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Of Sea and Stone (Secrets of Itlantis #1)
Of Sea and Stone (Secrets of Itlantis #1)
Kate Avery Ellison | 2014 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I won't give you a rundown of the story, you can get that from the synopsis. However, what I will say is that the author has done a simply amazing job with her characters. They are all incredibly 'life-like' and have their own temper tantrums and foibles. Aemi is real - she's not larger-than-life or superhero material. She's a girl in a hard situation that gets worse before it gets better. She has her doubts, her hopes, her fears and her dreams.

I have to say that amongst the characters you are supposed to like, there isn't one that I don't; all the characters that you are meant to dislike, I do. To be drawn into each and every character in such a way makes it wonderful for the reader. Yes, some readers might want to make their own minds up but for me, to be able to connect, like or dislike and empathise with the characters means that the author has done an amazing job of making them come alive for me.

The plot is well-written and well-paced. Questions are asked throughout the book and most of them get answered when the timing is right. There are still some questions left for the next book, By Sun and Saltwater. Aemi herself, Nol, Kit, Lyssia, Tob, Merelus, and Mella all have stories still (I hope!) to tell which I need to read.

Recommended to all Fantasy fans of any age.
 
* 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. *

September 10, 2016
  
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Merissa (13000 KP) rated The Murderess Must Die in Books

Sep 3, 2021 (Updated Jul 14, 2023)  
The Murderess Must Die
The Murderess Must Die
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE MURDERESS MUST DIE is a fictional telling of a true crime. Most of the main characters are from newspaper articles of the time and pieced together to make a story.

Was Mattie Place insane? Or a madly jealous stepmother? Or was she someone who had just reached her limit? We will never know for sure, but the author brings her to life and raises questions. As the first woman to be killed by the electric chair, she has some notoriety but has never had a voice.

Told from multiple perspectives, I wasn't sure, to begin with just who was who, apart from Mattie, but as the story continued, the other players slotted into place and showed how a story can be changed by the omission of facts, or just by being told a certain way.

I found this story to be absolutely captivating and loved the last entry by Mr Knittle. The questions 'he' raised were good ones and it does make you wonder if it had been any different if those answers had been found.

I love true crime and I love stories based upon true crime. This one kept my attention and got me thinking, which is always a good thing in my book. A fascinating read that kept me turning the pages and one I definitely 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!
Sep 3, 2021
  
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
2001 | Adventure, Fantasy
Start of a brilliant trilogy
One of my favorite book series of all time. This is the sequel to the hobbit books. It tells thr story of how the magic ring was found and that yet again a young hobbit who is destined to bring it back to the famous mountain where it it was found. We learn of it's power and the fellowship who chooses to help the young halfling to bring it back and keep him unharmed. The book is so much better because of the detail in it but the acting is great and tries to keep up with the book. The best way to view these movies is to watch the hobbit movies and then start this series as it helps answer many questions.
  
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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Girls in Books

Jul 25, 2017  
The Girls
The Girls
Emma Cline | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
7
6.1 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
The fragility of youth under guise of a cult
A very descriptive and interesting concept tackling the effects of being a vulnerable child being manipulated by a cult. While it describes how all young people are fragile and are desperate to find a place in the world, the author seems to lack somewhere, and the narrative seems slightly disjointed.

There isn't much of an explanation for the adult Evelyn and it leaves a massive hole between the young and older versions of the main character.

There is also a lack of character build up of the members of the cult, and it does not explain what happened to the Manson-like cult leader in the end. Overall, a little long for a plot with too many questions but a great idea.
  
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles, #3)
Marissa Meyer | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.8 (29 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ugh... I HATE reading a series of books before the entire thing is released!! I just finished Cress and can I just say that it is going to be pure torture to wait for the next book?! At this point in thru series Cress is easily the best book of all. So many questions are answered and so many of the puzzle pieces have fallen into place. The end is a true cliffhanger...I can't wait to see how the whole thing ends. I hope that whatever the ending may be, the last book is just as good as this one. Meyer's writing & storytelling abilities have improved in each subsequent installment of the Lunar Chronicles. I can't wait to see how she wraps up the stories of all the characters!