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Women's Transitions from Prison: The Post-Release Experience
Rosemary Sheehan and Chris Trotter
Book
Women continue to be one of the fastest growing groups of offenders with an increasing group of...
Erika (17789 KP) rated Carnival Row - Season 1 in TV
Sep 8, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this one. I know that this show did well with the critics because it's apparently reflective of our modern times (xenophobia, etc), and, I'm sure that's probably what the writers intended. However, this show seemed to actually reflect the always interesting and complicated relationship between Ireland and England. The fae even had Irish accents (albeit, bad ones in some cases). It made me think, since both of my families are descendants of two races that weren't necessarily welcome in the US, and I get random sneering/weird comments about being half-Polish.
Anyway, the world was interesting, and it was a Steampunky-Victorian mash up. It was also very predictable, I had everything figured out completely by the 6th episode. The script wasn't that great, and good god, Cara Delevigne cannot act her way out of a wet paperbag. The main draw, for me, was Orly. He seemed to be the best actor out of all of them. There was one story line that I'm not sure was strictly necessary, involving the Spurnrose family, and that obnoxious actress that played Catherine Howard in the Tudors. There was also another strange plot line that seemed a little off, because it wasn't introduced with enough detail. There was also unnecessary T&A that I think just slowed down the show in general. I don't like T&A scenes in general, because they're hardily every relevant to the overall story. I just feel like the streaming platforms are trying to be like HBO. This show would have benefited from not having it, because it could have brought in a younger demographic as well as the adults.
I'm glad this was already renewed for a second season, because they left it as a cliffhanger. I wanted more about these different magical races and their country of origin.
Anyway, the world was interesting, and it was a Steampunky-Victorian mash up. It was also very predictable, I had everything figured out completely by the 6th episode. The script wasn't that great, and good god, Cara Delevigne cannot act her way out of a wet paperbag. The main draw, for me, was Orly. He seemed to be the best actor out of all of them. There was one story line that I'm not sure was strictly necessary, involving the Spurnrose family, and that obnoxious actress that played Catherine Howard in the Tudors. There was also another strange plot line that seemed a little off, because it wasn't introduced with enough detail. There was also unnecessary T&A that I think just slowed down the show in general. I don't like T&A scenes in general, because they're hardily every relevant to the overall story. I just feel like the streaming platforms are trying to be like HBO. This show would have benefited from not having it, because it could have brought in a younger demographic as well as the adults.
I'm glad this was already renewed for a second season, because they left it as a cliffhanger. I wanted more about these different magical races and their country of origin.
CinemaFX for Video
Photo & Video and Utilities
App
55 effects - Most comprehensive video FX app! ✩ New: great improvement of rendering speed ✩ ✩...
Clockwork Prince
8.6
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Book
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the...
Fantasy YA Books
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
Book
A rollicking true-crime adventure and a thought-provoking exploration of the human drive to possess...
History Crime
Amelia Peabody's Egypt: A Compendium
Elizabeth Peters and Kristen Whitbread
8.0
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Book
The Egypt that so enticed and enchanted intrepid archaeologist-sleuth Amelia Peabody in the late...
Under the Emerald Sky (The Irish Fortune #1)
Book
Escape to 19th century Ireland in the first book in the Irish Fortune Series, a historical fiction...
Historical Fiction Ireland Irish History Great Famine
Merissa (14005 KP) rated The Crimson and the Black (Hidden Empire #2) in Books
Mar 25, 2022 (Updated Jun 30, 2023)
THE CRIMSON AND THE BLACK is the second book in the Hidden Empire series, which starts with Shadow of the Swan, which originally was a standalone novel set in Victorian England. I can't tell you how happy I was to see the author had turned this into a series.
Still set in the same timeline, this time we find out more at Henry's Maker, Fyodora. She has a long and, sometimes tragic, backstory that we learn as we go along. Nearing one thousand years old, she finds herself getting bored easily so readily agrees to help with a nasty kidnapping and sex slave/wife ring. On the hunt for his lost cousin, Callum is one of the few dragon shifters left. When they meet, sparks fly with an instant attraction that is not acted upon due to circumstances. Delayed gratification, anyone?
As always, this was a brilliant story that held my attention from beginning to end. I loved how Fee and Callum worked together. They were honest and communicated well - even going so far as to apologise when they were in the wrong! *gasps with shock!*
Whilst hot in places, this is more about the connection between the two of them, and the lost selkies. There are a multitude of characters I want to know more about, so I'm hoping for many more books in this series.
A fantastic addition to the series that I have no hesitation in recommending. Just one question though - why was Callum black, not red?!
Read it!
** 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!
Mar 23, 2022
Still set in the same timeline, this time we find out more at Henry's Maker, Fyodora. She has a long and, sometimes tragic, backstory that we learn as we go along. Nearing one thousand years old, she finds herself getting bored easily so readily agrees to help with a nasty kidnapping and sex slave/wife ring. On the hunt for his lost cousin, Callum is one of the few dragon shifters left. When they meet, sparks fly with an instant attraction that is not acted upon due to circumstances. Delayed gratification, anyone?
As always, this was a brilliant story that held my attention from beginning to end. I loved how Fee and Callum worked together. They were honest and communicated well - even going so far as to apologise when they were in the wrong! *gasps with shock!*
Whilst hot in places, this is more about the connection between the two of them, and the lost selkies. There are a multitude of characters I want to know more about, so I'm hoping for many more books in this series.
A fantastic addition to the series that I have no hesitation in recommending. Just one question though - why was Callum black, not red?!
Read it!
** 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!
Mar 23, 2022
ClareR (6230 KP) rated The House on Half Moon Street in Books
May 3, 2018 (Updated May 3, 2018)
A good period murder mystery.
Leo works as a coroners assistant in a busy Victorian London hospital. Leo lived the first 15 years of his life as Charlotte, and ran away so that he could live as Leo: this is in time where if he were to be discovered, he would be sent to an insane asylum.
Leo falls in love with the prostitute (Maria) that he has been seeing once a week for two years, and arranges to meet her at the theatre for what he hopes will be the first of many dates. He wants to build a life with her. However, she doesn't show up, and he, bitterly disappointed, goes home. When he arrives at work the following day, he discovers the first body on the slab is that of Maria. Of course, he is the primary suspect. So Leo starts his own investigation to try and discover who the murderer is.
Leo is a likeable, yet vulnerable character. He clearly feels very deeply about Maria. The friends and acquaintances he makes in the course of his investigations are personable and try to help him as well as themselves (to be honest, it's hard to see whether they are really his friends at all - they all live hard lives, and just want to get along without causing any trouble to themselves or their families). By the same token, the villains are unlikeable, villainous and uncaring about anything other than what they can get out of people - in this case, they make their money out of women, specifically prostitution.
I really enjoyed this. I didn't think I would. As soon as I read that Leo was transgender, I thought that it would be an attempt at Tipping the Velvet. It's clearly not. I believe this is the first in a new series, and I will be looking out for the next one!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for a copy of the book!
Leo falls in love with the prostitute (Maria) that he has been seeing once a week for two years, and arranges to meet her at the theatre for what he hopes will be the first of many dates. He wants to build a life with her. However, she doesn't show up, and he, bitterly disappointed, goes home. When he arrives at work the following day, he discovers the first body on the slab is that of Maria. Of course, he is the primary suspect. So Leo starts his own investigation to try and discover who the murderer is.
Leo is a likeable, yet vulnerable character. He clearly feels very deeply about Maria. The friends and acquaintances he makes in the course of his investigations are personable and try to help him as well as themselves (to be honest, it's hard to see whether they are really his friends at all - they all live hard lives, and just want to get along without causing any trouble to themselves or their families). By the same token, the villains are unlikeable, villainous and uncaring about anything other than what they can get out of people - in this case, they make their money out of women, specifically prostitution.
I really enjoyed this. I didn't think I would. As soon as I read that Leo was transgender, I thought that it would be an attempt at Tipping the Velvet. It's clearly not. I believe this is the first in a new series, and I will be looking out for the next one!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and the publisher for a copy of the book!
Olive (1 KP) rated The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock in Books
Jan 27, 2018
Stunning prose (2 more)
Enjoyable plot
Interesting characters
This is the best book I've read in months, it immediately made my list of favorites on Goodreads and I'm sure that I'm starting to annoy people with my raving about this book.
Visually the book is a stunner and one you can definitely judge by its cover. It's rare to find a historical fantasy where the fantasy aspect takes more of a backseat. I love both genres but this was a perfect balance between the two. The Regency London setting rather than Medieval or Victorian was really refreshing as was the use of mermaids rather than vampires/werewolves/zombies/magic. I've read a few reviews where people complain that the mermaids are prolific enough considering the title but I think this is only the case if you enter it anticipating the focus to be mermaids. It's definitely a consistent theme from start to finish but it doesn't take center stage until the very end. If you go in expecting mermaids galore, you might be a little disappointed.
A lot of historical fiction written after the time it portrays attempts to emulate the formal language of the time and usually with cringe-worthy results. This book is an exception. The prose is lightly reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel and beautifully descriptive but not overly so. The plot isn't one you can guess from the first page and while you can make educated guesses, the journey there is full of delightful twists and turns.
Really though I cannot say enough about this book. The only word that seems to come close is 'sumptuous'. It's the sort of book you can easily reread because the enjoyment doesn't hinge on shocking plot twists or mystery and suspense. It was a sheer joy to read and I dreaded the ending from the very first chapter. I almost never reread books but this is one I actually look forward to rereading.
Visually the book is a stunner and one you can definitely judge by its cover. It's rare to find a historical fantasy where the fantasy aspect takes more of a backseat. I love both genres but this was a perfect balance between the two. The Regency London setting rather than Medieval or Victorian was really refreshing as was the use of mermaids rather than vampires/werewolves/zombies/magic. I've read a few reviews where people complain that the mermaids are prolific enough considering the title but I think this is only the case if you enter it anticipating the focus to be mermaids. It's definitely a consistent theme from start to finish but it doesn't take center stage until the very end. If you go in expecting mermaids galore, you might be a little disappointed.
A lot of historical fiction written after the time it portrays attempts to emulate the formal language of the time and usually with cringe-worthy results. This book is an exception. The prose is lightly reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel and beautifully descriptive but not overly so. The plot isn't one you can guess from the first page and while you can make educated guesses, the journey there is full of delightful twists and turns.
Really though I cannot say enough about this book. The only word that seems to come close is 'sumptuous'. It's the sort of book you can easily reread because the enjoyment doesn't hinge on shocking plot twists or mystery and suspense. It was a sheer joy to read and I dreaded the ending from the very first chapter. I almost never reread books but this is one I actually look forward to rereading.
Erika (17789 KP) Sep 9, 2019
AJaneClark (3975 KP) Sep 9, 2019