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Darren Hayman recommended The Kids from "Fame" by Kids From Fame in Music (curated)
ClareR (6067 KP) rated Haverscroft in Books
Sep 6, 2020
This has been described as a ghost/ horror story, but I think it was more of a suspense. Coupled with an unreliable main character, the reader is never sure that what is happening IS actually happening.
Kate Keeling moves to Haverscroft with her twins and her husband, in the hope that she can rescue her marriage from mistakes that have been made. Kate also seems to be recovering from a breakdown - and this, I think, is a major piece of information in unlocking what is happening to her.
Timelines seem to be a bit fluid, whether this was intended or not, it did make it confusing. This may have been a device to portray Kate’s mental health, but to be honest, I’m not sure.
There is something definitely not quite right about the house: noises, things moving, lightbulbs breaking, figures moving out of the corner of your eye that aren’t there when you look. More interesting is how Kate and her husbands (Matt) marriage deteriorates over the course of the book, and the reason why (which I won’t go in to, because spoilers!).
There are what appears to be a lot of editing issues: words missed out or misspelt, and wonky timelines (but I’m really not sure whether this was intended), but I still enjoyed reading it.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book.
Kate Keeling moves to Haverscroft with her twins and her husband, in the hope that she can rescue her marriage from mistakes that have been made. Kate also seems to be recovering from a breakdown - and this, I think, is a major piece of information in unlocking what is happening to her.
Timelines seem to be a bit fluid, whether this was intended or not, it did make it confusing. This may have been a device to portray Kate’s mental health, but to be honest, I’m not sure.
There is something definitely not quite right about the house: noises, things moving, lightbulbs breaking, figures moving out of the corner of your eye that aren’t there when you look. More interesting is how Kate and her husbands (Matt) marriage deteriorates over the course of the book, and the reason why (which I won’t go in to, because spoilers!).
There are what appears to be a lot of editing issues: words missed out or misspelt, and wonky timelines (but I’m really not sure whether this was intended), but I still enjoyed reading it.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for serialising this book.
Ash by Ibeyi
Album Watch
French-Cuban twins Ibeyi are back with their second album Ash, a record that tackles subjects as...
World experimental electronic
The House at the Edge of the World
6.0
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Book
Part mystery, part psychological drama, Julia Rochester's The House at the Edge of the World is a...
Unbreakable (The Legion, #1)
7.2
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Book
Supernatural meets The Da Vinci Code in this action-packed paranormal thriller, the first book in a...
A Wind in the Door (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #2)
8.1
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A Wind in the Door is a fantastic adventure story involving Meg Murry, her small brother Charles...
David McK (3713 KP) rated Dark Force Rising (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, #2) in Books
Aug 27, 2021
The mid-part of Timothy Zahn's 'Heir to the Empire' series, which many - myself included - feel should have been used for the basis of the sequel trilogy. Mainly because this has the one thing that trilogy lacked: an over-arching plot!
Now considered non-canon, this series is set five years after the events of 'Return of the Jedi', where Coruscant has now become the seat of the New Republic rather than of the Empire, and where Leia and Han are expecting twins, just as Grand Admiral Thrawn - a character who has made the jump to canon - returns from his mission to the Outer Rim for The Empire and launches a campaign against the forces of the New Republic.
In this mid entry to the series, Leia has to convince the Noghri that The Empire are not who they say they are, whilst Luke hears rumours of a Jedi Master C'Boaoth who has come out of hiding (and is secretly working alongside Thrawn and co) and hopes to learn more about the ways of the Force from said Master.
Meanwhile, Hand and Lando find themselves seeking down the location of the legendary Katana fleet: a fleet of dreadnaughts that went missing during The Clone Wars (here, 50 or so years prior), and that may swing the balance of power in the Galaxy ...
Now considered non-canon, this series is set five years after the events of 'Return of the Jedi', where Coruscant has now become the seat of the New Republic rather than of the Empire, and where Leia and Han are expecting twins, just as Grand Admiral Thrawn - a character who has made the jump to canon - returns from his mission to the Outer Rim for The Empire and launches a campaign against the forces of the New Republic.
In this mid entry to the series, Leia has to convince the Noghri that The Empire are not who they say they are, whilst Luke hears rumours of a Jedi Master C'Boaoth who has come out of hiding (and is secretly working alongside Thrawn and co) and hopes to learn more about the ways of the Force from said Master.
Meanwhile, Hand and Lando find themselves seeking down the location of the legendary Katana fleet: a fleet of dreadnaughts that went missing during The Clone Wars (here, 50 or so years prior), and that may swing the balance of power in the Galaxy ...
Merissa (13778 KP) rated The Unknown Sun (Destiny #1) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
This book starts off with a contemporary feel - Moira is a teenage girl trying to get through High School after having two near-death experiences. Everyone else who was with her at the time died, but for some reason, she survived. All that changes one night when someone breaks into her home and attacks her. Thinking that third time lucky for death to come and collect her, instead, she is saved by two winged people, twins who seem to know about her.
This is where the Fantasy part of the novel kicks in as you have good vs. evil, betrayal, the old Gods and new powers and abilities.
There are crossovers between this book and The Immortals which made it interesting. However, I personally found it a tad distracting as my mind would flit back to the other book when a reference was made, but that's just me.
This was well-written and enjoyable. The 'fun' hasn't ended here though, for all that Moira has some of her answers. There is more to come from her, Bel, and Airi and I, for one, am looking forward to reading more about them.
* 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!
Jul 11, 2015
This is where the Fantasy part of the novel kicks in as you have good vs. evil, betrayal, the old Gods and new powers and abilities.
There are crossovers between this book and The Immortals which made it interesting. However, I personally found it a tad distracting as my mind would flit back to the other book when a reference was made, but that's just me.
This was well-written and enjoyable. The 'fun' hasn't ended here though, for all that Moira has some of her answers. There is more to come from her, Bel, and Airi and I, for one, am looking forward to reading more about them.
* 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!
Jul 11, 2015
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2484 KP) rated A Christmas Candy Killing in Books
Oct 19, 2022
Sweetly Festive Debut
Identical twins Alex and Hanna have made a life for themselves in a small Montana town, where they have opened Murder and Mayhem, a combination mystery bookstore and chocolate shop. In the time they’ve been here, Alex has become friends with Jane, one of their neighbors. Jane invites Alex over to view a true crime show because she believes that one of their neighbors is the killer still at large at the end of the episode. But when Alex arrives, she finds Jane’s dead body. The police think it was a robbery gone wrong, but Alex wonders if Jane was really onto something. Can she find the killer?
Between the culinary cozy theme and the Christmas setting, I have to give this debut a chance. I’m glad I did. The first couple of chapters had a bit too much background on Alex and Hanna, but once the murder happened, things picked up. I appreciated how the clues were folded into the story. Not that I figured out the killer using them. The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger. Likewise, the setting is good, but could be a little stronger. Both of these are minor complaints since I am definitely ready to visit my new friends and this location again soon. I enjoyed the Christmas timing as well. This is a delicious debut.
Between the culinary cozy theme and the Christmas setting, I have to give this debut a chance. I’m glad I did. The first couple of chapters had a bit too much background on Alex and Hanna, but once the murder happened, things picked up. I appreciated how the clues were folded into the story. Not that I figured out the killer using them. The characters are good, but they could be a little stronger. Likewise, the setting is good, but could be a little stronger. Both of these are minor complaints since I am definitely ready to visit my new friends and this location again soon. I enjoyed the Christmas timing as well. This is a delicious debut.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2484 KP) rated Pink Lemonade Cake Murder in Books
Sep 5, 2023
Three Strikes, You’re Dead
Summer has come to Lake Eden, and Hannah is excited to be hosting the snack booth at the baseball tournament in Lake Eden, debuting her new pink lemonade themed desserts. One of the celebrity participants is Bernie “No-No” Fulton, a local who pitch part of a season for the Twins. But when Hannah’s mother finds No-No’s body under the bleachers, Hannah has a new mystery to solve. After all, Delores had a reason to dislike the man, so Hannah’s mother is a suspect. Can Hannah figure out who wanted him out permanently?
Once again, fans of the series will know what to expect. The mystery is decent, but the story is padded with lots of talk about food, even for a culinary cozy. And the sub-plot involving Mike slows down the beginning of the story. I also had a hard time buying how the police deal with Hannah’s sleuthing in this book. And yet, I still do like checking in on the characters, and the recipes sound delicious as always. The cliffhanger makes it obvious we are back in the soap opera territory I had hoped we’d left behind. If you are curious about the series, start with the early books to see why so many people read it.
Once again, fans of the series will know what to expect. The mystery is decent, but the story is padded with lots of talk about food, even for a culinary cozy. And the sub-plot involving Mike slows down the beginning of the story. I also had a hard time buying how the police deal with Hannah’s sleuthing in this book. And yet, I still do like checking in on the characters, and the recipes sound delicious as always. The cliffhanger makes it obvious we are back in the soap opera territory I had hoped we’d left behind. If you are curious about the series, start with the early books to see why so many people read it.