Search
Search results
The Hollow of the Hand
Book
FINALIST IN THE PHOTO BOOK CATEGORY OF THE PICTURES OF THE YEAR AWARD Between 2011 and 2014 PJ...
White Road: A Pilgrimage of Sorts
Book
Read an extract from the book and take a unique view inside the workspace of Edmund De Waal as he...
Johnny Marr recommended The Correct Use Of Soap by Magazine in Music (curated)
Wayne Coyne recommended Wizard of Oz by Judy Garland in Music (curated)
Karl Hyde recommended Inside Out by John Martyn in Music (curated)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Travelers in Books
Sep 8, 2021
147 of 250
Book
The Travelers
By Chris Pavone
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
It’s 3:00am. Do you know where your husband is?
Meet Will Rhodes: travel writer, recently married, barely solvent, his idealism rapidly giving way to disillusionment and the worry that he’s living the wrong life. Then one night, on assignment for the award-winning Travelers magazine in the wine region of Argentina, a beautiful woman makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Soon Will’s bad choices—and dark secrets—take him across Europe, from a chateau in Bordeaux to a midnight raid on a Paris mansion, from a dive bar in Dublin to a mega-yacht in the Mediterranean and an isolated cabin perched on the rugged cliffs of Iceland. As he’s drawn further into a tangled web of international intrigue, it becomes clear that nothing about Will Rhodes was ever ordinary, that the network of deception ensnaring him is part of an immense and deadly conspiracy with terrifying global implications—and that the people closest to him may pose the greatest threat of all.
It’s 3:00am. Your husband has just become a spy.
I can appreciate where and what the author was trying to do but this just didn’t grab me at all! It was a hard slog through. Two stars may seem a bit mean and I would encourage people to at least give it a go especially if you enjoy spy novels.
Book
The Travelers
By Chris Pavone
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
It’s 3:00am. Do you know where your husband is?
Meet Will Rhodes: travel writer, recently married, barely solvent, his idealism rapidly giving way to disillusionment and the worry that he’s living the wrong life. Then one night, on assignment for the award-winning Travelers magazine in the wine region of Argentina, a beautiful woman makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Soon Will’s bad choices—and dark secrets—take him across Europe, from a chateau in Bordeaux to a midnight raid on a Paris mansion, from a dive bar in Dublin to a mega-yacht in the Mediterranean and an isolated cabin perched on the rugged cliffs of Iceland. As he’s drawn further into a tangled web of international intrigue, it becomes clear that nothing about Will Rhodes was ever ordinary, that the network of deception ensnaring him is part of an immense and deadly conspiracy with terrifying global implications—and that the people closest to him may pose the greatest threat of all.
It’s 3:00am. Your husband has just become a spy.
I can appreciate where and what the author was trying to do but this just didn’t grab me at all! It was a hard slog through. Two stars may seem a bit mean and I would encourage people to at least give it a go especially if you enjoy spy novels.
ClareR (6253 KP) rated The Promise in Books
Oct 12, 2021
The Promise is on the Booker Prize 2021 shortlist, and I can see why. I enjoyed this book immensely - I love the idea of being a fly on the wall of a white South Africans house during and after Apartheid, and this pretty much sold the book to me before I even started reading it. The fact that we only drop in to the lives of this family during times of death and the subsequent funerals was a really interesting angle to take. These were people under a great deal of stress due to the fact that someone in their close family had died - even though they weren’t a close family at all. There are four funerals, each completely different in style, religion (or not) and ways in which they died.
As time moves on, Apartheid ends, Nelson Mandela becomes President. But does life change that much for the Swarts? Do they uphold the promise made at the beginning of the book, as overheard by the youngest daughter when her mother was dying? Laws may change, but do people’s attitudes?
This is a disjointed family: there doesn’t seem to be a single close relationship between any of them. They all seem to be selfish people who resent the new South Africa, as they lose social standing, money, and are directly affected by the rise in crime.
It was a thoroughly engrossing book, and I lost myself in it every time I sat down to read. It’s a really good, character-driven novel. Now to wait and see if it wins!!
As time moves on, Apartheid ends, Nelson Mandela becomes President. But does life change that much for the Swarts? Do they uphold the promise made at the beginning of the book, as overheard by the youngest daughter when her mother was dying? Laws may change, but do people’s attitudes?
This is a disjointed family: there doesn’t seem to be a single close relationship between any of them. They all seem to be selfish people who resent the new South Africa, as they lose social standing, money, and are directly affected by the rise in crime.
It was a thoroughly engrossing book, and I lost myself in it every time I sat down to read. It’s a really good, character-driven novel. Now to wait and see if it wins!!
Merissa (14082 KP) rated Atancia (The Durand Duology #1) in Books
Apr 15, 2023
This is the first book of two that details the changing life of Atty (Atancia). She is dealing with panic attacks, possibly brought on by the trauma of seeing a young boy die in front of her. Apart from that, her life is safe and normal. However, that all changes when she goes to a New Year's Eve party and meets Ben. Before you (or she) knows it, her life has changed drastically and not in all ways good. Her beloved nana has died and Atty feels personally responsible. Ben is her knight in shining armour and helps to ease things. Before long, Atty has left the States for Australia, needing some space to get closure whilst she figures out just who she is and what she wants to do with her life.
I won't go into any more details as I dislike giving spoilers but I will say that this book has a fresh take on the whole 'vampire' story which makes it a refreshing and intriguing read. There are lots of amazing characters in here that you will like or dislike, depending on the part they play. Perhaps, it's my twisted mind, but I will admit to looking for 'snakes in the grass' throughout this story. Did I find them? That's for me to know and for you to find out when you read the book!
A brilliant book to start the duology with. Totally recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 11, 2015
I won't go into any more details as I dislike giving spoilers but I will say that this book has a fresh take on the whole 'vampire' story which makes it a refreshing and intriguing read. There are lots of amazing characters in here that you will like or dislike, depending on the part they play. Perhaps, it's my twisted mind, but I will admit to looking for 'snakes in the grass' throughout this story. Did I find them? That's for me to know and for you to find out when you read the book!
A brilliant book to start the duology with. Totally recommended.
* I received this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 11, 2015
Merissa (14082 KP) rated A Vampire Possessed (Deathless Night #3) in Books
Jun 8, 2023
This is the third book in the series (although I was unaware of that originally) and as such, I do feel like I have missed out on a big chunk of the story. Although this story was pretty much self-contained, there were references made, situations alluded to, and definitely relationships that have happened previously that I had no knowledge of. So, in my opinion, yes - this book could be read as a standalone, but you will benefit more from having read the first two.
Saying that, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable paranormal romance. You have Grace - a witch without seemingly much power, on the run for most of her life. Then you have Aiden - philanderer vampire, happy to go from one to the next without a thought. They are thrown together in unusual circumstances which just take them deeper into demons possessing vampires.
With a supporting cast of wonderful characters, some with their stories already told, some that I would hope still have theirs to come, this story doesn't slack off on its pace, keeping you entertained throughout.
Well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, I would definitely recommend this book, with the proviso that it might be best to read books one and two first.
* 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!
May 7, 2016
Saying that, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable paranormal romance. You have Grace - a witch without seemingly much power, on the run for most of her life. Then you have Aiden - philanderer vampire, happy to go from one to the next without a thought. They are thrown together in unusual circumstances which just take them deeper into demons possessing vampires.
With a supporting cast of wonderful characters, some with their stories already told, some that I would hope still have theirs to come, this story doesn't slack off on its pace, keeping you entertained throughout.
Well-written, with no editing or grammatical errors that I found, I would definitely recommend this book, with the proviso that it might be best to read books one and two first.
* 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!
May 7, 2016
Rachel King (13 KP) rated Twilight's Dawn (The Black Jewels, #9) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
Anne Bishop's newest addition to the Black Jewels series is a collection of four novellas that fill in a few gaps in the growing storyline, as well as answering the question of what happens after certain central characters are gone from the series.
The first story, "Winsol Gifts", takes place a year after Daemon Sadi and Jaenelle Angelline have been married and after the events in Tangled Webs (Black Jewels, Book 6). It is a sweet story that explores Daemon's new roles as the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, as well as Tersa's relationship with both Daemon and Lucivar. The question of whether Jaenelle can ever take back the Ebony - and if she will - is also answered, which was very satisfying for me.
The second story, "Shades of Honor", centers on Prince Falonar and the on-going damage he causes from his own prejudices. Surreal and Rainier's recoveries from injuries sustained from the evil haunted house are also central to the story. It also answers the question of how Rainier came to work for Daemon Sadi. Lucivar is also forced to learn how to better run Ebon Rih, which allows the reader to learn a bit more about Eyriens. This story also sparked my curiosity about the Dea al Mon, Surreal's heritage, since the story ended with her going to stay with them.
The third story, "Family", is about what happens to Sylvia, Saetan's lover and wife, and her sons. Through her story, the reader gets a clearer picture of what life is like for the demon-dead, as well as a glimpse of the kind of power that Tersa can wield. The reader also gets to find out if Jaenelle will ever take on the role of a Queen again, as well as how Daemon and Jaenelle deal with the issue of no children.
The final story, "The High Lord's Daughter", spans a period of decades in the telling. This story is both the most tragic and the most promising of the four novellas, as two main characters pass on, while the next generation of the SaDiablo family opens up brand-new story lines for Bishop to explore, should she decide to do so. While it was pretty obvious from the cover description that Jaenelle would die in this story, I was not satisfied with the explanation as to why she could not become demon-dead. I did find it both believable and realistic that Daemon would need to marry again, despite his own grief and stubbornness, and I was very happy that he married the woman he did, as I saw their unique bond long before this book came along. Their daughter also made me quite happy, as I can see how she could continue the magic of "dreams made flesh". I was also happy for Marian and Lucivar, as they finally got their daughter. Of course, now I have a new question that will drive me nuts until the next book - if a person's Birthright Jewel is Twilight's Dawn, then what stone does she descend to?
The first story, "Winsol Gifts", takes place a year after Daemon Sadi and Jaenelle Angelline have been married and after the events in Tangled Webs (Black Jewels, Book 6). It is a sweet story that explores Daemon's new roles as the Warlord Prince of Dhemlan, as well as Tersa's relationship with both Daemon and Lucivar. The question of whether Jaenelle can ever take back the Ebony - and if she will - is also answered, which was very satisfying for me.
The second story, "Shades of Honor", centers on Prince Falonar and the on-going damage he causes from his own prejudices. Surreal and Rainier's recoveries from injuries sustained from the evil haunted house are also central to the story. It also answers the question of how Rainier came to work for Daemon Sadi. Lucivar is also forced to learn how to better run Ebon Rih, which allows the reader to learn a bit more about Eyriens. This story also sparked my curiosity about the Dea al Mon, Surreal's heritage, since the story ended with her going to stay with them.
The third story, "Family", is about what happens to Sylvia, Saetan's lover and wife, and her sons. Through her story, the reader gets a clearer picture of what life is like for the demon-dead, as well as a glimpse of the kind of power that Tersa can wield. The reader also gets to find out if Jaenelle will ever take on the role of a Queen again, as well as how Daemon and Jaenelle deal with the issue of no children.
The final story, "The High Lord's Daughter", spans a period of decades in the telling. This story is both the most tragic and the most promising of the four novellas, as two main characters pass on, while the next generation of the SaDiablo family opens up brand-new story lines for Bishop to explore, should she decide to do so. While it was pretty obvious from the cover description that Jaenelle would die in this story, I was not satisfied with the explanation as to why she could not become demon-dead. I did find it both believable and realistic that Daemon would need to marry again, despite his own grief and stubbornness, and I was very happy that he married the woman he did, as I saw their unique bond long before this book came along. Their daughter also made me quite happy, as I can see how she could continue the magic of "dreams made flesh". I was also happy for Marian and Lucivar, as they finally got their daughter. Of course, now I have a new question that will drive me nuts until the next book - if a person's Birthright Jewel is Twilight's Dawn, then what stone does she descend to?







