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The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.9 (67 Ratings)
Book Rating
I loved this book! Full of intrigue, puzzles, and symbolism, this is a fast paced book that captures you and leaves you constantly wanting to know what comes next. It was fascinating to follow this action packed story and at the same time learning about the secret societies and the history intertwined into the journey taken by the characters
  
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Daniel Pinchbeck recommended On Revolution in Books (curated)

 
On Revolution
On Revolution
Hannah Arendt | 2009 | History & Politics, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Arendt looks at what happens when societies undergo insurrections and breakdowns of centralized authority. The result is not breakdown but the immediate formation of new structures that are community based, participatory, and directly democratic. She sees in this secret history the potential for a new form of revolution, which would support the people in establishing true democracy, rather than leading to new forms of hierarchical and authoritarian control."

Source
  
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ALilLacey (2 KP) rated Divergent in Books

Mar 4, 2019  
Divergent
Divergent
Veronica Roth | 2012 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.1 (140 Ratings)
Book Rating
Our future society? Made up of 5 factions that you must be a part of or you'll be part of the unwanted factionless. At 15, Beatrice, later known as Tris, has to decide between her parents faction or something different, something more. Belonging part of the selfless faction just isnt quite what she's all about. How will she adjust to this new and exciting faction where being proud, strong and brave is what its all about? Including learning how to fight and defend. Not only that but there's more to all the societies, a secret, a secret that Tris is part of and not in a way that people want to see her stay alive. I can't wait to read Insurgent!
  
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Jo (0 KP) rated The Da Vinci Code in Books

Nov 17, 2017  
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.9 (67 Ratings)
Book Rating
Different story approach to the identity of the holy grail. Locations described well good attention to detail story is relatively fast paced (0 more)
Controversy all the way through
Contains spoilers, click to show
This isn't the first Robert langdon book of the series but for lovers of history and secret societies this book is an excellent read.
Robert Langdon the academic becomes a tweed wearing indiana Jones in his quest to follow a trail left many year ago that supposedly leads to the resting place of the holy grail
Along the way he encounters the knights Templars and opus dei in there modern form.
The book is an action packed roller coaster ride describing in detail many historical landmarks.
Will you go on a journey with him to find the holy grail
  
This is another one that I probably wouldn't have ever read if it hasn't been free, followed by an occasion some time later when it seemed the most interesting-sounding thing hanging around on the Kindle when I happened to be bored. The plot reminds me if Dan Brown to some extent, although I know he certainly wasn't the first to write novels along such lines. Religious secrets, conspiracies, secret societies, competing spies, and a great deal of violence are all tossed together. I wanted the answer to a couple of questions just barely enough to keep reading, but I figured out all the big mysteries long before the last chapter. I think the book would have been much better if it had been edited down to be much shorter.
  
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Awix (3310 KP) rated Edge of Darkness in TV

May 5, 2020  
Edge of Darkness
Edge of Darkness
1985 | Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
10
9.0 (2 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Age shall not dim its brilliance, nor dodgy big-screen remakes with Mel Gibson: Edge of Darkness remains a landmark piece of TV drama, of enormous scope and ambition. The pitch - grieving detective hunts his daughter's murderer - sounds straightforward enough, even if the plot rapidly becomes ferociously convoluted. The key thing is that the conspiracy-detective storyline is in many ways the least important thing about the series.

Lengthy theses could and probably have been written about all the things that Edge of Darkness touches upon in the course of its six episodes: Anglo-American relations, the military-industrial complex, nuclear power, secret societies, ecology, the future of the human race, and much more (the original script ended with the main character mystically transforming into a tree). Strong performances and great direction keep it engrossing even when it's not entirely clear what's going on (you can generally get a sense of the direction of travel, though, and episode five works as a terrific mini-action movie even in isolation). Martin Campbell went on to successfully relaunch the Bond franchise twice, but this remains his magnum opus.
  
AP
Alpha Power ( Zamorra & Luther 1)
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
121 of 235
Kindle
Alpha Power ( Zamorra & Luther 1)
By T J Maguire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Supernatural live in secret among us

Vampires
Shifters
Demons
Mages

Governed by their own societies and laws, one in which Shifters and Vampires have been enemies for millennia

When a rogue Werewolf Shifter stumbles into Vampire territory she meets an ancient, powerful and mysterious Vampire King

Their attraction to one another is swift and undeniable, despite thousands of years of war and bloodshed between their people

When dark, malevolent forces threaten the fabric of what they could build together, they'll have to fight and fight hard for what it is they want

It will be dark
It will be violent
It will be bloody
But if they can stick together, they just might make it out alive


I really enjoyed this. It was a fun read with really likeable and unlikeable characters as well as a decent story. The main female character is sassy and funny and of course the brooding vampire is a strong male lead. Yea overall a good quick read. Ends on a cliffhanger though!
  
Good Girls Lie
Good Girls Lie
J.T. Ellison | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
7
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
‏I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

J.T. Ellison's latest work, Good Girls Lie, is set in an elite boarding school which is set atop a hill in the small town of Marchburg, Virginia. The students are only the best girls who are hand-picked each year by the dean. However, it is not a young adult book. It is a thriller full of secrets, secret societies, lies, and a strict honor code that is not always followed.

In the beginning, I found it difficult to get into the book but I am glad I kept reading. Several reviewers described it as fast-paced but I disagree. It is a slow burn but it does definitely burn. The twists were both expected and unexpected but worked well.

It opens with a body being found then flashes back to learn the events that lead up to the death. It is not a new tactic but, with the story, it works well.

J.T. Ellison is best known for her Lt. Taylor Jackson series. The 8th book, "Field of Graves" was published in 2015. She has teamed up with Catherine Coulter to write "A Brit in the FBI" series. The 6th book in the series, The Last Second, was published in 2019.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 1/10/2020.
  
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Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Good Girls Lie in Books

Jun 25, 2019  
Good Girls Lie
Good Girls Lie
J.T. Ellison | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
7.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mature Prep School Mystery
I was a bit worried when I picked up this book and realised it was set in an all girls boarding school, I’m not a fan of teenage girls, I didn’t even like them when I was one - way too much melodrama. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how well Ellison managed to write the girls in this book so that I didn’t feel the overwhelming need to slap them all (not sure if that means they aren’t very realistic though!?!)

The Goode School is a prestigious academy steeped in history and tradition. The atmosphere around the school is really enjoyable with an almost gothic feel to it. The elite world of secret societies and honour codes was a nice refreshing setting for me for a thriller. We follow the arrival of 16 year old Oxford raised Ash Carlisle as she arrives at the school following the deaths of her parents. Unfortunately it seems death follows Ash and soon deaths at the Goode school are starting to add up to something very suspicious.

I found this book to be a great page turner and had some interesting twists and turns. I enjoyed the world Ellison created more then the story, which was a solid captivating mystery.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
TI
The Invisible Library ( Book 1)
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
116 of 230
Kindle
The Invisible Library ( Book 1)
By Genevieve Cogman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Irene must be at the top of her game or she'll be off the case – permanently . . .

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, which harvests fiction from different realities. And along with her enigmatic assistant Kai, she's posted to an alternative London. Their mission – to retrieve a dangerous book. But when they arrive, it's already been stolen. London's underground factions seem prepared to fight to the very death to find her book.

Adding to the jeopardy, this world is chaos-infested – the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic. Irene's new assistant is also hiding secrets of his own.

Soon, she's up to her eyebrows in a heady mix of danger, clues and secret societies. Yet failure is not an option – the nature of reality itself is at stake.

The Invisible Library is followed by the second adventurous title in the The Invisible Library series, The Masked City.



I thought this was brilliant! It was definitely an appealing concept. Librarians crossed with Sherlock Holmes set in a steam punk environment with supernaturals what’s not to love? This is a new author for me too and I just loved her style. I’m so looking forward reading the rest of this series and more from the author too. I’m a sucker for Dragons too and this has powerful Dragons!