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Debbie (52 KP) rated Nevernight in Books

Aug 16, 2018  
Nevernight
Nevernight
Jay Kristoff | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.3 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
NEVERNIGHT By: Jay Kristoff
Adult Fantasy 429 pages

This was an amazing book. At times I just couldn't put it down. This is the first book of a trilogy. I will be reading the 2nd book, Godsgrave soon.
This book is about Mia Corvere who is seeking vengeance against the powers that destroyed her family. At the age of 10 her father was hung and her mother and baby brother were sent the Philosophers stone, prison. She was to be drowned but escaped.
During her flight she is robbed and get's a shadow friend who happens to be in the shape of a cat. She calls her friend Mister Kindly. A retire killer takes her in and trains her in the art of fighting. At 16 she leaves and heads out to join the Red Church. On her way she meets a young man, named Tric and an older woman named Naev.
 Naev ends up being a member of the Red Church. She learns that Tric also wants to join the Red Church. Each have their reasons for joining.
To join the Red Church you have to go through deadly trials. If you survive to initiation you will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Mother. If she makes it this far she will be one step closer to her goal of revenge.
This book takes you through her trials and friendships and enemies. Why was her family targeted? Who are her friends? Who are her enemies? What is Tric to her? Does she make it into the Red Church? You have to read to find out the answer to these questions. I highly recommend this book I gave it 4.5 stars.
  
Cat and Mouse (Alex Cross, #4)
Cat and Mouse (Alex Cross, #4)
James Patterson | 1997 | Crime, Mystery
9
8.4 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Alex Cross (0 more)
Knew the killer early on (0 more)
Another brilliant Alex Cross
Contains spoilers, click to show
Alex Cross is back-and so is a raging and suicidal Gary Soneji. Out of prison and dying from the AIDS virus he contracted there, he will get revenge on Cross before he dies. In addition, we are introduced to a new pair of rivals whose paths cross that of Alex and Soneji. Thomas Augustine Pierce has been chasing his demon, Mr. Smith, since the savage murder of his fiancee. Mr. Smith is a unique monster, with actions toward his victims so insane-so unimaginable-that he is thought of as "not of the earth." Pierce, known in the business as St. Augustine because of his track record for catching killers and his invaluable status to the FBI and Interpol, may even be better than Cross.When things heat up and Alex is in a near-death coma following an attack in his own home, Pierce goes to Washington to help with the investigation. But just as he begins to piece together the mystery of how Gary Soneji could have mortally wounded Cross after he was believed to be dead, he is summoned to Paris with a postcard from Mr. Smith inviting him to a very special killing.The body count is high, the tension the highest, and the two killers on the loose are watching every move their pursuers make. Who is the cat, and who is the mouse? What and where is the final trap? And who survives?



This is a reread and one of my favourites from James Patterson. I love Alex Cross and the characters in these books. Patterson is such a brilliant writer.

I cheered as he finally got Soneji that evil SOB needed taking down! I do think Smith was quite easy to pick out from the start.

On to the next Alex Cross book .

Recommended



  
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Rob P (30 KP) rated Best Served Cold in Books

Jan 22, 2019  
Best Served Cold
Best Served Cold
Joe Abercrombie | 2010 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Morally taxing (2 more)
Satisfying story line
Exploration of side characters from the Abercrombie "First Law" universe
Brutal in places (although I'm fine with that) (1 more)
Not for the fainthearted
Best Served Cold
If you couldn't tell from the title, this is all about the revenge motif. If you've read Abercrombie, the savagery of the opening chapter (and plenty of others) should not bother you by this point, but having said that there were moments in this even I winced at.

This standalone novel takes place in Abercrombie's universe established in the "First Law" trilogy, and much like other offerings (The Heroes, Red Country) it's charms for me lie in the characters that play only a fleeting part in the previous books. Seeing where they are from and how they operate is so satisfying to me as a reader.

The very next facet of this read that made it so excellent for me, is theme of moral bankruptcy. At the start, Murcatto is a leader, betrayed and left so horribly injured that it sets a moral precedent. She sets out to kill the seven men who carried this out (one of which is a despot who looks to name himself King of Styria), and as they fall, one by one, more and more of the moral right she has is chipped away and spent, having to turn her hand to more and more depraved acts, associate with lower and lower people, and be part of more and more hideous scenarios in order to exact her justice.

If you've had the pleasure of reading the First Law trilogy, this is the book to start with next, it then leads brilliantly into the Heroes, and most recently Red Country.

Overall, a savage, visceral, compelling read.

- Rob
  
Taken 2 (2012)
Taken 2 (2012)
2012 | Mystery
7
5.9 (10 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Today, we’ve got a review of “TAKEN 2” … YES …. believe it or not, they made a sequal to “TAKEN”.
You’d think that after all the bad guys Liam Neeson’s character, former C.I.A. operative Bryan Mills,
killed in the original “TAKEN” there would be none left …. WRONG …. I guess even in action
movies, the bad guys have families, friends, and fellow criminals who would want revenge and despite the fact that they are villains and deserve whatever sort of punishment the protagonist can dish out.

It is a year after the events in “TAKEN” and retired intelligence agent Bryan Mills (Neeson), is trying to

adjust to life as a civilian security expert working in the private sector while dealing with the fact that his daughter is dating and attempting to pass her driver’s test (for the third time). After Maggie’s step-father walks out on Maggie and Lenore, Bryan invites them to spend time with him in Istanbul after completing a job there.

However, before the vacation begins the happy reunion is ruined when Murad Hoxha (Rade Serbedzia)
the father of the main antagonist in “TAKEN”, kidnaps Lenore and attempts to kidnap
Maggie as well in retaliation for the death of his son.

The film does require some at times absurd leaps of faith and knowledge to drive the story but If you are

coming for acting, a complex story, and such, your simply in the wrong place.

If a fresh batch of bad guys just itching to get their collective butts kicked by Neeson is what you want,

then it will deliver. At the end of the screening the crowd at the theater stood up and gave the film a standing ovation while coincidentally the audience screamed ‘AWESOME’!