Search
Search results
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Serpent's Shadow (Kane Chronicles #3) in Books
Jan 15, 2018
So sad to know that this is the last book in Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles. This trilogy has been my favorite of all his works by far! I'm hoping he will work Sadie, Carter, & Walt/Anubis into another series as the end left it pretty open to be picked up into the future with new Gods & magic trying to disrupt the ancient Egyptian beliefs.
This book was great! It was a satisfying ending to the series, despite the fact that it did leave things open to being picked up in the future. (Maybe he'll do something like he did with Percy Jackson & then Heroes of Olympus?!?) Again Sadie & Carter are such likable, believable, well-developed characters. The things they go through are extraordinary without a doubt, but they are so easy to identify with...which I'm sure helps with the appeal of the series to younger readers. But just because that is the target audience, doesn't mean an adult won't enjoy it.
The book is full of history, love, battles, & courage that it is very easy to get wrapped up in.
This book was great! It was a satisfying ending to the series, despite the fact that it did leave things open to being picked up in the future. (Maybe he'll do something like he did with Percy Jackson & then Heroes of Olympus?!?) Again Sadie & Carter are such likable, believable, well-developed characters. The things they go through are extraordinary without a doubt, but they are so easy to identify with...which I'm sure helps with the appeal of the series to younger readers. But just because that is the target audience, doesn't mean an adult won't enjoy it.
The book is full of history, love, battles, & courage that it is very easy to get wrapped up in.
Mitchell Knutzen (16 KP) rated Till We Have Faces in Books
Feb 21, 2018
Best Lewis Novel By Far
More than a simple retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth, this is a masterwork of storytelling by an author often hobbled by his well known and, in my opinion, laughably ridiculous religious beliefs. Yet unlike so many others that let these beliefs dissolve their efforts of mainstream fiction into so many pieces of nonsense too hamstrung by foolishness to ever assemble something coherent, let alone worth reading, Lewis often managed to rise above it, as with (for the most part) his deservedly beloved Narnia chronicles. Till We Have Faces is nothing short of brilliant, beautiful, at times achingly sad, and very profound. Those of you not fooled by the Jesus parade, but who love a damn good book written by a master of his craft, do yourself a HUGE favor and read this gem of a book. Then do the literary world a favor by passing along the good word (lol, couldn't help myself) that this may be the best book that nobody has heard of.
ashezbookz (32 KP) rated Renegades in Books
Jul 5, 2018
Whew talk about a long read. Granted I could read 10 page in under 10 minutes so it's not like the page pace was slow. I just could not for the life of me hit my page goal for the day. The story was alright, it wasn't the best story I've read - I like the superhero aspect but I got a lot of vibes from current superhero movies so it was a bit cliche for me.
I know there's only so many ways to write a superhero but I read along and was like, wow, thats iron man or wow thats the joker, etc. there were a few cool ones but nothing to write home about.
The ending was so predictable - I was hoping for a shocker so I could rate it higher but I was so disappointed I almost rated he book a 2 but I like her writing style enough after reading the lunar chronicles and it's an easy pace to give it a 2.5-3 star rating.
I really hope book 2 picks up ..............
I know there's only so many ways to write a superhero but I read along and was like, wow, thats iron man or wow thats the joker, etc. there were a few cool ones but nothing to write home about.
The ending was so predictable - I was hoping for a shocker so I could rate it higher but I was so disappointed I almost rated he book a 2 but I like her writing style enough after reading the lunar chronicles and it's an easy pace to give it a 2.5-3 star rating.
I really hope book 2 picks up ..............
David McK (3475 KP) rated Warriors of the Storm in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Ninth(1) book in [a: Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg]'s Warrior Chronicles (or Saxon Stories, if you live in the U.S) series about the founding of England.
I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that we're now (well) past the death of Alfred (the only English monarch to ever be given the epitaph 'the Great'), with Uhtred now in late middle-age (for us), and still eager to reclaim his ownership of Bebbanburg.
The novel, however, concerns itself more with raids made by Ragnall Iverson, with his motives initially unclear: does he come to rape and pillage? To attack Chester? To take control of the Danish kingdom of Northumbria?
Ragnall, however, is related to Uhtred through marriage, so his loyalties remain in doubt to the rulers of the land, with Uhtred eventually disobeying orders and sailing to Ireland (and back), for reasons that become clear in the plot.
Another strong entry in the series; perhaps not the strongest, but still pretty good.
I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that we're now (well) past the death of Alfred (the only English monarch to ever be given the epitaph 'the Great'), with Uhtred now in late middle-age (for us), and still eager to reclaim his ownership of Bebbanburg.
The novel, however, concerns itself more with raids made by Ragnall Iverson, with his motives initially unclear: does he come to rape and pillage? To attack Chester? To take control of the Danish kingdom of Northumbria?
Ragnall, however, is related to Uhtred through marriage, so his loyalties remain in doubt to the rulers of the land, with Uhtred eventually disobeying orders and sailing to Ireland (and back), for reasons that become clear in the plot.
Another strong entry in the series; perhaps not the strongest, but still pretty good.
Charley (64 KP) rated The Mermaid in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Unusual and left you wanting more
This author is truly amazing. She is able to take well know tales/ folk lores and turn them into gripping novels. This book is no different. I found this enchanting tale after reading her Chronicles of Alice series of books.
She has taken the story of Bo Burnham and the little mermaid and amalgamated them into what is an amazing read.
In short the story is about a mermaid who wants to see the world. She is taken in by Burnham with a promise of money to show the world her mermaid tricks. Safe to say that like all of Christina Henry's other books it takes a dark and twisted turn however seems to work out well in the end.
There are definitely some moments in the book where i was worried to read on as i thought something really bad was going to happen.
It kept me on the edge of my seat through out and was a wonderful tale of the darkness of men and magic.
She has taken the story of Bo Burnham and the little mermaid and amalgamated them into what is an amazing read.
In short the story is about a mermaid who wants to see the world. She is taken in by Burnham with a promise of money to show the world her mermaid tricks. Safe to say that like all of Christina Henry's other books it takes a dark and twisted turn however seems to work out well in the end.
There are definitely some moments in the book where i was worried to read on as i thought something really bad was going to happen.
It kept me on the edge of my seat through out and was a wonderful tale of the darkness of men and magic.
David McK (3475 KP) rated The Serpent Sword in Books
Jul 7, 2019
The first entry in Matthew Harffy's Bernicia Chronicles series, which - I have to say - shares more than a few similarities to Bernard Cornwell's 'Last Kingdom' series in that it is set during Dark Ages Britain, with large parts in and around the fortress of Bebbanburg. Sound at all familiar?
When reading this, I had no idea which came first: this, or Cornwell's The Last Kingdom.
Thta's not to set that this novel isn't enjoyable, and that we can't have more than one story set in and about the same time period (indeed, if anything, this is set even earlier than Cornwell's novels, i.e. before the time of Alftred the Great): I did, in fact, quite enjoy this.
Throughout the course of this novel, we follow the exploits and the coming of age of Harffy's main protaganist, Beobrand of Bernicia, from his arrival at the court of King Edwin through his first taste of a battle in a shieldwall, to his time at a Christian Monastery and travels throughout a lawless land before finally settling down (at least, until the next novel!)
When reading this, I had no idea which came first: this, or Cornwell's The Last Kingdom.
Thta's not to set that this novel isn't enjoyable, and that we can't have more than one story set in and about the same time period (indeed, if anything, this is set even earlier than Cornwell's novels, i.e. before the time of Alftred the Great): I did, in fact, quite enjoy this.
Throughout the course of this novel, we follow the exploits and the coming of age of Harffy's main protaganist, Beobrand of Bernicia, from his arrival at the court of King Edwin through his first taste of a battle in a shieldwall, to his time at a Christian Monastery and travels throughout a lawless land before finally settling down (at least, until the next novel!)
Russell Evans (179 KP) rated Enemy of God in Books
Feb 27, 2020
Continues the gripping Warlord Chronicles trilogy (1 more)
Great characters, compelling story.
See my review for the first book in the trilogy – The Winter King. If you’ve read that, I’m positive that you won’t need much convincing about this part – I will reassure you though – it’s just as good and gripping.
Enemy of God continues to tell the story of Arthur begun in The Winter King, showing Arthur’s efforts to unite the Britons against the Saxon invaders. Derfel’s tale continues and he becomes a champion of Arthur’s, finds love and embarks on a perilous quest to recover an ancient British treasure. There’s a lot of darkness and conspiracy thrown in too.
As a Lord of the Rings fan, this is my next favourite ‘fantasy’ trilogy. If you liked ‘The Vikings’ or ‘The Last Kingdoms’ series on TV, I would highly recommend that you give this trilogy a read – starting with The Winter King.
Enemy of God continues to tell the story of Arthur begun in The Winter King, showing Arthur’s efforts to unite the Britons against the Saxon invaders. Derfel’s tale continues and he becomes a champion of Arthur’s, finds love and embarks on a perilous quest to recover an ancient British treasure. There’s a lot of darkness and conspiracy thrown in too.
As a Lord of the Rings fan, this is my next favourite ‘fantasy’ trilogy. If you liked ‘The Vikings’ or ‘The Last Kingdoms’ series on TV, I would highly recommend that you give this trilogy a read – starting with The Winter King.
Walking the Americas
Book
SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER BY THE AUTHOR OF WALKING THE HIMALAYAS, WINNER OF THE 2016 EDWARD...
The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray: A Critical Appreciation of the World's Finest Actor
Book
He s the sort of actor who can do "Hamlet" and "Charlie s Angels" in the same year. He shuns...
Careless Love: Unmaking of Elvis Presley
8.0
Rate It
Book
Last Train to Memphis, the first part of Guralnick's two-volume life of Elvis Presley, received...