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Merissa (12911 KP) rated The Ice Queen (The Ice Queen #1) in Books
Jul 21, 2017
The Ice Queen (The Ice Queen #1) by Rebecca Bauer
The Ice Queen is the first book in The Ice Queen series, and we meet Aria for the first time when she is in 'training' in the courtesan area of the Temple of the Moon. Immediately, you are drawn into a world of intrigue, where someone may be completely different to who you thought they were, and their actions are different to what you supposed.
Aria is a fantastic female lead - she is strong, authoritative, caring, wilful, and determined. She has a reason for everything she does, even if she doesn't realise it until that light bulb moment. And then you have her 'advisors' - Casimir, Valtteri, and Seb. All three of these characters are amazing and well rounded, and yet they too have their own advisors. It is layer upon layer of support and intrigue, and it makes for one heck of a ride!
With plenty of battle action, some love action, oodles of political manoeuvrings, and an outstanding amount of honesty, I can easily say that I loved every word and I can't wait to read book two - The Mage King. For all fans of fantasy, I can highly recommend it.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aria is a fantastic female lead - she is strong, authoritative, caring, wilful, and determined. She has a reason for everything she does, even if she doesn't realise it until that light bulb moment. And then you have her 'advisors' - Casimir, Valtteri, and Seb. All three of these characters are amazing and well rounded, and yet they too have their own advisors. It is layer upon layer of support and intrigue, and it makes for one heck of a ride!
With plenty of battle action, some love action, oodles of political manoeuvrings, and an outstanding amount of honesty, I can easily say that I loved every word and I can't wait to read book two - The Mage King. For all fans of fantasy, I can highly recommend it.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Lantern in Books
Jan 15, 2018
If you can stick out this book for the first 10 or so chapters you will be rewarded with much more than you ever expected! If I had to sum up Deborah Lawrenson's book up in a few words I choose sweeping, dramatic, unexpected, & descriptive to the point of being lyrical.
This book intwines the epic history of the crumbling hamlet called Les Genevriers and the Lincel family with the present inhabitants, Dom and Eve. The characters are well developed and very simply human at the same time. The writing is engrossing and leaves you guessing until the conluding chapters offer you a simple, reasonable explanation that still manages to be tinted with a bit of intrigue and mystery.
This book intwines the epic history of the crumbling hamlet called Les Genevriers and the Lincel family with the present inhabitants, Dom and Eve. The characters are well developed and very simply human at the same time. The writing is engrossing and leaves you guessing until the conluding chapters offer you a simple, reasonable explanation that still manages to be tinted with a bit of intrigue and mystery.
Gisell Middleton (189 KP) rated The Woman in the Blue Cloak in Books
May 19, 2019
This is a wonderful little novel. If you have never read the Benny Griessel series, which I had not, it provides a nice introduction to the characters and their backgrounds without delving in too deep as to take away from their current case. It did not leave he completely lost as some other books, which are part of a series, but it did make me want to know more about these characters and read the rest of the series. The particular case in this novella is worthy of the best detective novels and provides all the mystery, intrigue and unexpected ending we, as readers, love and desire. I can’t wait to read the rest of the Benny Griessel series!
celticknots30 (9 KP) rated Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1) in Books
Jul 15, 2018
Sweeping Saga
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is the first book of a sweeping saga that catches the reader and holds them to the very end. You will find it hard to put this book down. I won't lie, it's a slow read at the beginning while Carey builds the world upon the books are based, but it soon captures you into this world. You find yourself holding your breath waiting to see what happens next. How one girl can go on to save a nation in peril and the loves and losses she suffers along the way. Carey builds this fantastic world full of intrigue and a bit of magic from the gods. A must read.
Steph (468 KP) rated Traitor's Blade (Greatcoats, #1) in Books
Jul 9, 2018
This book was an absolute delight! It had me captivated from page one and I could hardly put it down! I brought the book everywhere with me so I could get in a few pages in a spare moment.
I loved that the main characters were heroic, but not heroes. The whole concept of the Greatcoats being cast down by society and hated by everyone was fascinating to me. It made the characters more interesting and the struggles more real. The characters and plot was compelling. There was intrigue and action. I borrowed the first one from the library but have already purchased them all from a bookstore online so I can read the rest shortly! :)
I loved that the main characters were heroic, but not heroes. The whole concept of the Greatcoats being cast down by society and hated by everyone was fascinating to me. It made the characters more interesting and the struggles more real. The characters and plot was compelling. There was intrigue and action. I borrowed the first one from the library but have already purchased them all from a bookstore online so I can read the rest shortly! :)
So much potential...
I read this book as it was recommended for those who enjoyed the book Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The story had all the elements of a book I should love - fantasy, adventure, a challenge, a bit of romance, but I did not enjoy the book as I thought I would. I world Garber attempted to create wasn't fully developed. Where she tried to exude mystery and intrigue felt more like plot holes and underdeveloped ideas. The characters made extreme choices that didn't feel realistic, specifically the protagonist's sister. Overall, the book fell flat for me. It has all the potential in the world, but it fizzled.
David McK (3562 KP) rated King of Ithaca (Adventures of Odysseus, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
While, reading the synopsis, this seems like the type of book I would enjoy, I have to say: I actually found this to be quite a dry read.
The first in a planned series of books ('The Adventures of Odysseus'), this one deals with the pre Trojan-war days, with (at the start of the novel) Odysseus not yet King of Ithaca. Centring primarily on one of Odysseus companions rather than Odysseus himself, this does have plenty of intrigue and action, but I (unfortunately) found none of those to be that stirring.
Not a patch on David Gemmell's Troy series ('Lord of the Silver Bow', Shield of Thunder' and 'Fall of Kings') of books.
The first in a planned series of books ('The Adventures of Odysseus'), this one deals with the pre Trojan-war days, with (at the start of the novel) Odysseus not yet King of Ithaca. Centring primarily on one of Odysseus companions rather than Odysseus himself, this does have plenty of intrigue and action, but I (unfortunately) found none of those to be that stirring.
Not a patch on David Gemmell's Troy series ('Lord of the Silver Bow', Shield of Thunder' and 'Fall of Kings') of books.
Rebecca Billcliff (2409 KP) rated Stranger Things in TV
Dec 7, 2019 (Updated Feb 11, 2020)
Epic Series
Three seasons in, and I am still enjoying it. There is a lot of intrigue around Eleven, and the Upside down. Though we are still waiting for season 2's side quest in the city to pay off, there are plenty of rewards for regular viewers.
With its great casting, epic cinematography, and all the 80s throwbacks, it's a great for all.
Just try and dislike those kids, I dare you.
It is tense, fun and witty, with some high stakes and great plot twists. Well worth a watch.
Thanks to a Smashbomb competition win, I now have a Demigorgan Funko Pop for my collection.
Almost as creepy as the real thing.
With its great casting, epic cinematography, and all the 80s throwbacks, it's a great for all.
Just try and dislike those kids, I dare you.
It is tense, fun and witty, with some high stakes and great plot twists. Well worth a watch.
Thanks to a Smashbomb competition win, I now have a Demigorgan Funko Pop for my collection.
Almost as creepy as the real thing.
The Borgias: History's Most Notorious Dynasty
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The Borgias have become a byword for pride, lust, cruelty, avarice, splendour and venomous intrigue....
England's Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton
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A dramatic, sparkling tale of sex, glamour, intrigue, romance and heartbreak, "England's Mistress"...