Search

Search only in certain items:

The Golem's Eye (Bartimaeus, #2)
The Golem's Eye (Bartimaeus, #2)
Jonathan Stroud | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Second entry in Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus trilogy, set roughly two years after the previous 'The Amulet of Samarkand', and following roughly the same outline as before in that it frequently switches point of view between that of the young magician (who, here, are the ruling - and tyrannical - class) Nathaniel, the Djinni he summons (Bartimaeus) who also happens to know his summoners real name (and thus has blackmail material over said summoner) and now also the ringleader of the Resistance Kathleen 'Kitty' Jones.

Here, Nathaniel - who goes by the name of John Mandrake - is charged with uncovering the origin of disturbances in his modern-day-ish London, which he initially blames on the Resistance before it comes to light otherwise.

Not that his fellow members of government initially believe him, or that it is being caused by a Golem being controlled by a mysterious animator ...

Almost worth reading for the footnotes/comments by Bartimaeus alone!
  
Lowest Common Denominator
Lowest Common Denominator
Pirkko Saisio | 2025 | Biography
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I believe Lowest Common Denominator is going to be a trilogy, and after reading this, I’m all for reading the next two.

LCD bounces around somewhat in time from toddlerhood to the present day. It’s auto fiction, really, although I had to double check that. So I suppose it’s a mix of Saisio’s autobiography that has been fictionalised in places.

I found the details of a child growing up in Finland, Saisio’s communist parents, along with 1950’s Finnish life, fascinating. It also made me curious about the war and occupation of the Russians in Finland, and I consequently did a bit of background reading about that.

I love reading translated books, and the translator, Mia Spangenberg, has made sure that this has lost none of its humour. The relationships between the narrator and their family members are so well drawn. Their experiences, traumas, upbringings and their expectations of this small child make for an engrossing read.
  
Allies & Enemies (The Immortals #2)
Allies & Enemies (The Immortals #2)
Cheryl S. Mackey | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Immortals is a prequel trilogy, placing events and characters that are mentioned or appear in another series by Cheryl Mackey, the first book of which is called The Unknown Sun and is available now.

Allies and Enemies start with our Four once again on the search for something. This time it is a map, but they need to find a map to find the map! Nothing is easy or straightforward for these four. Although Ivo, Jaeger, Jadeth, and Emaranthe know and work well together, they are joined by a couple that could help or hinder them.

Full of action and enough twists and turns to keep everyone happy, this is a fast-paced Fantasy. Full of imagination and leading nicely to the next book. Definitely recommended.

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

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Oct 27, 2015
  
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
2013 | Action, Sci-Fi
The second of the four films based on Suzanne Collins 'Hunger Games', which picks up not that long from the end of the previous movie and sees Jennifer Lawrence's Katnissn Everdeen suffering from PTSD as a result of her victory in the 74th annual 'Hunger Games', in which she and the other tributes had to fight to the death for the amusement of the Capitol.

Sent on an anniversary tour by President Snow, she and co-winner Peeta witness revolution brewing in the District's, before they are forced back into the arena once more for a 'quarter quell', where the tributes are all picked from previous winners of the Games.

As the middle part of a trilogy, this is a little bit on the slower side, more concerned with building the world and in linking the start and the finale together. Basically, an Act 2 of 3.

Less shaky cam this time around, though, replaced with wider sweeping shots!