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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Child in Books
Jan 20, 2018 (Updated Jan 20, 2018)
Good twist at the end
Fiona Barton's thrillers are always very accessible, it truly feels like you're reading an updated whodunit. The story surrounds various women with lots of secrets, that seem to emerge after the discovery of the remains of a baby at a building site.
Emma, a neurotic writer, her cold mother Jude, the mother of a missing infant Angelica, and of course, journalist Kate Walker take centre stage in this book. Each voice is unique with Kate being driven and ambitious, Emma appearing secretive, and the fragile Angelica breaking down fairly regularly. In this way, you're unlikely to become confused as the characters are distinct.
No doubt, a lot does happen so there is a question of whether Barton may have overdone the story. However, the last twist at the end was less obvious than the others and so the story concluded satisfactorily. An enjoyable read.
Emma, a neurotic writer, her cold mother Jude, the mother of a missing infant Angelica, and of course, journalist Kate Walker take centre stage in this book. Each voice is unique with Kate being driven and ambitious, Emma appearing secretive, and the fragile Angelica breaking down fairly regularly. In this way, you're unlikely to become confused as the characters are distinct.
No doubt, a lot does happen so there is a question of whether Barton may have overdone the story. However, the last twist at the end was less obvious than the others and so the story concluded satisfactorily. An enjoyable read.
ames_morgan (8 KP) rated The Girl in The Tower: The Winternight Trilogy in Books
Jun 19, 2018
I fell in love with The Bear and the Nightingale the second that I started reading it so I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of the second installment in this story.
The story picks up with Vasya driven from her village, orphaned and branded as a witch. She could not face the option of marriage or life in a convent so she decides to become a traveler and explore the world on her own.
Brave and reckless as ever Vasya disguises herself as a boy she travels through Moscow and ends up fighting at the Grand Prince's side as they try to discover the identity of the bandits who have been terrorizing the area.
I enjoyed dynamic between Morozko, Vasya and Solovey. We are also introduced to some new characters and reunited with some old ones as the story progresses.
I found the second installment of The Bear and the Nightingale just as captivating as the first one and am anxiously awaiting the third and final part of the story!
The story picks up with Vasya driven from her village, orphaned and branded as a witch. She could not face the option of marriage or life in a convent so she decides to become a traveler and explore the world on her own.
Brave and reckless as ever Vasya disguises herself as a boy she travels through Moscow and ends up fighting at the Grand Prince's side as they try to discover the identity of the bandits who have been terrorizing the area.
I enjoyed dynamic between Morozko, Vasya and Solovey. We are also introduced to some new characters and reunited with some old ones as the story progresses.
I found the second installment of The Bear and the Nightingale just as captivating as the first one and am anxiously awaiting the third and final part of the story!
Alice (117 KP) rated Salt to the Sea in Books
Mar 3, 2021
Where do I begin! I love a character-driven book and this was character-driven fiction at it's finest! It's so rare to find a multiperspective novel where I actually care about all of the perspectives being told and truly care about all the characters which is made all the more heartbreaking when you obviously know from the start what's awaiting them all by the end. This is by no means a novel about the Willhelm Gustloff but a story of love, loss, and finding your inner strength set against the backdrop of the worst maritime tragedy in history (but one that not many people even know about due to it happening to the other side). This is one of those books that I just know I'll keep thinking about long after I've read the last page (I stayed up til 1am to finish it) and I honestly couldn't recommend this more.
Bethany Fletcher (17 KP) rated A Court of Wings and Ruin in Books
Jun 24, 2018
ACOWAR is a fantastic conclusion to Rhys and Feyre’s adventures. This book is more plot driven than ACOMAF and the characters really start to get stuff done.
The plot never lulls and there is always something happening to keep you wanting more. We meet more characters that we had only previously heard about and none of them are dull. Every character has a purpose for being there and all add something to the story. Previous characters story arcs wrap up nicely with some characters get nice, well rounded redemption plots.
Overall this is a brilliant fantasy novel and i personally have read it multiple times since release. Like with most Sarah J Maas bookend this is not for younger readers.
The plot never lulls and there is always something happening to keep you wanting more. We meet more characters that we had only previously heard about and none of them are dull. Every character has a purpose for being there and all add something to the story. Previous characters story arcs wrap up nicely with some characters get nice, well rounded redemption plots.
Overall this is a brilliant fantasy novel and i personally have read it multiple times since release. Like with most Sarah J Maas bookend this is not for younger readers.
The Craggus (360 KP) rated The Equalizer 2 (2018) in Movies
Aug 19, 2018
The Equalizer 2 (2018) may take some odd turns but evens out into a solid vigilante thriller. #Review
I’m enough of a fan of the original TV show “The Equalizer” to wish Antoine Fuqua had found a way to incorporate Stewart Copeland’s superb synth-driven theme tune into this modern reinterpretation. But my favourite part of the TV series was always the helping out of ‘the little guy’ rather than the bigger, over-arching spycraft arcs. It’s in this area that “The Equalizer 2” unexpectedly delights even as it leads to a slightly meandering story on screen... FULL REVIEW: http://bit.ly/CraggusEqualizer2
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
Awwwww! <b>"...and lived happily ever after."</b>
I loved it...when they finally got their shit together and just admitted their feelings, though it took 620 pages!
I laughed, I cried, I ranted, I got driven up the wall several times...
It only took eleven books but they finally, finally, got together and in the end it was so sweet.
As for the other points of the story: What's going to happen with the baby? What about Xcor and his Band of Bastards? What happened to Marisol/Sola? What about Trez and Selena?
I need answers!
I loved it...when they finally got their shit together and just admitted their feelings, though it took 620 pages!
I laughed, I cried, I ranted, I got driven up the wall several times...
It only took eleven books but they finally, finally, got together and in the end it was so sweet.
As for the other points of the story: What's going to happen with the baby? What about Xcor and his Band of Bastards? What happened to Marisol/Sola? What about Trez and Selena?
I need answers!
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Kiss of Darkness (Charmed, #2) in Books
Sep 30, 2022
177 of 230
Book
Kiss of Darkness ( Charmed book 2)
By Brandon Alexander and Constance M Burge
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Something changed Prue Halliwell on New Year's Eve, when a stranger gave her the most passionate kiss of her life. Now Prue feels driven to kiss every man she meets. At first this is fun, but when Prue starts to grow weaker with every kiss, the Charmed Ones know evil is afoot.
This was a fun nostalgic read. It was so good to read a new charmed story! I really do miss this show and I’m so glad I discovered the books.
Book
Kiss of Darkness ( Charmed book 2)
By Brandon Alexander and Constance M Burge
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Something changed Prue Halliwell on New Year's Eve, when a stranger gave her the most passionate kiss of her life. Now Prue feels driven to kiss every man she meets. At first this is fun, but when Prue starts to grow weaker with every kiss, the Charmed Ones know evil is afoot.
This was a fun nostalgic read. It was so good to read a new charmed story! I really do miss this show and I’m so glad I discovered the books.
Merissa (11765 KP) rated Farm to Fabre in Books
Dec 2, 2022
A warm and gentle love story
FARM TO FABRE is a gentle love story between two asexual people during a time when the world was in crisis. Andie and Doc had a moment under the apple trees before Doc fled. Andie carried on as usual as Doc travelled the world, trying to understand what happened and find his missing words.
I loved the pacing of this story. It continually moves you forward, without the frantic scenes that sometimes happen. Andie is a wonderful character who doesn't hold grudges, accepts people for who they are, and tries to make the best of any situation. This is completely character-driven, with Andie, Doc, and Rupert being the main ones we interact with. The other characters are seen through zoom, email, or mentioned in passing.
A brilliant standalone story that mentions covid but doesn't allow it to take centre stage. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
I loved the pacing of this story. It continually moves you forward, without the frantic scenes that sometimes happen. Andie is a wonderful character who doesn't hold grudges, accepts people for who they are, and tries to make the best of any situation. This is completely character-driven, with Andie, Doc, and Rupert being the main ones we interact with. The other characters are seen through zoom, email, or mentioned in passing.
A brilliant standalone story that mentions covid but doesn't allow it to take centre stage. Absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Zima Blue and Other Stories in Books
Nov 29, 2019
A collection of short stories by science fiction writer Alastair Reynolds, these stories showcase his world building outside of his more well-known Revelation Space epics. Each story is told with his flair for hard physics combined with space opera but always driven by the psyche of his characters.
With so many well-written stories here, there is bound to be much to be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys futuristic science fiction. The ideas are intriguing and clever, often provoking considerable thought. The writing is deft and fluid, keeping the pace up. Every story feels like a perfect capsule of the idea it contains, rarely too long and flabby or too short and rushed.
If you are a fan of Reynolds' other works or if you have never read a word he has written, this book will not disappoint.
With so many well-written stories here, there is bound to be much to be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys futuristic science fiction. The ideas are intriguing and clever, often provoking considerable thought. The writing is deft and fluid, keeping the pace up. Every story feels like a perfect capsule of the idea it contains, rarely too long and flabby or too short and rushed.
If you are a fan of Reynolds' other works or if you have never read a word he has written, this book will not disappoint.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated Bumblebee (2018) in Movies
Dec 31, 2018
Worth it just for the soundtrack alone!
Transformers are back!!
The last couple of Transformers movies were a bit lacklustre, but this seems to put them back on track. I loved it! I think I saw at the end of the movie that it was written by a woman, and in that case, you can tell. The main female character is independent, struggling with the loss of her father, and doesn’t feel as though she needs to be impressing anyone else. Her love interest gets a peck on the cheek and told that’s all he’s going to get ‘for now’, and he accepts that. So thanks for that. This story is driven by Bumblebees story, not a love story element (and my 12 and 14 year old boys will be forever grateful!).
We all walked out of the movie saying how Bumblebee always has been and always will be our favourite Transformer. And I went home and found the soundtrack on Spotify, because THAT is what really made the film for me!
The last couple of Transformers movies were a bit lacklustre, but this seems to put them back on track. I loved it! I think I saw at the end of the movie that it was written by a woman, and in that case, you can tell. The main female character is independent, struggling with the loss of her father, and doesn’t feel as though she needs to be impressing anyone else. Her love interest gets a peck on the cheek and told that’s all he’s going to get ‘for now’, and he accepts that. So thanks for that. This story is driven by Bumblebees story, not a love story element (and my 12 and 14 year old boys will be forever grateful!).
We all walked out of the movie saying how Bumblebee always has been and always will be our favourite Transformer. And I went home and found the soundtrack on Spotify, because THAT is what really made the film for me!