Trieste: And the Meaning of Nowhere
Book
Jan Morris (then James) first visited Trieste as a soldier at the end of the Second World War. Since...
Peaky Blinders - Season 2
7.5
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TV Season Watch
Britain is a mixture of despair and hedonism in 1919 in the aftermath of the Great War. Returning...
The Great Science Fiction: The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, Short Stories
Book
'No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being...
The Failsafe Query
8.0
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Book
The Failsafe Query is a gripping thriller set in the contemporary world of modern British espionage....
Action Espionage
The Man in the High Castle
7.5
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Book
A dazzling speculative novel of 'counterfactual history' from one of America's most highly-regarded...
David McK (3801 KP) rated Blood's Campaign in Books
Mar 5, 2020
Which is where I live (well, in Northern Ireland).
Living, as I do, not that far from Carrickfergus in Belfast I was aware of the siege of Carrickfergus, and (of course) of the Battle of the Boyne - it's impossible not to be, living here! With William's victory celebrated by a section of the community every 12th of July - although the subjects were never really taught at all in my school days; seemingly more concerned with the Norman conquest or with the English Civil War or World War 2 than with 'local' history. In retrospect, I think that might be because local history is (still) a touchy subject: what is one man's hero, for example, is another man's villain in this country!
Anyway, I've gone off topic: Blood's Campaign.
An interesting read, with Holcroft Blood still an unusual protagonist (hinted as being on the autistic spectrum?), with - even for someone born and raised in Northern Ireland - some fascinating history thrown in, although (I have to say), that this one didn't quite grip me as much as Angus Donald's 'Outlaw' (Robin Hood) series.
Stone Cold: The Extraordinary Story of Len Opie, Australia's Deadliest Soldier
Book
'If I'd have been a Vietcong you'd be dead.' - Len Opie 'Len was a soldier above soldiers.' - Keith...
The Kaiser's Web
Book
In bestselling author Steve Berry's stunning novel, former Justice Department agent Cotton Malone...
Haley Mathiot (9 KP) rated Before They are Hanged: The First Law: Book Two in Books
Apr 27, 2018
All three books have a part 1 and a part 2. Part 1 of the first book was spent introducing a huge variety of characters that didn’t seem to have anything to do with each other; in fact they didn’t even feel like they were living in the same world. I did put the story down and move away from it a few times, because there wasn’t much plot or connection between them. Even though it was interesting, funny, and well written, that first part seemed very disconnected.
I told myself I’d listen to one more track. So I did, and that one track was the one where everything started falling together. Not only were they in the same world, they would be going on the same adventure and working together to save the world from an evil king, a crazy wizard, and magical zombies.
I love a good war story.
Each story left off with a stunning finish that begged for more. Even the last one; though it was open enough that anything could happen, you’re pretty sure you know. All the loose ends are tied up: bad guys die, people get their revenge, the king gets married, the deserving are promoted, and the drunks get… less drunk than normal.
If you’re into action, adventure, fantasy, or bloody thrillers, this series will keep you busy for a good long time!
Content and Recommendation: Ages 18+. Some sex (I’ll tell you know it’s awkward not great, even worse when you’re listening to it, not reading it). Plenty of language. Lots of violence; war scenes, murder, and cutting off body parts. One of the main characters is a torturer, okay? This one isn’t for the faint of heart. And don’t listen to it while you’re eating.