Search
Search results
Murder on Union Square
8.0
Rate It
Book
When a murder hits close to home, Frank finds himself in an unusual position--the prime suspect in...
Merissa (13398 KP) rated Defiance (Rebellion #2) in Books
Jun 25, 2021 (Updated Jul 18, 2023)
DEFIANCE is the second book in the Rebellion series, and I really hope it's not the last! This world is fascinating, with twists that took me completely by surprise and definitely left me wanting more.
So, we start where Escape finished, with Cole and Logan returning to the Pack and their lives being made incredibly difficult. Cole and Logan have it as easy as they thought they would, with no time to be together without risking everything.
The intrigue, Pack politics, you name it, in this book are simply outstanding! I was gripped by every new development and new questions of just who I could trust. The action is different to the first book but no less intense.
I have no idea how many books Ms Jacobs has planned for this series, but I hope for many! An enthralling read that absolutely kept my attention. A great addition to the series that left me wanting more. Highly 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!
Jun 25, 2021
So, we start where Escape finished, with Cole and Logan returning to the Pack and their lives being made incredibly difficult. Cole and Logan have it as easy as they thought they would, with no time to be together without risking everything.
The intrigue, Pack politics, you name it, in this book are simply outstanding! I was gripped by every new development and new questions of just who I could trust. The action is different to the first book but no less intense.
I have no idea how many books Ms Jacobs has planned for this series, but I hope for many! An enthralling read that absolutely kept my attention. A great addition to the series that left me wanting more. Highly 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!
Jun 25, 2021
The Blood Chain (Indulgence #3)
10.0
Rate It
Book
Erin Kellison's Indulgence World is on fire with heart-stopping romance, perilous adventure, and...
Fantasy Romance
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2434 KP) rated Once Upon a Murder in Books
Feb 21, 2024
Not as Strong as the First Book
It’s 1784, and spinster Tiffany Woodall is hoping to put the chaos and intrigue of the last few months behind her. However, when she finds a dead body on her way to work at the castle one morning, she knows that isn’t going to happen. When the local bookseller, the man Tiffany loves, is accused of the crime, she can’t help but get involved. Can she figure out what happened?
The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.
The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.
Courting the Sun
Book
“A rich journey through 17th century France in all its aspects—its bucolic countryside, the...
Historical Fiction Versailles Louis XIV Triggers: Rape Scene & Spousal Abuse
Evergreen Desires (Wildheart Chronicles #1)
7.0
Rate It
Book
He’s running from his past. He didn’t expect to fall for a Sasquatch shifter who could break his...
Paranormal MM Romance
Twist of Time
8.0
Rate It
Book
A fast-paced thriller by Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter, producer, and director Gy Waldron ...
Thriller
Murder at Beechwood
9.0
Rate It
Book
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th...
David McK (3623 KP) rated Decision at Thunder Rift: Book One of The Saga of the Gray Death Legion in Books
Mar 9, 2025
Battletech.
Giant stompy robots, very much - it seems to me - the Western version of Japanese mecha.
A board (miniatures) game that's been around since the 1980s, with a fair few PC games and other associated elements spin-offs.
With said spin-offs including a series of novels which - although aware they existed (in much the same way as do Start Trek or Dr Who novels) I never really read any of them - I think I might have tried one, back in the mid 90s or so, but it was forgettable at best.
So, when I was recently looking for something light to read in between bouts of heavier literature (I hate that word), I thought I would give this one a try, since it is - apparently - #1 in the entire series, and since it was on sale for something silly like 99p on Kindle.
What I got was pretty much what I expected: a sci-fi war story, where the 'mechs are basically the equivalent of futuristic tanks, with a light smattering of intrigue but with the real draw, of course, being on the mech vs mech action.
I might pick up some more in the series, but don't think I'll be going out of my way to do so.
Giant stompy robots, very much - it seems to me - the Western version of Japanese mecha.
A board (miniatures) game that's been around since the 1980s, with a fair few PC games and other associated elements spin-offs.
With said spin-offs including a series of novels which - although aware they existed (in much the same way as do Start Trek or Dr Who novels) I never really read any of them - I think I might have tried one, back in the mid 90s or so, but it was forgettable at best.
So, when I was recently looking for something light to read in between bouts of heavier literature (I hate that word), I thought I would give this one a try, since it is - apparently - #1 in the entire series, and since it was on sale for something silly like 99p on Kindle.
What I got was pretty much what I expected: a sci-fi war story, where the 'mechs are basically the equivalent of futuristic tanks, with a light smattering of intrigue but with the real draw, of course, being on the mech vs mech action.
I might pick up some more in the series, but don't think I'll be going out of my way to do so.
Cassie Osbourne (6 KP) rated Ace of Shades (The Shadow Game, #1) in Books
Nov 9, 2018
Prim and proper Enne Salta is looking forward to her graduation from finishing school when her adoptive mother goes missing in New Reynes, otherwise known as the City of Sin. In an effort to find her, she must rely on the help and street smarts of gambler Levi Glaisyer. I think that it is safe to say that the blurb of this book caught me by the nose and I couldn't wait to read it so moving into a new house where there was no internet to distract me seemed as good an opportunity as any.
This book starts pretty slowly, or rather it tries to be interesting while still explaining the quite complex world and history since the Great Street War (which we actually know very little about) as well as introducing all the different characters and their blood talents and split talents. Even writing that sentence has made my head spin a little, and I've read the book! However, at about page 200 or 250 it really starts to pick up. Suddenly all the information and repetition (more on that later) starts to fall into place, and the plot and characters get SO much more interesting. Until that point though, it's all a bit meh.
With the exception of Chez, I have to say that I loved all the characters. I liked Levi pretty much from his first chapter, the villains were very cool, manipulative and all round imposing even without being in the book that much and all the rest of the characters got better as the book progressed (most notably Enne who becomes a complete badass). There's even a sequel, so perhaps Chez will grow on me after all. I would just like to add here that I love Jac and I want to have his babies.
The atmosphere, for the most part, was very meh. A lot of it was kind of bland and non-descript, which is not really something that you'd expect from a place called 'the City of Sin'. That being said, when Foody really goes for it on the atmosphere, she gets it pretty well spot on! The atmosphere during the second fight with Chez, the basement in the House of Shadows and pretty much any scene with Torren are all winners. It's just a shame that it wasn't that way for the whole book because Foody has proved that she can do it really well.
The writing style was good on the whole, but there were definitely two things that irritated me with it. I mentioned earlier that the first 200 pages have a lot of repetition, but it goes beyond merely parroting things that we already know. Sometimes whole sections of text are repeated from other chapters which I would be completely behind if it was used to offer a different perspective, but it wasn't. Reading these bits just felt like they had been copied and pasted, so it became redundant and annoying. The other problem which became hugely distracting (and which I have seen other people commenting about) is the use of 'muck' or 'mucking' instead of actual swearing. This is a young adult book with drugs and prostitutes in it and where words like 'piss' and 'ass' are used pretty commonly so when 'muck' appears (often said by a Street Lord), the reader can't help but groan. The sort of swearing and sort of not just really doesn't work. Pick a camp and stick to it!
As with the intrigue of the book, the plot got much better as it went along, with new twists and turns and plot points added to it along the way. Unlike the intrigue though, the plot was good from the beginning.
The logic was pretty good most of the time, but there were some notable moments (all heavily for the plot) that I just did not buy. This also kind of ties in with the whole 'muck' thing as well. It just takes you right out of the world.
All in all, I did enjoy this book, and I have to say that my biggest disappointment is that I have to wait another year for the sequel to come out.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Intrigue: 7.5/10
Logic: 7.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
This book starts pretty slowly, or rather it tries to be interesting while still explaining the quite complex world and history since the Great Street War (which we actually know very little about) as well as introducing all the different characters and their blood talents and split talents. Even writing that sentence has made my head spin a little, and I've read the book! However, at about page 200 or 250 it really starts to pick up. Suddenly all the information and repetition (more on that later) starts to fall into place, and the plot and characters get SO much more interesting. Until that point though, it's all a bit meh.
With the exception of Chez, I have to say that I loved all the characters. I liked Levi pretty much from his first chapter, the villains were very cool, manipulative and all round imposing even without being in the book that much and all the rest of the characters got better as the book progressed (most notably Enne who becomes a complete badass). There's even a sequel, so perhaps Chez will grow on me after all. I would just like to add here that I love Jac and I want to have his babies.
The atmosphere, for the most part, was very meh. A lot of it was kind of bland and non-descript, which is not really something that you'd expect from a place called 'the City of Sin'. That being said, when Foody really goes for it on the atmosphere, she gets it pretty well spot on! The atmosphere during the second fight with Chez, the basement in the House of Shadows and pretty much any scene with Torren are all winners. It's just a shame that it wasn't that way for the whole book because Foody has proved that she can do it really well.
The writing style was good on the whole, but there were definitely two things that irritated me with it. I mentioned earlier that the first 200 pages have a lot of repetition, but it goes beyond merely parroting things that we already know. Sometimes whole sections of text are repeated from other chapters which I would be completely behind if it was used to offer a different perspective, but it wasn't. Reading these bits just felt like they had been copied and pasted, so it became redundant and annoying. The other problem which became hugely distracting (and which I have seen other people commenting about) is the use of 'muck' or 'mucking' instead of actual swearing. This is a young adult book with drugs and prostitutes in it and where words like 'piss' and 'ass' are used pretty commonly so when 'muck' appears (often said by a Street Lord), the reader can't help but groan. The sort of swearing and sort of not just really doesn't work. Pick a camp and stick to it!
As with the intrigue of the book, the plot got much better as it went along, with new twists and turns and plot points added to it along the way. Unlike the intrigue though, the plot was good from the beginning.
The logic was pretty good most of the time, but there were some notable moments (all heavily for the plot) that I just did not buy. This also kind of ties in with the whole 'muck' thing as well. It just takes you right out of the world.
All in all, I did enjoy this book, and I have to say that my biggest disappointment is that I have to wait another year for the sequel to come out.
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Intrigue: 7.5/10
Logic: 7.5/10
Enjoyment: 8/10