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    Dicetopia

    Dicetopia

    7.5 (2 Ratings) Rate It

    Tabletop Game

    Ah, the neon-clad city of Dicetopia lies before you! A seething cauldron of petty thieves, devious...

    Screwfix

    Screwfix

    Business and Productivity

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    App

    However you prefer to shop with us, the SCREWFIX APP is designed to make it quicker and easier! PLUS...

    Field Pad

    Field Pad

    Business

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    App

    FieldPad and is "Field Pad" and has been used since ancient site of the Japanese scene "field...

Carry on: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
Carry on: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow
Rainbow Rowell | 2016 | Children
8
8.6 (20 Ratings)
Book Rating
What started as an idea for Cath’s fan fiction in Fangirl turned into a fully realized book called Carry On. In Fangirl, Cath writes about a magical world with a big bad, a Chosen One and a school for mages. There were only small passages from the fictional work, but the author knew there was more of a story to tell. Carry On is the tale of a boy with magical abilities that far surpass any other student or mage currently alive – except he has very little control over them. It has been foretold that he will be the one to save the world of the mages, but he’s not sure that he is capable of it.

The story is heavily inspired by the idea or trope of a Chosen One, as well as the world of Harry Potter. We enter the world as the main characters return to Watford for their eighth and final year. There are not actually any books that tell readers about the first seven years at the school, so that is where my critique stems from. Those years are when you would likely experience the world building and character development, so they felt lacking in this novel. The world building especially fell a little flat for me and I wish we could have learned more about the world of the mages.

Simon, the Chosen One, learns more about his magic in this book but doesn’t experience any real growth as a character. He is likable, if a bit of a daft mess but didn’t feel as real to me as he could have. Penny, his best friend, filled the role of the typical brainiac of the group and wasn’t given significantly more depth than that. Agatha, his girlfriend, filled the role of the pretty girl and was quite happy with that position – although it made her very one-dimensional. Baz, his arch-nemesis, was the one that felt the most developed and grew over the course of the novel.

The ending is a little anti-climactic, but overall I enjoyed reading this book. After reading Fangirl, I was very curious about the fictional world that Cath was so obsessed with. This book was a fun addition to the lore and depth of Fangirl but isn’t strong enough (in my opinion) to truly stand on its own. I would definitely recommend reading this book directly after reading Fangirl.
  
Killing Floor: (Jack Reacher 1)
Killing Floor: (Jack Reacher 1)
Lee Child | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.2 (17 Ratings)
Book Rating
OK characterisation (1 more)
Good mystery build up
A slow burn, didn't exactly leave me with a desire to run out to get the next book, but enough to give it a go. (0 more)
Intriguiging lead character.
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. I had heard great things about it, but I like to make my own mind up. Although it had some action from the start, it was still quite slow but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. A really good read, I passed onto my mum to read too! We quite like reading the same books sometimes so we can discuss it after reading. Its quite a nice mum/daughter activity.

I know the Jack Reacher series is quite old, and now has to movies but I guess I was quite late to the party. I have managed to avoid hearing much about the series, other than lots of positive comments about the books. So I was quite excited to get started.

The debut Jack Reacher novel kicks off with a good mystery and an intriguing character. I did find it was quite slow, and even though Jack is meant to be a bit of a mystery, I finished the book still not really feeling connected to the character, and for me, when reading its about feeling connected to the characters and the books which makes me carry on reading a series.
Although, I didn't fully connected with Jack Reacher, I did like the story and some of the background characters.

I like fiction, and I am a fan of Harry Potter and sci-fi and lots of things that dispel belief, but I like it in that context when you are expecting magic and some things to not make sense. The idea of why Jack was in Margate, Georgia and his connection the dead body felt a little strange. It added a level of something to the story but I am not sure why. This was my only issue with it, and I have only read the first book, so maybe more will be explained as the series goes on. I am giving it the benefit of the doubt, as overall I did really enjoy the book.

It's an 'ok' start to a series, and Jack Reachers mysterious life kept me intrigued enough to want to carry on with the series and pass it onto my mum. I am excited to move onto book 2.
  
    Sigma: Student Task Planner

    Sigma: Student Task Planner

    Education, Productivity and Stickers

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    Despite living in the age of technology, students often carry around a school diary, student...

The Druid's Gift (The Nameless Gods #1)
The Druid's Gift (The Nameless Gods #1)
Dante Silva, Vanessa Mozes | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
very well written high fantasy
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

She was supposed to on a pilgrimage, being kidnapped for sacrifice was not in the plan!

I gotta be honest here, and you'll know when I gotta talk about my feelings about books, I'm nothing if not honest! When asked did I want to read this book, it came with a link, and of course I looked at it, and my first reaction was nope. That cover did nothing for me, but the blurb grabbed, so I said yes. NOW, I've read this book, and feel I should say this. That cover is right and proper for this book!! It fits Nune and Ty's story so perfectly! And it is a rather good book!

Nune is a day elf, a Druid, and Ty a night elf. They usually never cross paths. Nune is on a pilgrimage and Ty is on an initiation to move up the warrior ranks, I forget what the name he used is, sorry! Nune was supposed to be his sacrifice for this initiation, but after befriending each other, they question why Ty suddenly has to do this, when it's never been required of warriors before.

It is, quite simply, brilliantly written high fantasy. I really find myself engrossed in Nune and Ty, and their path towards finding out just what is going on in Ty's village, and why things are changing so rapidly, to the detriment of the day elves. It's told from both Nune and Ty's point of view. It does carry some difficult subjects, kidnap, elf sacrifice but these are dealt with very well.

Its not overly explicit, indeed, I thought it might actually come out clean, but Nune and Ty do get naughty on. Again, well written. Not overly graphic either, what's here is right for this book.

And there is a MUCH bigger picture that I'm still not seeing. Ty's brother is missing. There's the reason why the Nameless Gods are being summoned. And Ty still has to face his superiors about his failed quest when he gets home.

A step out of my comfort zone, but a very nice step. I hope I get to foloow Nune and Ty on their quest.

And an apology to the author for not spelling Nune with accent on the e, I don't know how to put that on!

4 solid stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**