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The Queen's Handbag

Steve Antony

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

With a Jon Klassen appeal, Steve Antony is the one to watch. A naughty swan steals the Queen's...

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Murder at the Academy Awards: A Red Carpet Murder Mystery in Books

Mar 9, 2018

Maxine Taylor is the queen of the red carpet interviews. But her scoop at this year's Oscars, troubled teen star Halsey Hamilton, turns to tragedy when Halsey collapses at her feet. When no one else thinks it might be murder, Maxine decides to find out. I bought this book only because it had Jerrilyn's name on the cover (love her Madeline Bean books), and I'm glad I did. While the mystery was rather light, the book was fun from beginning to end.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-murder-at-academy-awards-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Kudos

Andy Bell recommended Plastic Letters by Blondie in Music (curated)

Plastic Letters by Blondie

1978 | Punk, Rock

7.4

(5 Ratings)

Album Favorite

"Already their second studio album, they had scored hit singles with 'Denis Denis' (I first heard that on my Grandad's window cleaning round) and the sublime 'I'm Always Touched By Your (Presence Dear)', still one of my favourites to this very day. As a whole album, it sounds like a spy movie soundtrack with 'Contact In Red Square' and 'Kidnapper'. Highlights for me include 'I'm On E' and 'Love At The Pier'. The very definition of late 70s New York pop art and punk glamour; Deborah Harry, for me, will remain forever the Queen of New Wave."

Source

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Julie (77 KP) rated Glass Sword in Books

Sep 9, 2017

Glass Sword

Victoria Aveyard | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)

7.7

(31 Ratings)

Book Rating

"So, in this book (the second in the Red Queen series), we get to follow Mare during her search for others like herself. Since Mare thought she was the only Red-and-Silver person, it’s really cool to meet the new characters that belong to this rare group. Throughout the book you get to visit more locations and learn about the world Mare lives in. It’s certainly bigger than it seems in the first book.

Watching Mare and Cals relationship form was interesting; definitely not a typical romance. I liked how Mares family is more involved in this book, especially her brother Shade. His character is like any older brother, which is endearing and entertaining. This book has more romance play out than the first book and there’s a lot more death." Read the entire review here: https://thenerdybookwormsite.wordpress.com/2017/04/30/glass-sword-by-victoria-aveyard/

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The Queen of the Tearling

Erika Johansen

7.8 (4 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Kelsea Glynn is the sole heir to the throne of Tearling but has been raised in secret after her...

Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated Glass Sword in Books

May 16, 2018

Glass Sword

Victoria Aveyard | 2016 | Young Adult (YA)

7.7

(31 Ratings)

Book Rating

When it comes to book series, there's always a risk of the phenomenon called "second book syndrome." For those who aren't bookwyrms, this term refers most often to books that should have been left alone, rather than followed with a sequel. When I began reading Victoria Aveyard's sequel to Red Queen, Glass Sword, I was wary. A fellow bookwyrm informed me that she had not read the series yet and was largely unsure of whether or not she would because she'd heard quite a bit regarding the second book in the series being a flop. Nonetheless, I charged onward with the audiobook, once again narrated by the lovely voice of Amanda Dolan.

Beginning precisely where Red Queen left off, Glass Sword picks up after Mare and Cal have escaped the Bowl of Bones and Maven's betrayal. Together with Farley, Kilorn, and a few other characters come together in secrecy after relocating to rise against the new Silver King. Along the way, they pick up some allies - both expected and unexpected. Packed with action, it is easy to see why this series is a hit among young adults.

Naturally, I've read a few other reviews to see what the general consensus of this book is and I've discovered that most readers either hate it or love it - there's not a whole lot of in between. Personally, I enjoyed it. I found Glass Sword to be a fairly entertaining read and it served its purpose of keeping me awake on the hour long commute home (with no traffic). A few new characters are introduced, none of which are too memorable.

As far as romantic interests go, I can't really decide one way or another in regards to the three eligible males. I adore Maven's cold, cunning persona, Cal's stoic disposition, and Kilorn's particular shade of envy equally. Given that I don't care much for romantic sub-plots, a large part of me hopes that Mare doesn't choose any of them in the end. I enjoy watching as Mare changes and grows, and I am more vested in the kind of woman she turns out to be than her love life. Will she be the queen that her people need? Or will she become like Elara?

My only gripe with the narration of Glass Sword is the fact that Dolan pronounced Titanos in a completely different manner than she did throughout the entirety of Red Queen.

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Laura (4 KP) rated Cruel Crown: Two Red Queen Short Stories in Books

Jan 5, 2018

I enjoyed being able to see what Cal’s mother was like, and early Elara, and what happened between them. It makes sense of the difficulties between certain silver lines and why people always talked about Coriane and Elara because of their powers. It was also good to find out More about Farley. However I felt there should have been more, maybe a full book prequel to how they came about and some more about Farley & shade, an in-depth look at how Elara took the thrown after Coriane’s death. But overall I’m glad we got a sneak preview at the time before the Red Queen series