Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
Book
Famously referred to as part of the 'Axis-of-Evil', North Korea remains one of the most secretive...
The Elfstones of Shannara
9.0
Rate It
Book
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR FANTASY TALES OF ALL TIME. NOW AN EPIC NEW SERIES ON 5STAR IN THE UK....
The First City
8.0
Rate It
Book
In the thrilling conclusion to Joe Hart’s Dominion trilogy, Zoey discovers who she truly is —...
The Ghost Tree
Book
Five years after the death of his wife, MacAoidh Armstrong moves into a smallholding in southern...
Death in Holy Orders
Book
When the body of a theology student is found on a desolate stretch of coast in East Anglia, his...
Deeper Than Midnight
Book
In an instant her privileged world disappears and a new, dangerous and erotic one beckons...At the...
ClareR (5950 KP) rated The Sleeper and the Spindle: Winner of the Cilip Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 in Books
Jul 8, 2020
I loved it - Sleeping Beauty with a twist. It definitely has the fairy story vibes, where the good people are good, and the bad are thoroughly bad. Some would say that’s a very one-dimensional way of looking at it, but isn’t that what fairy stories are all about? As for those who’s ah it’s too scary for young children, I would disagree. I would have loved this as a young child. Yes, it’s scary in places, but it’s a typical fairy story, in that good triumphs over evil. Actually, who am I kidding? I loved this as an adult!
And the art work is stunning. Chris Riddell’s drawings are always wonderful, and the drawings in this book are no exception. Beautiful drawings that complimented the story so well.
David McK (3600 KP) rated Dark Prince (Greek Series, #2) in Books
Jul 25, 2020
As the novel starts, Alexander is but a 4 year old and Parmenion is out of favour with Philip of Macedon, who is jealous of the Spartan general's success in battle. Alexander is still plagued by the Chaos Spirit, and - at around the 1/4 mark - is magically transported into an alternate Greece, where the myths and monsters of Greek legend are all real. With a little help from Aristotle and the Siptrassi stones, Parmenion is soon off on a rescue mission, accompanied by Philip's assassin Attalus (without Philips knowledge). The bulk of this novel - parts 2 and 3 (of 4) - then takes place in that alternate Greece, with Parmenion - again - reliving his past and playing a key role in proceedings, before it returns to 'our' Greece for the final part of the novel.
As is standard for Gemmell, lots of musing on the nature of Good and evil throughout, and with a conflicted central protagonist.