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Night Reader Reviews (683 KP) rated From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) in Books
Jan 25, 2022
Surprisingly Good *Not The Teen Novel It Is Made Out To Be....Adult Content*
To start out with potential readers need to be aware that this book and in fact the entire series is apparently considered to be teen novels. In fact, I pulled it from the front shelf in the teen section of my local library. While as a teen reading explicit materials was not a problem for me and my parents were ok with it as well I do recognize the fact that there are many parents who would not appreciate their teens reading the kind of content this book contains. The fact that nowhere on the book's cover or on its GoodReads or Amazon profile does it state that this should be for mature readers only is concerning. When I say that this book is explicit I mean that there are quite a few "adult situations" that are described in detail in which that detail is not necessary to carry the plotline along even if the occurrence of the situation does. You have been warned...
Moving on
So the only reason why I read this book is that the third book in the series "The Crown of Guilded Bones" was ranked very high on GoodReads. In fact, I believe it actually ranked in the 2021 books of the year. Anyway, the third book sounded great so I went back and started the series from the beginning.
This book follows the life of Poppy AKA The Maden. Being named the Maiden is supposed to be a huge honor but it comes with a lot of strict rules that make it feel more like a punishment than anything else. Unsurprisingly Poppy comes to find that the world she lives in is not at all what she thinks it to be and must face hard truths as she races to the capital of her land to be protected from the Atlantians but is that really what is happening?
This book offers a surprisingly unique look at some classic fantasy themes, characters, and creatures. There is very little that is as it seems and there are so many twists that it will make the reader pause to process the new direction the story moves in every few chapters. While it isn't exactly a short book this is almost guaranteed to be a quick read because you are not going to want to put it down.
Moving on
So the only reason why I read this book is that the third book in the series "The Crown of Guilded Bones" was ranked very high on GoodReads. In fact, I believe it actually ranked in the 2021 books of the year. Anyway, the third book sounded great so I went back and started the series from the beginning.
This book follows the life of Poppy AKA The Maden. Being named the Maiden is supposed to be a huge honor but it comes with a lot of strict rules that make it feel more like a punishment than anything else. Unsurprisingly Poppy comes to find that the world she lives in is not at all what she thinks it to be and must face hard truths as she races to the capital of her land to be protected from the Atlantians but is that really what is happening?
This book offers a surprisingly unique look at some classic fantasy themes, characters, and creatures. There is very little that is as it seems and there are so many twists that it will make the reader pause to process the new direction the story moves in every few chapters. While it isn't exactly a short book this is almost guaranteed to be a quick read because you are not going to want to put it down.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Kill (Maeve Kerrigan, #5) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the Dead Good Crime Book Group on Goodreads and I want to thank them, once again, for introducing me to another new author that I may never have found.
I haven't read any of the preceding books in this series so started reading with no background or information on any of the characters at all. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to have that knowledge as I did find myself wondering where some of the characters were coming from. Having said that though, I thought it was well written with engaging and complex characters. The storyline was great, delivered with good pace and with interesting twists. I like the relationships between the various characters and despite Derwent being a chauvinistic pig, he was the cause of an internal battle I had with myself - one minute I liked him, the next he was a total [insert appropriate swear word]. Derwent was also the one who made me laugh out loud by his ludicrous statements and the situation he found himself in towards the end of the book.
Overall, a good read but one that would probably have been much better had I read previous books in the series.
I haven't read any of the preceding books in this series so started reading with no background or information on any of the characters at all. In hindsight, I think it would have been better to have that knowledge as I did find myself wondering where some of the characters were coming from. Having said that though, I thought it was well written with engaging and complex characters. The storyline was great, delivered with good pace and with interesting twists. I like the relationships between the various characters and despite Derwent being a chauvinistic pig, he was the cause of an internal battle I had with myself - one minute I liked him, the next he was a total [insert appropriate swear word]. Derwent was also the one who made me laugh out loud by his ludicrous statements and the situation he found himself in towards the end of the book.
Overall, a good read but one that would probably have been much better had I read previous books in the series.
Merissa (12061 KP) rated The Witch's Dream (Knights of Black Swan #2) in Books
Aug 11, 2017
The Witch's Dream (Knights of Black Swan #2) by Victoria Danann
My word this is a dream of a book! It continues straight after My Familiar Stranger and takes you straight back into the lives of B Company. The whole book is a joy to read and I am so glad that Elora now has company in the "women with spirit" category. Litha and Song look like they are going to keep the baton going :o)
If you are expecting a vampire romance, you can forget it. They don't even really get a mention in this book, apart from ex-vampire Baka (who's story I can't wait to read!) but what you do get is demons, a look at Kay's berserker side, and magic of the practical kind.
I love the way these books are written and often find myself laughing out loud as I read. The characters continue to grow and as an added little extra you get an interview with Ram at the end of this book.
5 out of 5, 10 out of 10 - whichever way you want to look at it, these books are fantastic.
* Verified Purchase ~ February 2013
Reviewed on Goodreads ~ February 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
If you are expecting a vampire romance, you can forget it. They don't even really get a mention in this book, apart from ex-vampire Baka (who's story I can't wait to read!) but what you do get is demons, a look at Kay's berserker side, and magic of the practical kind.
I love the way these books are written and often find myself laughing out loud as I read. The characters continue to grow and as an added little extra you get an interview with Ram at the end of this book.
5 out of 5, 10 out of 10 - whichever way you want to look at it, these books are fantastic.
* Verified Purchase ~ February 2013
Reviewed on Goodreads ~ February 2013 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
An unexpected gem
I decided to read this book purely based on the reviews on here and on Goodreads. It sounded so different to my usual reads that I thought it'd be worth trying, and I'm very thankful I did.
It started off a little unsure, but this could have been down to me getting used to the style of writing and language style used to represent the characters and gods. However it soon picks up and really draws you in. It's an epic tale spanning so many different aspects of Greek gods and mythology. I could barely believe so many mythological tales had been spun into this, and not only that but done brilliant well. It's such a comprehensive and intriguing tale of the goddess Circe, who is a well rounded and feisty female protagonist. I really struggled to put this book down, and my only disappointment is that it took so long to read, and that it ended too of course. I could have quite happily read on about many more tales of Greek gods and mythology woven into Circe's life.
For me this book was pure escapism. Well written and highly captivating, diving into a book about gods and goddesses is a fantastic way to escape the dreary realities of real life.
It started off a little unsure, but this could have been down to me getting used to the style of writing and language style used to represent the characters and gods. However it soon picks up and really draws you in. It's an epic tale spanning so many different aspects of Greek gods and mythology. I could barely believe so many mythological tales had been spun into this, and not only that but done brilliant well. It's such a comprehensive and intriguing tale of the goddess Circe, who is a well rounded and feisty female protagonist. I really struggled to put this book down, and my only disappointment is that it took so long to read, and that it ended too of course. I could have quite happily read on about many more tales of Greek gods and mythology woven into Circe's life.
For me this book was pure escapism. Well written and highly captivating, diving into a book about gods and goddesses is a fantastic way to escape the dreary realities of real life.
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated In the Mouth of the Wolf in Books
Jun 5, 2019
In this short book, “In the Mouth of the Wolf” , we’re privy to fascinating insights into the life of children’s fiction author Michael Morpurgo’s Uncle Francis who narrates in the first person at the age of ninety years, reminiscing about his life. It is a heartfelt TRUE story (hence the reason why this has made into my non-fiction category over at Goodreads) and one that is aimed at kids and young adults, but adults will get plenty from this, too.
The artwork within is tremendously well-done by award-winning artist Barroux, and set against a backdrop of World War Two. You’ll find it packs an emotion punch, whilst being a fast-paced read filled with outstanding wartime courage and love. Brotherly love, too.
What a treat this was to discover, since it reads like an fictional story, yet has some intriguing, real people pictures at the back of the book, so you can meet the real characters of these true events. It’s no wonder Morpurgo is such a talented storyteller if he’s heard family stories like this.
In fact, this is such a lovely story, it brought tears to my eyes on more than on occasion. Damn you, Micheal Morpurgo and your wonderfully tear-inducing story-telling skills!
The artwork within is tremendously well-done by award-winning artist Barroux, and set against a backdrop of World War Two. You’ll find it packs an emotion punch, whilst being a fast-paced read filled with outstanding wartime courage and love. Brotherly love, too.
What a treat this was to discover, since it reads like an fictional story, yet has some intriguing, real people pictures at the back of the book, so you can meet the real characters of these true events. It’s no wonder Morpurgo is such a talented storyteller if he’s heard family stories like this.
In fact, this is such a lovely story, it brought tears to my eyes on more than on occasion. Damn you, Micheal Morpurgo and your wonderfully tear-inducing story-telling skills!
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Precipice (Mike Bowditch, #6) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***NOTE: I won my copy in a Goodreads First to Read Giveaway***
Mike Bowditch is a Maine game warden along the Appalachian Trail. When two young female hikers go missing, Mike and his girlfriend, wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens, join in the search. Once the bodies are found with teeth marks on the bones, the locals fear they may have been killed by coyotes. Stacey is sure that they weren't, and both she and Mike continue investigating, determined to find the truth of what happened to the two young women.
This was a well-written thriller, with believable characters and an interesting locale. The narrator did a nice job keeping his Maine accent where needed, without being over the top or distracting.
I didn't realize when I first started listening that this was book #6, but it was easy enough to figure out from the frequent references to Mike's past that it wasn't the beginning of a series. The book worked fine as a standalone novel, but I think I would have liked it even more had I read some of the earlier novels first. I will probably read more in this series, but I will start back at the beginning so I can watch Mike grow up into the man he is in this novel.
Mike Bowditch is a Maine game warden along the Appalachian Trail. When two young female hikers go missing, Mike and his girlfriend, wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens, join in the search. Once the bodies are found with teeth marks on the bones, the locals fear they may have been killed by coyotes. Stacey is sure that they weren't, and both she and Mike continue investigating, determined to find the truth of what happened to the two young women.
This was a well-written thriller, with believable characters and an interesting locale. The narrator did a nice job keeping his Maine accent where needed, without being over the top or distracting.
I didn't realize when I first started listening that this was book #6, but it was easy enough to figure out from the frequent references to Mike's past that it wasn't the beginning of a series. The book worked fine as a standalone novel, but I think I would have liked it even more had I read some of the earlier novels first. I will probably read more in this series, but I will start back at the beginning so I can watch Mike grow up into the man he is in this novel.
Caitlin Ann Cherniak (85 KP) rated The Dragon Queen in Books
Oct 20, 2018
A very strong and intelligent female protagonist (2 more)
The Korean history
Rich detail
Mr. Simon bits (1 more)
The king is so weak!
Taken from my review on Goodreads: I won this book during a Kindle giveaway, and I'm very happy I was one of the lucky winners of this book. For a book that almost has five stars on this forum, it definitely deserves its ranking. This book not only tells a legend to an ignorant American government official, it tells the story of how a shy girl became a queen that sparked a revolution between the Koreans and the Japanese in the late 1800's. Honestly, the present day parts didn't add much except for why Anna is telling the story in the first place, which I guess adds some relevance, but the core of the story is the story of Ja-young, who should count as a princess Disney will never write about considering how sexist and violent her situation got throughout the entire novel. My greatest advice for encountering this book is skip the beginning and go straight to Ja-young's story. Waaaaaaaaaaay more influential than listening to a white man ramble about North and South Korean issues any day of the week.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated A Time to Die (Out of Time, #1) in Books
Nov 14, 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. "A Time to Die" by Nadine Brandes started out as an interesting Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel. People know exactly when they are going to die. That is an interesting concept. We all know we're going to die but would we change how or what we do if we knew exactly when? The main character, Parvin, is a girl that hasn't done much with her life and her time is almost up. Great concept so far. It then changed and started discussing religion and God. I don't mind, and often enjoy, religious studies books but, because I was surprised to find religion such a strong theme throughout, I did not like it in this novel. The description on both Amazon and Goodreads does not mention God or religion. It appeared to be a Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel with an interesting premise. If it had continued in that vein, I would have most likely thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I had to rate it 2 out of 5. "A Time to Die" is the 1st novel in the "Out of Time" series. I will probably not continue reading the series.
Jessica - Where the Book Ends (15 KP) rated Cherishing Destiny (A Dangerous Destiny, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Cherishing Destiny is the story of Destiny who is a Vamphyr who is laying injured in a cave. While she is healing she is remembering how she came to be. Her mother transferred her memories to Destiny when she died. The night of Destiny's conception was the night a solar storm hit earth. As a result of said storm Vampires are now able to walk in the sunlight and reproduce. They offspring are referred to as Vamphyr. The world as they knew it was gone. Tsunamis destroyed cities, earthquakes broke open the earth, and various types of communication were destroyed.After the solar storm mercenary hunters have taken over the human and Were population and are on a hunt to wipe out all vampires.
This book sounded interesting when I first read the synopsis via goodreads, but once I started reading, I had so much trouble getting through it. The main idea of the book is great, I just think that the spelling and grammatical errors took so much away from the story. Also, I noticed that there were several spots within the book that the author meant to reference Alex and she wrote Ryan instead, and I had to go back and re-read several sections and make sure I understood what was going on.
This book sounded interesting when I first read the synopsis via goodreads, but once I started reading, I had so much trouble getting through it. The main idea of the book is great, I just think that the spelling and grammatical errors took so much away from the story. Also, I noticed that there were several spots within the book that the author meant to reference Alex and she wrote Ryan instead, and I had to go back and re-read several sections and make sure I understood what was going on.
My Life Next Door
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Addictive, dreamy and contemporary teen romance at its very best! Perfect for fans of Morgan Matson,...