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His Dark Materials
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His Dark Materials is an upcoming British fantasy adventure series based on the novel series of the...
David McK (3623 KP) rated Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, #11) in Books
Aug 27, 2021
Another excellent entry in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series: better than the one before it (Small Favour), but not the best entry in the series as a whole.
This time, Dresden must uncover who has framed Warden Morgan - formerly his chief prosecutor on the White Council - and see if he can uncover the traitor within the ranks of that body.
By the end of the novel, the world (as a whole) has become a somewhat shadier place: how do you know what the right thing to do is, when there is no clear-cut right or wrong?
This time, Dresden must uncover who has framed Warden Morgan - formerly his chief prosecutor on the White Council - and see if he can uncover the traitor within the ranks of that body.
By the end of the novel, the world (as a whole) has become a somewhat shadier place: how do you know what the right thing to do is, when there is no clear-cut right or wrong?
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated A Girl From Forever (The Forever Institute #1) in Books
Oct 4, 2021
amazing
What would you do if you were kidnapped in the middle of the night and end up finding out that everything you've ever known is a lie! Fern has been kept a secret for her whole life now she must discover who she really is.
An absolutely action packed Thriller of a novel I was gripped from the get go. The way Yolanda has written absolutely captivates your imagination and takes you on the journey along with the characters I round myself getting nervous at points worrying about the outcome. I will definitely be reading the other 2 books!
Absolute must read
An absolutely action packed Thriller of a novel I was gripped from the get go. The way Yolanda has written absolutely captivates your imagination and takes you on the journey along with the characters I round myself getting nervous at points worrying about the outcome. I will definitely be reading the other 2 books!
Absolute must read
David McK (3623 KP) rated Sharpe's Mission (1996) in Movies
Dec 8, 2022
Sharpe's Mission.
This, I believe, is the only Sean Bean led Sharpe made-for-TV movie NOT to be based on a Sharpe novel by Bernard Cornwell, even although it is written well enough that it very well could have been!
As with all of the Sharpe stories, you know pretty much what to expect: Sharpe is sent on a dangerous mission (here, to blow up a French ammunition supply during the closing stages of the Peninsular War), and ends up fighting just as much against those in authority on his own side as against the French ...
This, I believe, is the only Sean Bean led Sharpe made-for-TV movie NOT to be based on a Sharpe novel by Bernard Cornwell, even although it is written well enough that it very well could have been!
As with all of the Sharpe stories, you know pretty much what to expect: Sharpe is sent on a dangerous mission (here, to blow up a French ammunition supply during the closing stages of the Peninsular War), and ends up fighting just as much against those in authority on his own side as against the French ...
David McK (3623 KP) rated BattleTech Legends: Mercenary's Star (Gray Death trilogy #2) in Books
Sep 7, 2025
The second in William H. Keith Jr's 'The Gray Death Legion' trilogy, set in the BattleTech universe and following on from 'Decision at Thunder Rift'.
I do have to wonder, though, why this one is so titled when the vast bulk of the novel has little to no connection at all to the 'Mercenary's Star' of the title, other than that is where the Gray Death legion are contacted for their latest job!
Anyway, those who are into the whole BattleTech universe will get more out of this than those who are not - personally, I'm a little m'eh on the whole setting.
I do have to wonder, though, why this one is so titled when the vast bulk of the novel has little to no connection at all to the 'Mercenary's Star' of the title, other than that is where the Gray Death legion are contacted for their latest job!
Anyway, those who are into the whole BattleTech universe will get more out of this than those who are not - personally, I'm a little m'eh on the whole setting.
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated The Ritual in Books
Nov 17, 2017
Great Horror, Could have been shorter.
So you know when you’re watching a horror movie and there’s an unseen being involved and you only catch little glimpses here and there throughout the film, and when you do actually see it you think (or more likely, scream out) WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
Yeah that’s basically what you get throughout the book. It could be similar horror elements like Blair Witch Project, only you do find out what it is towards the latter part of the story. (And it’s still pretty creepy to figure out and picture).
I really do enjoy the horror aspects in this book and the feelings it invokes. You can really feel the desperation, frustration, and anguish felt within the characters. Tempers flare and understandably fights happen from within the group. You feel Luke’s anger and his highs and lows as you follow him throughout this horror journey.
There’s not many twists or blindside moments in this book it’s pretty much standard that you would see in horror books but the setting is very well done. A remote forest in Scandinavia while there’s something big and bad out there provides great atmosphere for the dark and scary.
It does drag out through the last third of the novel where you just have to feel for Luke and you wonder how much the human spirit can take. The ending really should have ended about 50 pages ago and there is repetition through the novel that some may find a trial to go through when reading. It’s manageable most of the time but I was close to losing my interest towards the end of the novel but powered through. It was still an enjoyable read, and recommended for those that want a good solid horror.
I’ll be reading more of his books for sure. I enjoyed the thrill and can only imagine what his other books will be like.
Yeah that’s basically what you get throughout the book. It could be similar horror elements like Blair Witch Project, only you do find out what it is towards the latter part of the story. (And it’s still pretty creepy to figure out and picture).
I really do enjoy the horror aspects in this book and the feelings it invokes. You can really feel the desperation, frustration, and anguish felt within the characters. Tempers flare and understandably fights happen from within the group. You feel Luke’s anger and his highs and lows as you follow him throughout this horror journey.
There’s not many twists or blindside moments in this book it’s pretty much standard that you would see in horror books but the setting is very well done. A remote forest in Scandinavia while there’s something big and bad out there provides great atmosphere for the dark and scary.
It does drag out through the last third of the novel where you just have to feel for Luke and you wonder how much the human spirit can take. The ending really should have ended about 50 pages ago and there is repetition through the novel that some may find a trial to go through when reading. It’s manageable most of the time but I was close to losing my interest towards the end of the novel but powered through. It was still an enjoyable read, and recommended for those that want a good solid horror.
I’ll be reading more of his books for sure. I enjoyed the thrill and can only imagine what his other books will be like.
JadedBubbles (1 KP) rated The King in Books
Jan 3, 2018
Wraith and Beth finally return!
This is the 13th installment to the Black Dagger Brotherhood novels by J.R. Ward. This story goes back to Wraith and Beth, who haven;t had their own novel since the first book of the series. We also see the history of Wraith's parents, who we have only heard of, but do not really know much about until now.
The book has some really good plot points finally coming about after a few books of build up from the Band of Bastards and the Glymeria, as well as Trez and iAm getting a spot light, hinting at the contents of the next novel, since it will be revolving around them.
In this novel Wraith and Beth are coming to an impasse regarding their future; Beth, who has yet to go into her Needing, would like nothing more than to have a child of her own. She knows her life has meaning as the Queen of the race, but she feels a hole in her life that only a young can fill. Wraith, who was orphaned at a young age when his parents were killed in a raid, does not want to subject his future offspring to his same fate, ruling the race from behind a massive wooden desk hating life. Not to mention the risk to Beth.
I found that I could relate to Beth very easily, and even though I really hated the way that Wraith reacted when he found out Beth wanted a child, I could see his point too. No one wants to lose the one they love more than life itself. the dialogue between characters was fun and witty, and events followed a logical progression and conclusion (trying to not give away details is so hard) that were satisfying.
Overall, if you are a fan of this series and you have not read this book yet, it is a must read! Especially if you love Beth and Wraith as much as I do.
The book has some really good plot points finally coming about after a few books of build up from the Band of Bastards and the Glymeria, as well as Trez and iAm getting a spot light, hinting at the contents of the next novel, since it will be revolving around them.
In this novel Wraith and Beth are coming to an impasse regarding their future; Beth, who has yet to go into her Needing, would like nothing more than to have a child of her own. She knows her life has meaning as the Queen of the race, but she feels a hole in her life that only a young can fill. Wraith, who was orphaned at a young age when his parents were killed in a raid, does not want to subject his future offspring to his same fate, ruling the race from behind a massive wooden desk hating life. Not to mention the risk to Beth.
I found that I could relate to Beth very easily, and even though I really hated the way that Wraith reacted when he found out Beth wanted a child, I could see his point too. No one wants to lose the one they love more than life itself. the dialogue between characters was fun and witty, and events followed a logical progression and conclusion (trying to not give away details is so hard) that were satisfying.
Overall, if you are a fan of this series and you have not read this book yet, it is a must read! Especially if you love Beth and Wraith as much as I do.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated You Will Know Me in Books
Jan 10, 2018
Suspenseful (1 more)
Well-written
Katie Knox's life basically revolves around her teenage daughter, Devon, an extremely talented gymnast who is on a path to the Olympics. Katie and her husband, Eric, have given up their lives, their time, and their money for Devon's dream. But when a sudden death hits their close gymnastic community a few weeks before an important competition, this dream suddenly seems in jeopardy. Devon's fellow gymnasts and their families are awash in gossip as their beloved coach and his family deal with an unexpected loss. Katie wants only to focus on healing and moving on, but she finds her family drawn into the swirl, as each day reveals more surprises about her daughter and husband.
This novel was a very realistic look at the gymnastics world. You could easily picture Devon's gym and the cutthroat parents who populated it, forcing the weight of the world on Devon's shoulders, as they believed the gym's success rides on her shoulders. She captured their gossip and competition quite well. It also did an excellent job of portraying the lengths parents will go to support and protect their children. I guessed the outcome of this one fairly early on, but still found it fairly tense and suspenseful. In fact, this novel is almost too tense at times to be enjoyable, even though it's rather well-written and quite compelling. It's a trainwreck; you can't walk away, even though you know how it will end.
The book is intriguing in that it's written from Katie's perspective, despite the fact that it's basically all about Devon. This adds to the suspense -- how reliable is Katie, and how much does she truly know about Devon, her husband, and her younger son? There are times when you'd really love to key in on what Devon is thinking (and what she knows), which just adds to the tantalizingly frustrating element of this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, though it wasn't one of my all-time favorite thrillers. Still, it's a quick, compelling read. 3.5 stars.
This novel was a very realistic look at the gymnastics world. You could easily picture Devon's gym and the cutthroat parents who populated it, forcing the weight of the world on Devon's shoulders, as they believed the gym's success rides on her shoulders. She captured their gossip and competition quite well. It also did an excellent job of portraying the lengths parents will go to support and protect their children. I guessed the outcome of this one fairly early on, but still found it fairly tense and suspenseful. In fact, this novel is almost too tense at times to be enjoyable, even though it's rather well-written and quite compelling. It's a trainwreck; you can't walk away, even though you know how it will end.
The book is intriguing in that it's written from Katie's perspective, despite the fact that it's basically all about Devon. This adds to the suspense -- how reliable is Katie, and how much does she truly know about Devon, her husband, and her younger son? There are times when you'd really love to key in on what Devon is thinking (and what she knows), which just adds to the tantalizingly frustrating element of this novel.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, though it wasn't one of my all-time favorite thrillers. Still, it's a quick, compelling read. 3.5 stars.
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Ninth City Burning in Books
May 16, 2018
J. Patrick Black’s debut novel, Ninth City Burning, is an incredibly intense ride alongside humanity’s bid for survival against an alien race seeking Earth’s destruction. Complete with a wide cast of unique characters with their own voices, this novel has earned its place among my favorites.
More often than not, I’m wary of books with shifting first-person. In this case, readers meet seven different points of view – and every single one of those characters have their own voices. I find this impressive, considering the frequency with which Black switches between his cast. (Actually, I find myself wondering how he approached writing the different views, as they are so starkly different.)
For the most part, all but two of these characters feel real. Jax and Naomi are the exception, as they both appear extremely mature for their age. While Jax does have a military upbringing, Naomi is a bit too advanced for a child of a nomadic lifestyle. There’s also a dash of romance in this book that feels a bit too forced.
Ninth City Burning also manages to blur the line between science-fiction and epic fantasy, which is an oddly unique feeling to encounter while reading. Magic and science both play heavy roles in this novel, and I imagine the former of those two, coupled with the camaraderie between the main characters, is precisely why this book is recommended for fans of Harry Potter.
The agonizingly slow build-up to action further lends to the epic fantasy feel of this book, a feat that I remain unsure of presently. While it leads to less action and battle in the meat of the book, it also serves as an opportunity for Black to further unravel this beautiful world he has created.
Ninth City Burning is definitely a book I’ll be recommending to my friends and readers who prefer science-fiction. I would like to thank Blogging for Books for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.
More often than not, I’m wary of books with shifting first-person. In this case, readers meet seven different points of view – and every single one of those characters have their own voices. I find this impressive, considering the frequency with which Black switches between his cast. (Actually, I find myself wondering how he approached writing the different views, as they are so starkly different.)
For the most part, all but two of these characters feel real. Jax and Naomi are the exception, as they both appear extremely mature for their age. While Jax does have a military upbringing, Naomi is a bit too advanced for a child of a nomadic lifestyle. There’s also a dash of romance in this book that feels a bit too forced.
Ninth City Burning also manages to blur the line between science-fiction and epic fantasy, which is an oddly unique feeling to encounter while reading. Magic and science both play heavy roles in this novel, and I imagine the former of those two, coupled with the camaraderie between the main characters, is precisely why this book is recommended for fans of Harry Potter.
The agonizingly slow build-up to action further lends to the epic fantasy feel of this book, a feat that I remain unsure of presently. While it leads to less action and battle in the meat of the book, it also serves as an opportunity for Black to further unravel this beautiful world he has created.
Ninth City Burning is definitely a book I’ll be recommending to my friends and readers who prefer science-fiction. I would like to thank Blogging for Books for providing me with a copy of this book for the purpose of unbiased review.