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Pushing the Limits (Pushing the Limits, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, I'll start with, why haven't I read this sooner? I purchased this for 20p back in November 12 and it's now January 14?!?! Okay, so I guess I wasn't as into NA back then but since?

Anyway. This was good.

Both Echo and Noah have issues that they need to deal with. I liked them both from the first meeting in the counsellors office. So they didn't exactly get along to start with. So what?

Being able to read both POV was enlightening. Sometimes I prefer only seeing one but with this, seeing how Echo was dealing with her issues and how Noah was doing with his was great. I liked how they helped each other deal and how the counsellor worked with them both.

I liked them as a couple, better than Luke and Echo together anyway. In fact, most of Echo's friends were horrible. Noah's might have been stoner's but Isaiah was really nice. Not so sure about Beth though :/

Anyway. I have books 1.5, 2 and 3 in the series to be getting on with but unfortunately they will have to wait.
  
The Other Wind: An Earthsea Novel
The Other Wind: An Earthsea Novel
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I think this has been my favourite of the Earthsea novels. It tied all the previous stories together, and included two of my favourite characters - Tenar and Tehanu.

Again, there were times where I felt a little bored or lost, but when I was able to sit and really focus on reading it, I really did enjoy this book. I guess it's not really a "light" read.

This story focused more on dragons, and how humans had broken an ancient promise by seeking immortality. Women - who were previously seen as lesser than men - are invited to Roke, and help to bring peace amongst dragon and mankind.

The history of dragons and men being one species was a really interesting concept, as was the "other wind" that Irian and Tehanu long for. The ending was pretty sad, too - the bond between Tenar and Tehanu was so strong, but they knew that they would have to let each other go.

I definitely found this the most interesting out of the series. The writing is lovely (if a little archaic, but that fits the universe Le Guin has created) and I love some of the characters. 3.5 stars.
  
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989)
1989 | Horror
Sweet lord, this was a chore to sit through. The Elm Street series managed to tread a pretty solid path up until this point. Even the iffy fourth entry has some merit, but The Dream Child just gloriously falls apart. For starters, and I really try not to be cynical, but I do like when movies in general follow a set of rules. The main rule for ANOES is simply, don't fall asleep if you want to stay alive. By Part 5, it's really unclear if this still applies, and no one involved is even pretending to be making a coherent film apparently I don't expect Oscar winning screenplays from cheesy slashers, but the dialogue is especially awful. The entire cast sound like they've been given different scripts, the editing is all over the place, even Freddy (who is now in full blown quip mode) is spaffing one-liners that don't make a lick of sense. Then there's the small matter of the narrative falling off the rails in almost every aspect.
The only saving grace is the abundance of practical gore, which is pretty decent for the most part, but otherwise, fuck this entire film man.
  
The Hunter (Tales of Pern Coen: Bloodlines #1)
The Hunter (Tales of Pern Coen: Bloodlines #1)
Hannah E. Carey | 2020 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An Absolute Corker of a Book!
THE HUNTER is the first book in the Tales of Pern Coen (Bloodlines) series and I'm already hooked.

I love the mix of Celtic names and fantasy places. The characters are all life-like, whether you like them or not. And I really enjoyed seeing the war through different eyes. Alekos isn't a bad person but his actions are. He doesn't see anything different. Rhiannon's eyes have been opened and she has heard both sides of the story. She sees herself as weak when she is stronger than she realises. And Conor... what do I say about him? He's the grumpy heart-of-gold character that I fall for every single time!

This is the first book by this author I have read and I read it in one sitting. The plot was great, the pacing perfect, and the characters made me smile. An absolute corker of a book that I highly recommend.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
  
The Serial Killer's Daughter
The Serial Killer's Daughter
Alice Hunter | 2022 | Crime, Thriller
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As with the first in the series, The Serial Killer's Wife, this is not your usual serial killer story and although this is the second book, you don't have to have read the first ... this can be listened to/read as a standalone very easily.

Jenny is a local vet living with her husband and 2 children in a quiet village in Devon where nothing usually happens but then a young woman goes missing, Jenny is having blackouts and someone is leaving her "presents" on her doorstep. Jenny starts to doubt her own sanity and suspects those around her but could it be related to her father, the serial killer known as The Painted Lady Killer? Is Jenny taking after her father?

This is a great book to listen to and although it's a slow burner, it certainly kept me engaged throughout. It's full of suspense and mystery with a great twist at the end and I particularly liked the narrators who did a great job.

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to The Serial Killer's Daughter and share my thoughts.
  
Enchanted: Roberta's Story (The Academy #4)
Enchanted: Roberta's Story (The Academy #4)
D.D. Larsen | 2022 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
ENCHANTED is Roberta's story. We have already met Roberta in the other stories from The Academy, so we know some of her backstory. This gives a more in-depth view of it, including what life was like in the 1900s for independent young women.

Although I liked Roberta and Nate together, and can see and understand how Roberta thought he was her soul mate, I didn't quite connect with Nate by himself. If Roberta was indeed his soul mate, then I feel he did a grave injustice to her and himself by not choosing their life together and going the easy route.

For me, Ronin was one of the better characters and I was definitely left wanting more about Roberta's mum.

This was well-paced and full of attention to detail which made it a delight to read. A brilliant addition to the series and definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
  
The Great Maple Mistake (Love in Maplewood #8)
The Great Maple Mistake (Love in Maplewood #8)
Beck Grey | 2025 | Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE GREAT MAPLE MISTAKE is the eighth book in the Love in Maplewood series, although you don't have to have read any of the others.

Alex is a photographer, born and bred in Maplewood, with no plans to go anywhere else. Cody is a firefighter/EMT, newly arrived in Maplewood. He is having a private conversation with Alex and his best friend, Finn, about not liking Maple, when he is overheard and mistakenly assumed to be allergic to Maple. This is a running theme through the story.

Events move slowly but firmly in the right direction, with neither Alex nor Cody playing games. They are honest and open about what they want, and are happy to be together.

As with all books set in Maplewood, this is sweet enough to give you toothache, with little to no angst. A feel-good story that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 4, 2025