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ClareR (6256 KP) rated The Briar Club in Books

Oct 14, 2025  
The Briar Club
The Briar Club
Kate Quinn | 2024 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Kate Quinn books I’ve read so far have been set during WW2, so I was intrigued to see how the Briar Club would go. It’s set in 1950, a time of gangsters, women knowing their place (but wanting more), and McCarthyism.

The house, Briarwood House, is at the centre of this book, and even has its own voice. It helps to tell the story of its inhabitants and enjoys the weekly dinner parties that one of the women, Grace, sets up.

All of the women have secrets that they’d rather other people didn’t know about, and as the book goes on we find out just what those secrets are.

I don’t read many books set I the 1950’s, and it was fascinating to see how single women lived at this time. What also surprised me, was how Washington D. C. was considered to be almost a small town! I didn’t get the impression of a buzzing metropolis at all.

This is a puzzling mystery with strong female leads (I’m a fan) and gave me the opportunity to read about a time I was unfamiliar with. I liked that some of the politicians had actually existed - which was a really nice touch.
  
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ClareR (6256 KP) rated Perestroika in Books

Mar 10, 2024  
Perestroika
Perestroika
Joao Cerqueira | 2024 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Perestroika by João Cerqueira is the story of a fictional country’s turn away from Communism.

We start off in Slavia in 1978 before any of the massive changes that will eventually take place, and we meet the inhabitants of the country: from the corrupt politicians to the men incarcerated in concentration camps. We see how people live on next to nothing and lies from the government that tell them all of their woes are because of the wicked Capitalist West.

The tables are turned on these corrupt Communists with the advent of Perestroika, and instead of Communists governing the country, an all-out crime boss finds himself in charge. But make no mistake: this was engineered by Ivan Fiorov (the crime boss) and his lackeys.

This is a story that is as relevant today as it always has been - especially with what is going on in the Ukraine at the moment. Some of the story arcs in this are horrific, and not just those that take place in the concentration camps. There’s child abuse, sexual coercion, drug abuse, neo-Nazis, violence. The people in this country experience a lot of change in a short period of time. But at the same time, everything stays the same.

Well worth a read.
  
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Merissa (14206 KP) rated Bound to Survive (The Magic Within #1) in Books

Jun 7, 2023  
Bound to Survive (The Magic Within #1)
Bound to Survive (The Magic Within #1)
Sharon Gibbs | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book will take you back in time to when fantasy stories were epic in every good sense of the word. There is a tale to tell and you will be engrossed and want to stay with the story until it reaches its conclusion.

There are so many interesting characters in here but one who quickly wormed his way into my affections was Clarence. The dignity he showed whilst being held captive was so endearing, I couldn't help but love him. I also loved how we had the backstory incorporated in the tale although admittedly it spun my mind until I realised which time frame I was in.

Heroes with a secret past, baddies with attitude, sorcery, magic, sword and even axe play - they're all here. The world that Sharon has created is full of history and depth. This is Sharon's debut novel which I think is absolutely fantastic. I am looking forward to the release of book 2 in The Magic Within series which should be later this year.

Highly recommended for all fans of fantasy.

* 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!
Jan 30, 2015