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Jenny Houle (24 KP) rated Agatha Raisin and the Witches' Tree in Books
Jan 13, 2018
I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley for an unbiased opinion.
Agatha Raisin is at it again. Following a hanging from tree locally infamous as "The Witches' Tree" in a neighboring Cotswold village, Agatha is hired to solve the case.
To those who've been with the series from the beginning, I found this book to be the best in awhile. Over the past few books, I've felt strongly that the changing backstory of a few primary characters (Simon and Charles specifically) was starting to detract from my enjoyment over the series. This time, while both were very present, Beaton left out the details that bothered me.
Additionally, this case truly was solved by Agatha and her agency (she's often accused of bumbling along until she stumbles upon the answer, only to need police rescue for herself as well... definitely not the case in this book).
And one more reason this book got a 5 out of 5 rating from me: Agatha doesn't fall in infatuation in this book. She does date, she does acknowledge that she's happiest when she's in love, but there was no "strong woman becomes blithering idiot" subplot this time.
Characters I wish I'd seen more of: Bill and Alice. Through the last few books, Bill's clearly been distancing himself from Agatha. Hope soon his romance with Alice will grow more and he can resume a more steady role in the books as Agatha's friend.
Agatha Raisin is at it again. Following a hanging from tree locally infamous as "The Witches' Tree" in a neighboring Cotswold village, Agatha is hired to solve the case.
To those who've been with the series from the beginning, I found this book to be the best in awhile. Over the past few books, I've felt strongly that the changing backstory of a few primary characters (Simon and Charles specifically) was starting to detract from my enjoyment over the series. This time, while both were very present, Beaton left out the details that bothered me.
Additionally, this case truly was solved by Agatha and her agency (she's often accused of bumbling along until she stumbles upon the answer, only to need police rescue for herself as well... definitely not the case in this book).
And one more reason this book got a 5 out of 5 rating from me: Agatha doesn't fall in infatuation in this book. She does date, she does acknowledge that she's happiest when she's in love, but there was no "strong woman becomes blithering idiot" subplot this time.
Characters I wish I'd seen more of: Bill and Alice. Through the last few books, Bill's clearly been distancing himself from Agatha. Hope soon his romance with Alice will grow more and he can resume a more steady role in the books as Agatha's friend.
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Will Haunt You in Books
Mar 15, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.
And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.
There are some things I felt were excellent about this book and some that I feel could have maybe been shorter or just omitted completely. Some may find halfway through the book that things become confusing but stay with it as it does come together. The writer really had some gems of unnerving bits in the book that I enjoyed immensely. The book has a very dark and menacing tone to it and is very surreal which makes it all the more spooky.
There are some bizarre scenes which could be described as almost hallucinogenic dreams at times. I feel that this is intentional as to make you think what is real and what isn't. I think the writing style of this author could be compared to Clive Barker so prepare yourself for the bizarre and the dark.
The book does start off rally strong and the ending is just dynamite. This is a novel that true horror fans will enjoy and devour!
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for the ARC; this is my honest review and opinion.
Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.
And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.
There are some things I felt were excellent about this book and some that I feel could have maybe been shorter or just omitted completely. Some may find halfway through the book that things become confusing but stay with it as it does come together. The writer really had some gems of unnerving bits in the book that I enjoyed immensely. The book has a very dark and menacing tone to it and is very surreal which makes it all the more spooky.
There are some bizarre scenes which could be described as almost hallucinogenic dreams at times. I feel that this is intentional as to make you think what is real and what isn't. I think the writing style of this author could be compared to Clive Barker so prepare yourself for the bizarre and the dark.
The book does start off rally strong and the ending is just dynamite. This is a novel that true horror fans will enjoy and devour!
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for the ARC; this is my honest review and opinion.
Genealogy Online For Dummies
April Leigh Helm and Matthew L. Helm
Book
Research your family history using the latest online tools and apps Genealogy Online For Dummies,...
The Irish Countrywomen's Association Book of Christmas: Recipes, Advice, Blessings and Traditions for the Perfect Irish Christmas
Irish Countrywomen's Association
Book
For many Irish families, that sense of 'bringing home Christmas' is very much alive: welcoming loved...
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1)
8.5
Rate It
Book
Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Of All Things Sacred in Books
Feb 25, 2024
36 of 220
Book sirens review
Of All Things Sacred
By Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
A prophet has arrived in the small mountain town of Red Tree, California, bringing with him a revival. Repenting of sins. Healings. Exorcisms. Speaking in tongues. Visions. Prophecies.
Something big is happening in Red Tree, something so transformative the small town can barely contain it. And Iron King's mother is the Prophet's most committed follower, even though Iron's father isn't totally on board.
Any doubts the townspeople have that the Prophet was anointed by God evaporate when a man who questions his integrity is struck by lightning on the church steps. Unreproachable, the Prophet's stature—and his control over the souls in his care —grows along with the size of his church, despite whispered rumors and his increasingly strange prophecies.
Until Iron falls in love with a girl and realizes that between God and Satan, between truth and deception, lies a great contradiction. And a horrific terror.
This was so so good I didn’t want to put it down. An interesting story of faith, life and false prophets. I was completely hooked from start to finish. Definitely be reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Book sirens review
Of All Things Sacred
By Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
A prophet has arrived in the small mountain town of Red Tree, California, bringing with him a revival. Repenting of sins. Healings. Exorcisms. Speaking in tongues. Visions. Prophecies.
Something big is happening in Red Tree, something so transformative the small town can barely contain it. And Iron King's mother is the Prophet's most committed follower, even though Iron's father isn't totally on board.
Any doubts the townspeople have that the Prophet was anointed by God evaporate when a man who questions his integrity is struck by lightning on the church steps. Unreproachable, the Prophet's stature—and his control over the souls in his care —grows along with the size of his church, despite whispered rumors and his increasingly strange prophecies.
Until Iron falls in love with a girl and realizes that between God and Satan, between truth and deception, lies a great contradiction. And a horrific terror.
This was so so good I didn’t want to put it down. An interesting story of faith, life and false prophets. I was completely hooked from start to finish. Definitely be reading more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sam (74 KP) rated The Unauthorised Biography in Books
Mar 27, 2019
I loved this! I got so excited when I saw the thirteen questions about Lemony Snicket that were being asked, and I loved it even more when I discovered that they were being answered in the typical Snicket way – cryptic and nonsensical.
The book is made up of multiple letters, newspaper clippings and diary entries that explain everything and nothing at the same time.
It did give a few of the characters some more background which I enjoyed, and it explained the relationship between the characters a lot more than the book series does.
It never tells you the exact truth. I stared at the Snicket family tree for ages trying to work out the initials!
The book is made up of multiple letters, newspaper clippings and diary entries that explain everything and nothing at the same time.
It did give a few of the characters some more background which I enjoyed, and it explained the relationship between the characters a lot more than the book series does.
It never tells you the exact truth. I stared at the Snicket family tree for ages trying to work out the initials!
Milleen (47 KP) rated Three Things About Elsie in Books
Nov 14, 2018
Lying on the floor of her flat in Cherry Tree, 84-year-old Florence thinks about her past and present. She wonders about the new resident who closely resembles a man from her youth. A man her and Elsie had tried to forget. Joanna Cannon has written a wonderful exploration of old age, nostalgia and memory and cleverly combined it with solving a mystery from the past. There are moments of complete wisdom and some of naivety and a few that were poignant and funny. This is a profound book that has been praised for it’s tenderness but it made me laugh out loud as much as contemplate the pros and cons of old age.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Womaneater (1957) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Jun 22, 2019)
Minor entry in the annals of British botanical horror proves that Orson Welles wasn't the only one whose career took a nosedive after Citizen Kane. George Coulouris does the best he can as a scientist so mad he thinks you should keep trees in a basement, but you can see the melancholy in his eyes throughout.
Essentially an attempt to transplant, or in this case re-pot, the US Z-movie horror formula to a British context, but this just makes the results weirder rather than appreciably better. Fabulous insights into assumptions about gender politics and other cultures, obviously. The killer tree itself will linger in your memory, though not in the way the film-makers would have hoped.
Essentially an attempt to transplant, or in this case re-pot, the US Z-movie horror formula to a British context, but this just makes the results weirder rather than appreciably better. Fabulous insights into assumptions about gender politics and other cultures, obviously. The killer tree itself will linger in your memory, though not in the way the film-makers would have hoped.