
Battleships of the World: Struggle for Naval Supremacy 1820 - 1945
Book
The battleships of the world's navies in the 1820s were descended directly in line from the Revenge...

Confronting Political Islam: Six Lessons from the West's Past
Book
Political Islam has often been compared to ideological movements of the past such as fascism or...

Ross (3284 KP) rated The Shattered Realm of Ardor Benn in Books
Mar 12, 2021
The second Ardor Benn book is another epic tale of the ruse artist taking on the royal family. The first book saw Ard's efforts depose the current king and save the dragon race (and hence the world). Sadly, the replacement royalty is no better and the Great Chain is now scattered into different, warring islands. Ard finds himself embroiled in a plot to unearth the conspiracy that the new king's dead nephew, and the rightful heir, is not actually dead.
There is also an interesting new subplot where we see a university professor tasked with discovering new Grit types (the world's magic system, whereby different materials once digested and fired by a dragon produce different magical results). This angle, like the industrial/medical revolution is surprisingly thrilling, with additional intrigue as the results become the interests of some unsavoury characters.
Ard and Raek are once again superb and quickly put together a plot to infiltrate a secret criminal underworld and discover the whereabouts of the true king. The secrecy and plotting, and use of the world's magic makes for some excellent exciting passages.
There are the usual twists and turns along the way, as the security measures in place in the secret society make it hard for Ard to progress too quickly.
As with the first book, the true nature of this strange world is unveiled a little more over the course of the book in spectacular fashion.
A wonderful fun read.

Check Yourself!
Lifestyle and Health & Fitness
App
The Keep A Breast Foundation Check Yourself! wants to help you establish your own routine and...

Ab Workout X PRO - Six-Pack Core Exercises & Abdomen Trainer
Health & Fitness and Sports
App
Have your very own personal trainer at your fingertips. Join the ab X revolution and download...

ClareR (5859 KP) rated The Scarlet Code in Books
Aug 23, 2020
I’m really enjoying following Attica Morgan’s exploits (see what I did there? That’s not even a hint that I want more, that’s a “let there be more!”). Attica’s love of Paris, even at this really uncertain time between the fall of the Bastille and the actual start of the Revolution, is so well described that I felt that I could be there. I love a book where I can learn something. I’d always thought that the people released the prisoners from the Bastille (or in fact they didn’t, because it was virtually empty - or so I’ve been told), and then BAM! Voila la Révolution française! Well, by the sounds of it there was a bit of a tense hiatus between one thing and the next (we won’t discuss the fact that I was a French teacher in a former life - sshh!).
Anyway, if you enjoy a well written, historical romp, with an opinionated, strong female lead character - then this is the book for you! I can’t wait for the next one (not even hinting)!!
Many thanks to Readers First for sending me a copy of this book.

The Best Minds of My Generation
Book
A unique history of the Beats, in the words of the movement's most central member, Allen Ginsberg,...
Autobiography essays memoir

The Hidden People
Book
In 1851, within the grand glass arches of London's Crystal Palace, Albie Mirralls meets his cousin...
Horror

Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security
Book
"I can’t imagine a more important book for our time." ―Sebastian Junger The world is blowing...
Politics