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Ghost Huntress Book 1 the Awakening
8.0
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It’s too freaking quiet here! I can’t sleep. Not a wink. This is the third night in a...
A Polar Affair
9.0
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George Murray Levick was the physician on Robert Falcon Scott’s tragic Antarctic expedition of...
Jack the Ripper: Case Closed
8.0
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London. 1894. 'I am not a detective, chief constable.' 'No, but you are a poet, a freemason...
ClareR (6230 KP) rated Spider, Spider in Books
Feb 24, 2026
I’ve been wanting to read this ever since I first saw it on Instagram and then read the synopsis. I thought I’d look on NetGalley, just on the off chance that I could request a digital copy, and I found the audiobook. I’m so glad that I did!! I love an atmospheric, gothic read/ listen!
Molly Hanson narrates this so well from the points of view of young Nancy Ratcliffe and a woman called Spider. Both have been abused at the hands of the same man. Anyone who calls himself “The Prophet” is a red flag in the first place!
Nancy’s experience is in the “current” Victorian day, and Spiders is in the past (I wasn’t sure how long ago, though). Both stories are told in alternating chapters for the most part - and their actions are completely understandable.
It’s a story of religious control, female rage and revenge. The story flowed really well, and I was drawn in, hoping that they would both got their revenge and get away with it!!
Many thanks to Bolinda Audio, L. C. Winter and NetGalley for my copy of this thrilling book.
Molly Hanson narrates this so well from the points of view of young Nancy Ratcliffe and a woman called Spider. Both have been abused at the hands of the same man. Anyone who calls himself “The Prophet” is a red flag in the first place!
Nancy’s experience is in the “current” Victorian day, and Spiders is in the past (I wasn’t sure how long ago, though). Both stories are told in alternating chapters for the most part - and their actions are completely understandable.
It’s a story of religious control, female rage and revenge. The story flowed really well, and I was drawn in, hoping that they would both got their revenge and get away with it!!
Many thanks to Bolinda Audio, L. C. Winter and NetGalley for my copy of this thrilling book.
Imagine making the wind a main character in a novel for adults! Well, Sarah Hall has done exactly that in Helm, and presented it in all of my favourite genres (thank you very much!).
Helm is the anthropomorphised wind in the North of England, in a valley that feels like it should be in the Peak District (perhaps?). For millennia, it blows around, doing its own thing, and then humanity comes on the scene.
A prehistoric clan worship Helm, hoping for leniency from it’s devastating, troublesome, unpredictable nature. Another character, a wizard-type priest, tries to banish Helm. A Victorian Engineer wants to capture him. My favourite characters were the girl who could converse with Helm and is then regarded as insane (as well as promiscuous by her mother), and the Climate Scientist who wants to save the wind. All of these characters have only one connection: Helm.
Don’t expect some nice, tied up with a bow, perfect ending. That’s not this book. I loved how it showed humanity’s relationship with nature and the weather in such a creative way.
I was transfixed throughout.
Highly recommended!
Helm is the anthropomorphised wind in the North of England, in a valley that feels like it should be in the Peak District (perhaps?). For millennia, it blows around, doing its own thing, and then humanity comes on the scene.
A prehistoric clan worship Helm, hoping for leniency from it’s devastating, troublesome, unpredictable nature. Another character, a wizard-type priest, tries to banish Helm. A Victorian Engineer wants to capture him. My favourite characters were the girl who could converse with Helm and is then regarded as insane (as well as promiscuous by her mother), and the Climate Scientist who wants to save the wind. All of these characters have only one connection: Helm.
Don’t expect some nice, tied up with a bow, perfect ending. That’s not this book. I loved how it showed humanity’s relationship with nature and the weather in such a creative way.
I was transfixed throughout.
Highly recommended!
Merissa (14003 KP) rated The Best New True Crime Stories: Crimes of Passion, Obsession & Revenge in Books
Dec 13, 2021 (Updated Jul 9, 2023)
THE BEST NEW TRUE CRIME STORIES: CRIMES OF PASSION, OBSESSION & REVENGE is an eclectic mix of stories from all over the world, set in different times, from Victorian England to Japan, to modern-day America.
If you like True Crime then I am sure you will find something to keep your interest. It is clear from the start that a lot of research has gone into these stories, some of which have personal memories from the author. However, some of the stories felt disjointed in the way they were presented, going off on tangents that didn't seem relevant to the story at that point.
Each story features the bare bones of the story; being a collection, there simply isn't room for much more. However, it gives you the story, some build-up, and some information after the crime.
On the whole, this was an enjoyable read by a new-to-me author.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Dec 13, 2021
If you like True Crime then I am sure you will find something to keep your interest. It is clear from the start that a lot of research has gone into these stories, some of which have personal memories from the author. However, some of the stories felt disjointed in the way they were presented, going off on tangents that didn't seem relevant to the story at that point.
Each story features the bare bones of the story; being a collection, there simply isn't room for much more. However, it gives you the story, some build-up, and some information after the crime.
On the whole, this was an enjoyable read by a new-to-me author.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* 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!
Dec 13, 2021
Clues to You (Love in the Comptons #3)
10.0
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One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths. They’re looking for answers. But will they find...
Contemporary Romance
Becky is a retelling of Vanity Fair - which I haven’t read - so I only really know what other people have said about it, really. Regardless of my lack of background knowledge, I can safely say that you will be able to enjoy this novel without any Regency or Victorian novel reading background.
I tore through this. When you realise that for the meteoric rise of the main character, Becky, there will be a plummet, it’s a case of morbid fascination!
And like the original, this is a story without a hero. None of the men are particularly “dashing”, or nice, in fact. Becky isn’t a likeable character either. She knows what she wants, and will do anything in the dirty world of tabloid “news” to get it.
I couldn’t stop reading this, and I closed the book after the last page thinking: “Well THAT was a good job!”
So hopefully I haven’t given too much away, and if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know that I love to hate a character, and Becky has this particular trait in spades!
It’s a cracking read!
I tore through this. When you realise that for the meteoric rise of the main character, Becky, there will be a plummet, it’s a case of morbid fascination!
And like the original, this is a story without a hero. None of the men are particularly “dashing”, or nice, in fact. Becky isn’t a likeable character either. She knows what she wants, and will do anything in the dirty world of tabloid “news” to get it.
I couldn’t stop reading this, and I closed the book after the last page thinking: “Well THAT was a good job!”
So hopefully I haven’t given too much away, and if you’ve read any of my other reviews, you’ll know that I love to hate a character, and Becky has this particular trait in spades!
It’s a cracking read!
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Katana (Katana, #1) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
Original Review posted on <a title="Katana by Cole Gibsen" href="http://bookwyrming-thoughts.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-katana-by-cole-gibsen.html">Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
<i><b>Note:</b> Formatting is lost due to copy and paste</i>
Anyone who's seen me at book club would probably know that I was practically bouncing off the library walls when I found out Katana by Cole Gibsen was the next book we were going to read.
I apologize if I looked like a hyperactive bookworm that day and looked like a chipmunk chittering away. Or maybe a squirrel starving for acorns (oops for any cuteness overload).
<i><b>Reviewer's Note:</b> removed pictures. You'll have to see the review on the blog for the pictures...</i>
But here are a few interesting things about Katana:
It's set in St. Louis I love you New York, but I've never visited you or even live there, so... it's always exciting to see a book set in a place you've been to. Or maybe I just need to go to NY sometime in the future. I'll be sure to add it to my bucket list. ;)
But... I do have much better time visualizing than I would with Victorian London*. Do brownie points exist? :p
This is probably getting old and you might be tired of me saying this a lot, but yes, Katana has a great (and I mean great) idea with reincarnation in the present day without Angels being used.
Well, Angels is getting a tad bit old. But thankfully, it's samurai. Cheers. Though I'm not sure why I'm saying cheers when it's very similar to paranormalish Romeo & Juliet style in a way. Random fact: I didn't really like Romeo & Juliet. It doesn't stop me from liking the book though.
On the overall side though? It's action-packed from the first page. You're basically in for a "Good Reads" smoothie.
Ironically, I like Goodreads too.
But out of randomness, I've called dibs on its sequel, Senshi already (that review will come eventually). I apologize to any of my fellow book club members if they were interesting in checking out the only copy. I appreciate you guys waiting patiently.
Just please keep the candy corn to yourself. You'll need them for trick-or-treating in a few weeks. ;)
*Victorian London was randomly chosen. The Infernal Devices was on my mind at the time the review was written. If I were alive at the time, I would be six feet under the ground unless I'm like Tessa Gray and Magnus, and I'm a warlock.
<i><b>Note:</b> Formatting is lost due to copy and paste</i>
Anyone who's seen me at book club would probably know that I was practically bouncing off the library walls when I found out Katana by Cole Gibsen was the next book we were going to read.
I apologize if I looked like a hyperactive bookworm that day and looked like a chipmunk chittering away. Or maybe a squirrel starving for acorns (oops for any cuteness overload).
<i><b>Reviewer's Note:</b> removed pictures. You'll have to see the review on the blog for the pictures...</i>
But here are a few interesting things about Katana:
It's set in St. Louis I love you New York, but I've never visited you or even live there, so... it's always exciting to see a book set in a place you've been to. Or maybe I just need to go to NY sometime in the future. I'll be sure to add it to my bucket list. ;)
But... I do have much better time visualizing than I would with Victorian London*. Do brownie points exist? :p
This is probably getting old and you might be tired of me saying this a lot, but yes, Katana has a great (and I mean great) idea with reincarnation in the present day without Angels being used.
Well, Angels is getting a tad bit old. But thankfully, it's samurai. Cheers. Though I'm not sure why I'm saying cheers when it's very similar to paranormalish Romeo & Juliet style in a way. Random fact: I didn't really like Romeo & Juliet. It doesn't stop me from liking the book though.
On the overall side though? It's action-packed from the first page. You're basically in for a "Good Reads" smoothie.
Ironically, I like Goodreads too.
But out of randomness, I've called dibs on its sequel, Senshi already (that review will come eventually). I apologize to any of my fellow book club members if they were interesting in checking out the only copy. I appreciate you guys waiting patiently.
Just please keep the candy corn to yourself. You'll need them for trick-or-treating in a few weeks. ;)
*Victorian London was randomly chosen. The Infernal Devices was on my mind at the time the review was written. If I were alive at the time, I would be six feet under the ground unless I'm like Tessa Gray and Magnus, and I'm a warlock.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Secret Agent in Books
Nov 1, 2017
The story of a reluctant spy and a tragic plot
Joseph Conrad continues to write about the dark side of humanity, similar to his other work the Heart of Darkness. The book reads like two separate tales - that of the Verloc family and that of the anarchists.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.