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Jimmy Hayward recommended Akira (1988) in Movies (curated)
Neneh Cherry recommended Daughter of Fortune in Books (curated)
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Vanquished (Hell Kat #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2021
3.5 stars.
It was a little shaky at the start for me, what with their being a sex scene almost straight away, but once Hades entered the picture I was quite content to continue reading.
I found the storyline good but also a little odd in places, it was like a mix of different genre's; futuristic, paranormal, fantasy.
Can't say I was a fan of the ending but since I know there's a second book in the series, it helps to create a...foothold? shall we say for it to continue from.
It was a little shaky at the start for me, what with their being a sex scene almost straight away, but once Hades entered the picture I was quite content to continue reading.
I found the storyline good but also a little odd in places, it was like a mix of different genre's; futuristic, paranormal, fantasy.
Can't say I was a fan of the ending but since I know there's a second book in the series, it helps to create a...foothold? shall we say for it to continue from.
Contains spoilers, click to show
I wasn't sure on the book at first but I got into it after a couple of chapters. It's one of those books where you want to tell the character what is really going on as they can't see it/are blind to it. You need to keep reading as you can't wait to see what happens. There are surprises in store especially at the end. All the pieces finally fit together to reveal the full picture.
ClareR (5603 KP) rated The Court of Miracles in Books
Nov 29, 2020
The Court of Miracles grabbed me from the first paragraph and kept me enthralled for the rest of the book. As I was reading it, I could fully picture the roads and alleys of Paris, see the inside of the Courts, watch Nina as she crept in to the Palace to steal from a sleeping prince. It was cinematic. And this was just the first couple of chapters. I thought that this couldn’t possibly keep up for the whole book: the pictures, the movie in fact, in my head would lose it’s momentum. It didn’t.
As for the characters, I was fully invested in them. Nina is brave, an adventurer with a strict moral code, the naive, innocent Ettie who needs protection from Nina’s wicked father, Thenardier, who would sell his own daughter to a ‘Flesh Trader’, as well as the evil Tiger (the man Thenardier sold his eldest daughter to). These are all such colourful characters - I could see them all as I read about them. I’m a very visual reader. I have a definite picture in my head of the characters I read about. This book made that easy.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this (I’m assuming) trilogy. The Court of Miracles has really captured my imagination and my heart.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and the publisher for making it possible. And thanks again to The Pigeonhole for helping to put a dent in my NetGalley reading list!!
As for the characters, I was fully invested in them. Nina is brave, an adventurer with a strict moral code, the naive, innocent Ettie who needs protection from Nina’s wicked father, Thenardier, who would sell his own daughter to a ‘Flesh Trader’, as well as the evil Tiger (the man Thenardier sold his eldest daughter to). These are all such colourful characters - I could see them all as I read about them. I’m a very visual reader. I have a definite picture in my head of the characters I read about. This book made that easy.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this (I’m assuming) trilogy. The Court of Miracles has really captured my imagination and my heart.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this, and the publisher for making it possible. And thanks again to The Pigeonhole for helping to put a dent in my NetGalley reading list!!
Emma (519 KP) rated Dark Winter in Books
Jun 13, 2019
Local story
I took this book on holiday with me,Ironically to the western highlands where the main character is from, and I live 20 miles from Hull where the story is based, which is why the story resonated wirh me so well. I enjoyed the feeling of being able to picture the areas that are being described in the book.
I thought for a debut novel David Mark did a fantastic job of keeping the reader enthralled by the drama of the story, but also kept the story nice and concise, it didn't drag on too long. Also I managed to guess who the culprit was, but had to read all the way to the end to find out how he/she was connected with the whole case.
Overall a very good book and I will definitely be buying more from this author.
I thought for a debut novel David Mark did a fantastic job of keeping the reader enthralled by the drama of the story, but also kept the story nice and concise, it didn't drag on too long. Also I managed to guess who the culprit was, but had to read all the way to the end to find out how he/she was connected with the whole case.
Overall a very good book and I will definitely be buying more from this author.
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated The Toad in Books
Jun 18, 2018
<a href="https://awindowintobooks.wordpress.com">Full Review</a>
The Toad by Elise Gravel is part of the Disgusting Critters Series. It is a non-fiction picture book about all things toads. The book shows how toads relate to frogs, their habitat, and food. It also shows that there are different kinds of toad breeds. Beyond talking about the different kinds of toads, the readers learn about their skin and the bumps. Readers learn that the pests that toads eat help to keep the insects at a reasonable amount so we humans don't have to deal with them as much.
The text in the book is presented in an easy way to read which is both entertaining and funny. The illustrations are a great visual that accompanies the text.
I received an advanced readers copy from Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Toad by Elise Gravel is part of the Disgusting Critters Series. It is a non-fiction picture book about all things toads. The book shows how toads relate to frogs, their habitat, and food. It also shows that there are different kinds of toad breeds. Beyond talking about the different kinds of toads, the readers learn about their skin and the bumps. Readers learn that the pests that toads eat help to keep the insects at a reasonable amount so we humans don't have to deal with them as much.
The text in the book is presented in an easy way to read which is both entertaining and funny. The illustrations are a great visual that accompanies the text.
I received an advanced readers copy from Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Taste of Beirut by Joumana Accad is an incredibly comprehensive introduction to preparing Lebanese cuisine. Taste of Beirut is a love story of history, culture, and food simply blossoming chapter after chapter, after chapter. The passion for the food, culture, and people left me with the deep desire to whip out my passport and take a trip across the world.
By reading this book, I learned a lot about the Lebanese cuisine. With each recipe there is a high quality picture that accompanies it. Throughout the book there are explanations and translation of ingredients, essential do's and don'ts, helpful notes included with nearly every recipe. Also included is how to prepare and store commonly used ingredients to make cooking quicker and easier. Recipes are straightforward, and dishes look very flavorful.
I received this book from HCI Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
By reading this book, I learned a lot about the Lebanese cuisine. With each recipe there is a high quality picture that accompanies it. Throughout the book there are explanations and translation of ingredients, essential do's and don'ts, helpful notes included with nearly every recipe. Also included is how to prepare and store commonly used ingredients to make cooking quicker and easier. Recipes are straightforward, and dishes look very flavorful.
I received this book from HCI Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2099 KP) rated My New Friend Is So Fun! (Elephant & Piggie, #21) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Piggie starts hanging out with Brian the Bat, Gerald and Snake worry that their best friends will not want to be friends with them any more. Do they have something to worry about?
Those familiar with the Elephant and Piggie picture book series will be delighted with the latest entry. There is a lesson here, but it is never preachy. Instead, we get some laughs and fun as we watch Gerald and Snake overreact. Plus there's the warm ending. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that Brian really doesn't look like a bat to me. But I'm being picky here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-my-new-friend-is-so-fun-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Those familiar with the Elephant and Piggie picture book series will be delighted with the latest entry. There is a lesson here, but it is never preachy. Instead, we get some laughs and fun as we watch Gerald and Snake overreact. Plus there's the warm ending. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that Brian really doesn't look like a bat to me. But I'm being picky here.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/07/book-review-my-new-friend-is-so-fun-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Alice (117 KP) rated How It All Blew Up in Books
Mar 3, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Hot Key books for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release!
This book was a delight and so compulsively readable! It was so fun to escape to Rome with Amir but also to delve into some deeper topics as well. One of my friends lives in Italy and this is just exactly how I picture her life. Amir was such a fun narrator and even though he was a bit of an asshole sometimes you really were rooting for him! We can so often romanticise situations, people and places and this story showed that even the things that we romanticise and deem perfect are messy when we look a little closer.
This book was a delight and so compulsively readable! It was so fun to escape to Rome with Amir but also to delve into some deeper topics as well. One of my friends lives in Italy and this is just exactly how I picture her life. Amir was such a fun narrator and even though he was a bit of an asshole sometimes you really were rooting for him! We can so often romanticise situations, people and places and this story showed that even the things that we romanticise and deem perfect are messy when we look a little closer.