Ionic Liquid Devices: Ionic Liquid Devices
Hans-Jorg Schneider, Mohsen Shahinpoor, Ali Eftekhari and Ana M. Afonso
Book
Ionic liquids provide ion-rich media, which can control the system properties based on the size,...
Alice (12 KP) rated Of Sand and Malice Made (The Song of the Shattered Sands, #0.5) in Books
Jul 3, 2018
Ceda is 15 when the story begins and it starts off with her picking a fight with someone who – in the beginning – gives off a secondary character kinda vibe, almost filler but ends up being an integral part of the story later on. Brama had apparently stolen a purse that Ceda wad tasked to collect and Ceda decided she’d rather fight him than find the purse. That came across as quite juvenile particularly when her “boss” pointed out the same thing that I thought.
The story progresses pretty slowly for the first 60 or 70 pages where it does eventually improve but there’s a distinctly Middle Eastern vibe to this story. It’s sort of like a twisted sci-fi type of Aladdin story.
The pit fighting is few and far between and for a character who is called the White Wolf I would have preferred a little more fighting and a little less talking but the steroidal like properties to the flower petals is amazingly unique, I don’t think I’ve ever read that in a book so kudos to that.
The writing style was a touch different to what I’m used to but it was written quite well. As mentioned above there was a distinctly Middle Eastern vibe to this story and the descriptions of the desert and other areas in Sharakhai were beautifully written and it almost made me feel like I was back on holiday in Egypt which was a lovely experience.
The concept of Rumayesh was really good – a semi corrupt demonic type being who overtakes the body of her “chosen” one – and Rumayesh took an awful big shine to Ceda which is where the story basically followed. Now having not read Twelve Kings I am completely unable to comment on how the story progresses in that book but the plot line in this novella was drawing to the mind and the descriptions of what was happening were very good.
Apart from my initial dubious feeling and the subsequent lack of pit – fighting for a story based on a pit-fighter I did enjoy Of Sand and Malice Made but I don’t think that it is entirely my thing and I don’t think I’d be continuing the story anytime soon though I do look forward to seeing where this novella leads.
Making Medicines in Africa: The Political Economy of Industrializing for Local Health: 2016
Maureen Mackintosh, Geoffrey Banda, Watu Wamae and Paula Tibandebage
Book
This book is open access under a CC-BY license. The importance of the pharmaceutical industry in...
In the Sign of the Butterfly: Leadership in Metamorphosis
Book
When this book was first published in German, it topped Switzerland's non-fiction bestseller list....
Nutritional Supplements in Sport, Exercise and Health: An A-Z Guide
Lindy M. Castell, Samantha J. Stear and Louise M. Burke
Book
Nutritional Supplements in Sport, Exercise and Health is the most up-to-date and authoritative guide...
Quick Pint After Work?: And Other Everyday Lies
Luke Lewis and Hector Janse van Rensburg
Book
Jargon, cliches, euphemisms ...lies. Ever wished there was a phrasebook to help you translate all...
The Multi-Orgasmic Man: Sexual Secrets Every Man Should Know
Mantak Chia and Douglas Abrams Arava
Book
Every man can have multiple orgasms - and can directly improve his lovemaking skills - just by...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2498 KP) rated Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers in Books
Jan 6, 2022
I grew up camping, so the setting for this series definitely appealed to me. And that paid off. I would love to visit a place like Jules runs for a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, the plot was weak. Part of that was my perception based on how much time was passing. However, I do feel like events were substituting for twists in the second half. Still, it did keep my interest the entire way through, and that was partially because of the characters. I loved Jules and the rest of the staff she’s got helping her run this campground. There was enough I enjoyed that I am glad I picked up this book, but I do wish the plot had been stronger.
ClimaVinea
Lifestyle and Food & Drink
App
A comprehensive guide to the great wines of Burgundy, with detailed interactive maps of its renowned...
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Half a War (Shattered Sea, Book 3) in Books
Nov 14, 2019
Father Yarvi is also determined to strike back, to carry out the oath of vengeance he swore against his father's killers. To do this he must defeat Bright Yilling and his army and then take on the High King himself. But just how far is he prepared to go in order to secure victory?
I actually can't say too much in detail about this book without giving anything away. Much like the previous book, this one seems like a fairly conventional epic fantasy style story for a good half. But then Abercrombie starts to twist the knife as the reader's expectations based on the usual fantasy tropes are knocked down one by one.
Certainly there is much here that is unconventional in many ways and I confess to having a rather mad smile on my face at one point due to the utter craziness of what is going on - but Abercrombie handles it well having laid the groundwork well in advance. It is never clear who is going live and who is going to die, and who is going to win and who is going to lose.
After the first two books, which have quite a lot of conversations and philosophy, this is essentailly one long drawn out battle against various parties in various locations. Some battles are fought with swords and others with words, but both are just as deadly for the loser. The fight scenes are very violent and as expected it's pretty grim and dark at times.
There is plenty of scope left at the end for more stories set in the world of the Shattered Sea and these would be welcome but it also clear that the story of Yarvi and his revenge has been completed.
Not the best of the series, the first half is probably too conventional but the second half turns so much on its head it redeems the book completely.
Rating: Lots of violent battles and deaths, some scatalogical phrases and some non-explict sexual scenes. Young Adult but more at the Adult than Young end of that spectrum