her writing style. I was a little hesitant to read this one simply because it was in a different style than the last one. When the Gloves Come Off is a contemporary romance that has basically everything you could want. It has hot sex scenes, decently developed characters, mafia men, shoot outs and a plot that will keep you guessing.

I'm an avid romance reader and I find that many of the books I have read are predictable, this was not one of them. There were twists and turns and many times I wanted to throw my book down because one of the twists came out of left field.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. If you haven't read Armada West, I highly recommend it!
  
40x40

Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Chosen Ones in Books

Oct 20, 2018  
The Chosen Ones
The Chosen Ones
Howard Linskey | 2018 | Crime, Thriller
8
8.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have never read anything by Howard Linskey before but if this book is anything to go by, I won't be making that mistake again ... what a great read and even though this is book number 4 in the series, I don't think it's totally necessary to have read the previous ones. Yes you may miss out on some of the back story and relationship building that has gone on before but I think there is enough provided to give you a good idea but not so much that it becomes tedious.

The writing flows well making it easy to read and with great characters, creepy and disturbing storyline and a great ending, I have no hesitation in recommending this to those who enjoy a good police procedural with a psychologically thrilling edge.

Thanks go to the publisher, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and for introducing me to another fantastic British author.
  
40x40

Merissa (13063 KP) rated Tigana in Books

Dec 17, 2018  
T
Tigana
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another stunner of a book by GGK although this one is a stand alone book and is based loosely on Italy in the 11th and 12th centuries.

In so many ways similar to The Fionavar Tapestry series but so different too. A brief synopsis is that there has been a major battle between 2 wizards in which one of the wizard's sons dies. In revenge the wizard removes the name "Tigana" from the memories and vocabularies of its inhabitants so that eventually the name will die, just like his son did.

This story is so intricate and involved and it is not a clear black/white, good/evil book which is what makes it such a superb read. Everything about is well written, from the villains to the locations to the history that you are given.

This book is bittersweet and poignant and I'll leave it to you to see if there is a happy ending.

Certainly classed as a classic by me and a firm favourite.