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Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Time of Contempt in Books

Jun 3, 2024 (Updated Jun 3, 2024)  
Time of Contempt
Time of Contempt
Andrzej Sapkowski | 2013 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
110 of 220
Book
Time of Contempt ( Witcher 2)
By Andrzej Sapkowski
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Geralt was always going to stand out, with his white hair and piercing eyes, his cynicism and lack of respect for authority ...but he is far more than just a striking-looking man. He's a witcher; his sorcerous powers, exhanced by elixers and long training, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no orderinary murderer; his targets are the vile fiends and demons that ravage the land. But first appearance ccan often be deceptive; not everything monstrous-looking is a monster ...and even the fairest can have a bite!

Although this one was a decent read I’m finding myself getting bored with these books at a certain point, I just can’t seem to focus and lose interest. Hoped the next one will be better.
  
The Daylight War (The Demon Cycle #3)
The Daylight War (The Demon Cycle #3)
Peter V. Brett | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.9 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Daylight War is the 3rd installment in the Demonwar Cycle by Peter V. Brett. It concerns a world (strongly hinted to be a future version of ours) that is plagued every night by demons that rise from the ground to kill the human population.

In the previous book (The Desert Spear) the rise of Jardir and his attempt to unite the humans by force was described, as was the continuing story of Arlen Bales, Leesha Paper and Roger Inn, the other major players in the story.

This book follows on immediately from the previous book. At the next new moon the demon princes are going to arrive in an attempt to destroy both Jardir and Arlen (both believed by many to be the fabled Deliverer) and both must prepare for the coming.

Most of the story follows Arlen and the people of Cutter's Hollow in their preparations for the next new moon. It also follows the return of Leesha and Roger to Cutter's Hollow following their journey to Everam's Bounty to stay with Jardir, and the many different threads that arise from that encounter and their return home.

As with the previous books the focus is on the characters involved, their interactions and personalities. Even more of the supporting cast is explored, with the main inhabitants of Cutter's Hollow and Jardir's inner circle becoming familiar to the reader. Conflicts and secrets between the characters abound with old feuds settled.

Again the writing is sublime with the descriptions and personalities of the characters a particular highlight. The scenes fighting demons are well written and Brett seems to have worked hard to produce something different in each one so they are never dull or predictable. The ending is brilliant and there are plenty of threads to pick up in the next installment.

Definitely recommended, but have patience it is a very long book.
  
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The Nine: Zane
The Nine: Zane
Elle Arroyo | 2023 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The story itself is very good, excellently paced and with a good group of characters.
THE NINE: ZANE is the first book in this series and tells of a family who are more than they appear. Zane, as eldest, is the one who houses demons inside him and has been chosen for a blood match with Sophia. Unfortunately, he loves her as a sister, whilst she loves another of his brothers. The man he wants, Eric, is pure human and has no idea what is going on.

I felt like Eric for most of the book! Zane has some serious mood swings and, yes, I do realise he's carrying demons around but still. I got whiplash a few times! Poor Eric!

In the first book of the series, you always find niggles and questions. I find the world settles down the further along you read. In this, I didn't think that the Anunnaki were sufficiently described. You get hints at WHAT they are, but not the WHO or the WHY. You also know that Zane doesn't have the best relationship with his father, but why? Also, just as an off-the-cuff comment, I thought the model on the cover looks WAAAY too young to be Zane OR Eric.

The story itself is very good, excellently paced and with a good group of characters. I thought the connection between Zane and Eric was slightly out of balance for most of the book, but the ending helped with that. This has definitely sparked my interest in the series and I will be reading more. I want to know more about their world and who inhabits their bodies. Definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* 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!
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Noise of Time in Books

Oct 9, 2017 (Updated Oct 9, 2017)  
The Noise of Time
The Noise of Time
Julian Barnes | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
8.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Historical fiction at its very best
There is a huge amount of non-fiction elements of this bleak novel about one of Russia's most noted composers and musicians Dmitri Shostakovich, who fought inner demons for the majority of his life due to the immense pressures and threats posed by the Soviet Union.

From his complex relationships with women, to the government, the artist was forced to live a life of paranoia, after many of his fellow composers and musicologists mysteriously disappeared following talks with the "Power" at the Big House. There were many moments where it resembled Room 101 from George Orwell's 1984, and the oppressive atmosphere that Shostakovich had to live through.

In the end, Julian Barnes explains that agreeing to Stalin's and Khrushchev's demands had been the ultimate downfall to his health. and in many ways it was a fate worse than death. It is grim and tragic to think about such an important composer in history being treated in such way.