Merissa (13169 KP) rated The Sandman (Reveler #7) in Books
May 8, 2021 (Updated Apr 12, 2023)
The action and excitement is pretty much non-stop and doublespeak is rife. Just who can be trusted, who can't, who is human, who isn't is all up in the air and you won't know as you read along. Absolutely excellent wordsmithing.
As with all in this series, highly recommended!
* 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!
Jun 14, 2015
Peacemaker (Sharps & Springfield #1)
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Supernatural Secret Service agents Owen Sharps and Calvin Springfield meet on the train to their new...
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Epoch by Of Allies
9.0
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At the time of writing this, Of Allies are a completely DIY and independent band, so every listener...
Of Allies weareofallies Rock Alternative Alt rock British
No Less The Devil
6.0
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'We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.' It's been seventeen months since...
Daughter of Belial
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Some Family Trees Should Be Burned. . . Greer Girls are special. Greer Girls are rare. Greer...
Psychological Thriller
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Murder on Madison Square in Books
Jun 14, 2023 (Updated Jun 14, 2023)
Yes, the core cast of characters are all here, and I loved spending time with them again. The plot is one of the darker ones in the series, so the character’s interactions helped lighten things. As always, the plot kept me turning pages, even when I figured out a key plot point early. And yes, someone had developed electric cars as early as 1900, when this book is set. I found that part of the history presented here fascinating. While this isn’t the strongest entry in the series, fans will still enjoy visiting favorite characters.
The Blue Veil (Seven Deadly Veils #1.5)
10.0
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When one of High Lord Valadon’s rare paintings goes missing, his second in command, Remare enlists...
Urban Fantasy Romance Novella
Highway Blue
8.0
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In front of me the long length of the road wound out, wound out and wound on under hot sky. And I...
Goddess in the Stacks (553 KP) rated That Inevitable Victorian Thing in Books
Jan 11, 2018
It's not realistic in the least - everything falls together nicely and it's a bit of a "princess saves the day by virtue of being a princess" kind of plot. But the twist on the history is a very pleasant one - and making the British Empire an Empire that values diversity and the melding of cultures and not looking down on anyone because they're different is a really nice change of pace. It's a WONDERFUL bit of escapist fantasy given today's world, I have to say.
I'd actually really like to see the darker side of this same world explored. One of the main plot points in the book is that there is a computer database of genetics. Everyone in the British Empire, when they turn 18, is encouraged to have their DNA sequenced and entered into the computer to find good genetic matches. They then have the opportunity to chat with those matches and eventually meet them. It's accepted custom, and you're definitely viewed as odd if you choose NOT to do it, though Helena's parents were a love match and never had their DNA matched through the computer. Helena's love interest is a boy she grew up with, she really only ran her DNA through the computer for kicks. So it's not mandatory - except for royals. But that this computer and database exists leaves room for a darker side. What about genetic modification? Forced marriages for certain genetic outcomes? That has to be happening somewhere. That Inevitable Victorian Thing really only looked at the fun, light-hearted, good uses of this technology. I'd love to see the other side.
Oh - while the book definitely has a Victorian flavor, it's definitely set in modern day, or perhaps a little past. It's not Victorian era.
Fun little book. A good escape from a racist, homophobic world to a more diverse, accepting one. But a little TOO fluffy bunny for my personal tastes.
You can find all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com
Asiza Tait (139 KP) rated The Night Circus in Books
Feb 1, 2018
All of our readers enjoyed the beautiful descriptive writing of Erin. Some found the beginning a bit difficult to follow with the abrupt changes of time and scene, though others found the whole mystery of it all utterly engrossing.
Basically, there are two ancient magicians who set their two star pupils against each other to find out who is the best. The issues are that the pupils don't know the rules, or how the winner is declared. The competition arena, is the Night Circus.
There is a great deal that is left to the reader's imagination as not everything is completely explained, which only adds to the enigmas and magic entwined in everything. This is not an ordinary novel. We first get a full view of the almost playfulness of the magic and later the darker aspects of it are explored. How everyone involved in the circus whether directly or not is caught up in it and pays a price as well as benefits from it.
Walking through the circus is so beautifully written that it feels as if you are there, smelling the caramel popcorn and watching the white flames dancing. The joy of the circus permeates the pages, people who visit the circus leave it ever changed.
The love story between Marco and Celia is restrained, elegant and ultimately otherworldly in its strength and beauty. They 'write love letters' to each other through the different tents in the circus. The demonstrations of their affection to each other are so beautiful; so dazzling as to wish that everyone could find such love.
The competition though integral to the story becomes the hardest part to reconcile as the pages flip by and the costs mount up for the magic being used, the balancing that must be maintained. Some of these costs are very heavy, burdensome and even fatal. The darker side of the competition is shown in all it's sinister aspects and we are left waiting for the 'other shoe to drop' so to speak.
To show that this book is not for everyone, half of our readers adored this book and would absolutely recommend it as a must read, and the other half were not at all convinced, conceding only that the descriptive writing was excellent but the plot felt thin.