Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Merissa (13765 KP) rated The Becalmer in Books

Sep 25, 2023  
The Becalmer
The Becalmer
Nick Wilford | 2023 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE BECALMER is what I think is the first in a new series. Harica is still at school and is called upon to help stop a war! How, you might ask. Well, she has the ability to use her mind to see both sides and to come to a compromise. When she is approached by a dodgy government agency, she initially doesn't want to help but changes her mind. Her parents are set against it though, for reasons Harica doesn't understand. So she does what any teenager does, and does it anyway. There is more to it than she thought, and she is in danger in more ways than she realises.

This was a gripping read, taking the reader along for the ride. There are enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting, together with typical ideals of the good guys vs. the big bad. The world-building was nicely done, being 'normal' enough but with added Sci-Fi elements. I did find the end a little abrupt even if everything was wrapped up for this part of the story.

A great YA read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 20, 2023
  
40x40

Merissa (13765 KP) rated The Handoff (Big Play, #3) in Books

Jan 17, 2019 (Updated Jun 8, 2023)  
The Handoff (Big Play, #3)
The Handoff (Big Play, #3)
Jordan Ford | 2016 | Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult (YA)
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Handoff (Big Play #3) by Jordan Ford
In the third instalment of the Big Play series, we meet Finn in more detail. He is the cool, collected, one that has been there for Colt and Mack throughout. When Mack goes to New Zealand, he asks Finn to keep an eye on his sister as he feels that she is not quite herself. Finn wants to say no but doesn't. Instead, he ends up helping Layla in more ways than he could ever have imagined, and as a result, sees her as a completely different person. Due to Finn's support, Layla changes herself and finds courage when she thought she had none.

With hints being given with the overall story arc, as well as snippets pertaining to Layla directly, this is a wonderful addition. Well written, full of emotion and gripping situations and characters, this is guaranteed to draw you into their story. You will be with Layla and Finn every step of the way, encouraging them to carry on when it seems too hard.

This is one of those series that I absolutely can't wait for the next book, but that is also bittersweet as I know it's the last one. 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 9, 2016
  
40x40

Merissa (13765 KP) rated Waking Up Lost (Adirondack Spirit Series #4) in Books

Feb 8, 2022 (Updated Jul 3, 2023)  
Waking Up Lost (Adirondack Spirit Series #4)
Waking Up Lost (Adirondack Spirit Series #4)
David Fitz-Gerald | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
WAKING UP LOST continues the Adirondack Spirit series with Mehitable's son, Noah. He can't move as fast as his brother, Moses; nor can he see ghosts. What he does do is travel whilst asleep. And I deliberately use that phrase as there is no way he could walk!

He doesn't have it easy in that the girl he likes has been 'claimed' by the town bully, whose sister has set her sights on Noah! So Noah gets warned twice - keep away from his girl and keep away from his sister. He tries to, bless him, but Dorcas isn't so easily persuaded. In fact, Noah does everything he can to have a normal life, but his travels make that increasingly difficult.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Noah's tribulations although there was no explanation given for them. Instead, Noah also becomes adept at speaking with ghosts, just like his mum, and they help get him out of some deadly situations.

This is old-worldly and otherworldly, both things that stir my interest. I enjoyed meeting up with old friends and learning about new ones. I found this book to be gripping and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

** 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!
Feb 8, 2022
  
40x40

ClareR (6067 KP) rated The Beholders in Books

Jan 19, 2024  
The Beholders
The Beholders
Hester Musson | 2024 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This was such a good book. I felt thoroughly ill at ease throughout, and the excellent narration by Ashley Tucker, Harriet Carmichael and Elliot Fitzgerald added to that. Victorian society is always portrayed as being very primitive and proper and on the surface, the Gethins are. But dig a little deeper and there are a lot of frightening things going on in this house.

Ralph Gethin MP, owner of the house, isn’t at all what he seems, and there’s a simple explanation why all of the staff are so attractive.

Clara Gethin’s attitude towards her baby did puzzle me, though. It’s understandable that she doesn’t like her husband and what he and his friends get up to, but why she should distance herself from her baby seemed to be out of character. There would (to me) always be the hope that Clara could influence her sons attitudes towards the staff and those less fortunate and make him less swayed by his father.

Harriet’s diary entries are a really good way of showing just how claustrophobic life as a servant could be: in one house all day, every day, not even able to get fresh air in the grounds, not really able to form friendships. It sounds awful.

This was a gripping listen, made more impactful by the different narrators. I didn’t want to stop listening!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.