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Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
Pan's Labyrinth: The Labyrinth of the Faun
Cornelia Funke, Guillermo del Toro | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Thrilling and eerie film adaptation
*I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
It has been a number of years since I watched Pan's Labyrinth, but remember it as being a dark, twisted fairy tale set during the second world war. The book keeps that feel, we are introduced to Ofelia, a quiet bookish young girl who is moving with her mother to live with her stepfather, as he tries to break a group of Spanish rebels, ahead of the birth of her half-brother.
Ofelia sees some unusual statues and artefacts in the woods and soon meets the Faun, who sets her a mission to return to take her place as the princess of the Underground Kingdom.
There follows a brilliant mix of Ofelia's real life, the despicable exploits of Franco's army, and the fairy tale world she steps into.
This is a very short, immersive fairy tale with lots of nice side-stories that all weave into the book in some form.
  
    Through Water by Lapsley

    Through Water by Lapsley

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    Album

    On 20th March 2020, Låpsley will release her highly-anticipated second album. Titled Through Water,...

    The Body

    The Body

    Bill Bryson

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    Book

    'We spend our whole lives in one body and yet most of us have practically no idea how it works and...

The Wrong Side of Goodbye (Harry Bosch #19)
The Wrong Side of Goodbye (Harry Bosch #19)
Michael Connelly | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Trying to Juggle Two Cases
Now retired from the LAPD, Harry Bosch is working as an axillary officer from the San Fernando Police Department, helping the small force clear back cases. That’s how he gets involved with a case of man who is serially attack women. Meanwhile, he’s hired as a PI to track down a billionaire’s potential heir. Can he solve both cases?

These cases were both intrigued, and I appreciated how the stakes kept being raised, explaining why Bosch would focus on one case at any given moment. While both stories resolved logically, I did feel like one got short changed, leaving me not completely satisfied with how that was wrapped up. Even retired, Bosch is still Bosch, mostly for better, although a couple of subplots are predictable at this point. We do get an update on his daughter, and Mickey Haller also shows up. The new characters are well drawn and help pull us in. Overall, this is a book that Bosch’s many fans will enjoy.
  
The Botanist (The Sin Bin #2.5)
The Botanist (The Sin Bin #2.5)
Dahlia Donovan | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Romance
10
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Botanist: Short Story (The Sin Bin #2.5) by Dahlia Donovan
The Botanist is part of The Sin Bin series, and let me tell you, this may be classed as a short story, but it is full of everything you could wish for... apart from one thing, which I'll get to later!

Wyatt (Earp) Hardy is a Navy Seal, on a combined exercise with the UK. They come across a boat that shouldn't be there, and their scans reveal four bodies on-board, when there should only be one. It turns into a rescue mission, and Wyatt lays eyes on Aled for the first time. Aled has been tortured, and is in a state of shock. However, he is returned home, and Hamish and Wyatt hope that he will be okay.

He's not.

I am a long-term fan of Ms. Donovan's; she has never disappointed me with any of her stories - and trust me when I say this one is right up there! Wyatt is a giant of a man, with a heart to match. He wants to push Aled in some ways, but never bad ways. He goes above and beyond to do what he thinks will help. Aled, what a brave and courageous guy, even when he thinks he isn't. The rapport that these two have is off the charts, and I loved the pair of them.

With no editing or grammatical errors to disrupt my reading flow, this was one helluva story that packs a mighty punch for being short. And that, right there, is the only problem I have with it! I NEEDED MORE!!!! I seriously wasn't ready for this book to be over. I loved every single word. There just weren't enough of them to please me ?

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely!
Do I recommend any of Dahlia Donovan's work? You betcha!
Do I want more from Aled and Wyatt? YES!!!!!!

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comment here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!