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Apollo's Raven (Curse of Clansmen and Kings #1)
6.0
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A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people. ...
Historical Fantasy
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Deep Down (Jack Reacher, #16.5) in Books
Jun 20, 2019
Unfulfilling quick Reacher fix
I’m not sure why I keep listening to these Jack Reacher short stories, I think it’s because they are just a quick fix handy to have while doing other jobs.
Set back in the mid 80s we get a glimpse of Reacher’s military career where he is tasked with working out who is leaking information from Capitol Hill. The suspects are four fast-track women; Army political liaison officers. How in the mid 80s likely that all four of these positions would be taken up by women raises an eyebrow but it’s needed to fit the strategy of Reacher trying to get them each alone for a drink (eye-roll.) It doesn't quite work out like that but Reacher quickly gets stuff figured out, has a fight and lets us all go home glad for it to all be over. All standard Reacher just a lot less fleshed out and lacking some intrigue.
There's an odd decision to keep cutting to bits about an unnamed jogger, we find out who this is later but it really adds very little to the story and for a short one it seems a waste.
Like having something sweet when you are starving; it’s a quick yet ultimately unfulfilling experience. It’s not like it’s even a great chocolate bar….
Set back in the mid 80s we get a glimpse of Reacher’s military career where he is tasked with working out who is leaking information from Capitol Hill. The suspects are four fast-track women; Army political liaison officers. How in the mid 80s likely that all four of these positions would be taken up by women raises an eyebrow but it’s needed to fit the strategy of Reacher trying to get them each alone for a drink (eye-roll.) It doesn't quite work out like that but Reacher quickly gets stuff figured out, has a fight and lets us all go home glad for it to all be over. All standard Reacher just a lot less fleshed out and lacking some intrigue.
There's an odd decision to keep cutting to bits about an unnamed jogger, we find out who this is later but it really adds very little to the story and for a short one it seems a waste.
Like having something sweet when you are starving; it’s a quick yet ultimately unfulfilling experience. It’s not like it’s even a great chocolate bar….
The Relic Master
3.5
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The year is 1517. Dismas is a relic hunter: one who procures “authentic” religious relics for...
Fire and Sword (Throne of the Caesars, Book 3)
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'Absorbing and brilliant ...Game of Thrones without the dragons' THE TIMES The third book in...
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated A Hero Born in Books
Sep 25, 2019
Great plot but translation isn't so good
Despite what you read on the covers (e.g. “It’s like Lord of the Rings”) ignore all of that. It’s nothing like it. There is no epic adventure to fight evil (at least not yet - this is the first book in the series). So before you get all disappointed in what the outside quotes say, completely disregard them.
Translation will always be an issue with these kinds of books. It’s hard to keep it true and coherent. Sometimes you get a good one that is completely comprehensible and makes the reading a journey well worth it. Then you get one like A Hero Born and it’s not the greatest translation. The writing style is dry and hard to get into. Sometimes it gets too descriptive, but other times it’s not descriptive enough. It can be a little long winded at times and it drags - I’m not too sure if that’s because of the run on writing style or the plot itself. Either way by the last third of the book it was getting to be tiresome.
Speaking of the plot, it was good! There’s plenty of action, a bit of intrigue here and there. If you don’t mind something akin to Chinese historical fiction movies with classic martial arts fighting then perhaps this is for you. There are small elements of political intrigue which keeps the story interesting, however keep in mind there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but luckily there is a cast of characters in the beginning of the novel so that should not be a problem. This isn’t a book to put down and turn back to later, this needs to be consistently read you will easily lose your place.
There’s also several plot arcs that happen throughout the novel so it’s best to keep track of them carefully. They are all intertwined at some point. It’s a great plot and if it wasn’t for the horrible writing/translation.
I don’t know if I could recommend this one to anyone. I would under normal circumstances but the writing just do the plot justice. It’s too bad, it would have been such a great series.
Translation will always be an issue with these kinds of books. It’s hard to keep it true and coherent. Sometimes you get a good one that is completely comprehensible and makes the reading a journey well worth it. Then you get one like A Hero Born and it’s not the greatest translation. The writing style is dry and hard to get into. Sometimes it gets too descriptive, but other times it’s not descriptive enough. It can be a little long winded at times and it drags - I’m not too sure if that’s because of the run on writing style or the plot itself. Either way by the last third of the book it was getting to be tiresome.
Speaking of the plot, it was good! There’s plenty of action, a bit of intrigue here and there. If you don’t mind something akin to Chinese historical fiction movies with classic martial arts fighting then perhaps this is for you. There are small elements of political intrigue which keeps the story interesting, however keep in mind there are a lot of characters to keep track of, but luckily there is a cast of characters in the beginning of the novel so that should not be a problem. This isn’t a book to put down and turn back to later, this needs to be consistently read you will easily lose your place.
There’s also several plot arcs that happen throughout the novel so it’s best to keep track of them carefully. They are all intertwined at some point. It’s a great plot and if it wasn’t for the horrible writing/translation.
I don’t know if I could recommend this one to anyone. I would under normal circumstances but the writing just do the plot justice. It’s too bad, it would have been such a great series.
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated The Ninth Daughter (Abigail Adams #1) in Books
Mar 12, 2018
Substantial characters in a good historical fiction mystery
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I would! It was a great mystery with a hefty set of characters (historical and otherwise) with an underlying theme of political tension playing throughout the plot.
I think that’s what made the book enjoyable, was despite the mystery being the main hook, the political tension and bickering between the patriots and the British was always in the forefront and mentioned when need be as it was central to the story. Every so often you had mention of Abigail’s refusal to drink tea for example, or minor scuffles happening between citizens and the Redcoats.
Despite the tensions however, Abigail puts her ideas and beliefs aside and works alongside the British to solve this mystery. I enjoyed reading her character. She’s strong willed and has a good retort every so often when she needs to speak out, which shocks other characters as it wasn’t considered “proper”. I enjoy Abigail’s unorthodox behavior and it may seem as if she gives an air of an annoying stubborn woman, but it’s because of her personality that things get done no matter whose side you’re on or who you support.
John and Abigail’s relationship was also nice to read. They’re both equals and you can see a subtle quiet strength between them and they compliment each other perfectly. There’s a mutual respect between the two and if they were alive now, they would probably be a political supercouple ;)
The mystery aspect of the book was good and the intrigue is definitely noted. The setting is superbly done and very descriptive. The list of suspects was substantial and revelation of the culprit isn’t much of a surprise but the execution of obtaining the criminal and his background story was excellent to read , and was very satisfying to see the bad guys get their dues. The supporting characters are also well done - although I have to admit, there are just a little too many for me. Even minor characters have their personality and details and although it’s good and makes the world building more detailed and rich, sometimes it’s a bit hard to follow as to who’s who. (Perhaps a section of cast of characters would help in this case - especially when some characters share the same last name)
I’ll be picking up the next book to read. It’s definitely worth looking into for those that love historical fiction mysteries. The tea has been dumped!!! So you have to figure out what sort of chaos is going to happen and what mystery Abigail will solve next.
I think that’s what made the book enjoyable, was despite the mystery being the main hook, the political tension and bickering between the patriots and the British was always in the forefront and mentioned when need be as it was central to the story. Every so often you had mention of Abigail’s refusal to drink tea for example, or minor scuffles happening between citizens and the Redcoats.
Despite the tensions however, Abigail puts her ideas and beliefs aside and works alongside the British to solve this mystery. I enjoyed reading her character. She’s strong willed and has a good retort every so often when she needs to speak out, which shocks other characters as it wasn’t considered “proper”. I enjoy Abigail’s unorthodox behavior and it may seem as if she gives an air of an annoying stubborn woman, but it’s because of her personality that things get done no matter whose side you’re on or who you support.
John and Abigail’s relationship was also nice to read. They’re both equals and you can see a subtle quiet strength between them and they compliment each other perfectly. There’s a mutual respect between the two and if they were alive now, they would probably be a political supercouple ;)
The mystery aspect of the book was good and the intrigue is definitely noted. The setting is superbly done and very descriptive. The list of suspects was substantial and revelation of the culprit isn’t much of a surprise but the execution of obtaining the criminal and his background story was excellent to read , and was very satisfying to see the bad guys get their dues. The supporting characters are also well done - although I have to admit, there are just a little too many for me. Even minor characters have their personality and details and although it’s good and makes the world building more detailed and rich, sometimes it’s a bit hard to follow as to who’s who. (Perhaps a section of cast of characters would help in this case - especially when some characters share the same last name)
I’ll be picking up the next book to read. It’s definitely worth looking into for those that love historical fiction mysteries. The tea has been dumped!!! So you have to figure out what sort of chaos is going to happen and what mystery Abigail will solve next.
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated The Sixth Surrender in Books
Feb 15, 2019
After much struggle, I made it to the halfway point (page 257 of 468) and just cannot go on. There seems to be too much going on and I'm still uncertain what the main plot is. Political intrigue? Possibly a romance between Juliana and Guérin? Although how that would ever happen is beyond me, seeing as their animosity towards each other isn't the hate-to-love you see in other books. This is real hatred. The book has moments where the passages are well-written and engaging, though they're few and far between, so I think the author does have potential. However, something about the book just isn't holding my attention or interest, and it doesn't help that Juliana is an irritating little mouse (Guérin calls her "mouse" repeatedly) who's rather stupid. Guérin isn't much better, he's a donkey, but at least he's interesting and not half as annoying. Perhaps if I knew where in the world the plot was actually going, I might have been able to carry on, but there are way too many plots that seem to be going in all sorts of directions and it's just a mess. I'm unsure who the target audience is for this: readers who know next to nothing of the history of this time or those who do, I'm not certain either would end up happy.
So will I pick this up and try again in the future? I doubt it.
So will I pick this up and try again in the future? I doubt it.
British Gardens in Time: The Greatest Gardens and the People Who Shaped Them
Nathan Harrison, Chris Beardshaw and Katie Campbell
Book
As Seen on the BBC. British Gardens in Time takes four iconic gardens, each a product of its age,...
Thieves Fall Out
Book
Gore Vidal was one of America's greatest and most controversial writers. The author of twenty-three...