Search
Search results
Anne Boleyn: A Kings Obsession (Six Tudor Queens #2)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of Katherine of Aragon:...
Torn (Reflections, #2)
8.0
Rate It
Book
Shape shifter Alec Graves has spent nearly a decade trying to keep his family from being drawn into...
Young Adult Paranormal Romance
David McK (3786 KP) rated Shadow of the Sith in Books
Apr 22, 2023
Disney-era Star Wars extended universe novel, set in the period between the end of 'Return of the Jedi' and the start of 'The Force Awakens'.
So same period as covered in TVs 'The Mandalorian', of which this makes no mention.
The novel also double-downs on the big (and not-at-all-well-received due to some extreme clunkiness) twist introduced in 'The Rise of Skywalker', with Luke Skywalker - here, before his hermit days - and Lando Calrissian both being drawn into the protection of a family (who they never meet in person) that is being hunted by the Sith: a family that includes a very young Rey.
I actually found this to be not that bad a read that at least attempted to fix some of the problems in The Rise of Skywalker, although I do have to say that it started from an almost impossible position and chose probably one of the least-liked aspects of that film (and character from the sequel trilogy) to concentrate on/be built around!
So same period as covered in TVs 'The Mandalorian', of which this makes no mention.
The novel also double-downs on the big (and not-at-all-well-received due to some extreme clunkiness) twist introduced in 'The Rise of Skywalker', with Luke Skywalker - here, before his hermit days - and Lando Calrissian both being drawn into the protection of a family (who they never meet in person) that is being hunted by the Sith: a family that includes a very young Rey.
I actually found this to be not that bad a read that at least attempted to fix some of the problems in The Rise of Skywalker, although I do have to say that it started from an almost impossible position and chose probably one of the least-liked aspects of that film (and character from the sequel trilogy) to concentrate on/be built around!
David McK (3786 KP) rated Lords and Ladies (Discworld, #14; Witches #4) in Books
Oct 30, 2022
As a character, Granny Weatherwax first appeared in the third Discworld novel Equal Rites, which was about, well, Equal Rights for both sexes. She then re-appeared (and beacem the unofficial head of her coven) in both Wyrd Sisters (where the broad outline of the plot bears a striking resemblance to certain Scottish play) and Witches Abroad (fairytales as you've never heard them before!). This is thus the fourth Discworld novel to include her as a main character, this time taking its inspiration from another Shakespeare play: A Midsummers night dream.
In this, and unlike the Elves of most comtemporary literature (Elves = good), the Elvish race are a foe to be reckoned with! This quote from about half-way through sums it up:
'Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They creat fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake ...
No-one ever said Elves are nice.
Elves are bad.'
In this, and unlike the Elves of most comtemporary literature (Elves = good), the Elvish race are a foe to be reckoned with! This quote from about half-way through sums it up:
'Elves are wonderful. They provoke wonder.
Elves are marvellous. They cause marvels.
Elves are fantastic. They creat fantasies.
Elves are glamorous. They project glamour.
Elves are enchanting. They weave enchantment.
Elves are terrific. They beget terror.
The thing about words is that meanings can twist just like a snake ...
No-one ever said Elves are nice.
Elves are bad.'
The sentence
10.0
Rate It
Book
In this stunning and timely novel, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author Louise...
David McK (3786 KP) rated The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in Books
May 18, 2025
I read the original Hunger Games trilogy back in the early to mid 2010s, before I saw any of the movies.
I watched the movie of this one first, before reading the book.
And, I have to say, that a prequel for President Snow - as portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the movies - was not my first thought on how Suzanne Collins could expand her world.
But that's pretty much who this centres on, with one whole section of the 3-part novel also set during the 10th annual Hunger Games which, here, are still relatively new and with large parts of the novel concerning how said Games could be made more 'entertaining' for the viewers in the Capitol.
Note I said 'for viewers in the Capitol', as their children are never selected in The Reaping to take place in said Games ...
Personally, I found Cornelius Snow (and Lucy Gray Baird, who he is chosen to mentor) to not be as strong or engaging a protagonist as Katniss Everdeen was. YMMV, of course.
I watched the movie of this one first, before reading the book.
And, I have to say, that a prequel for President Snow - as portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the movies - was not my first thought on how Suzanne Collins could expand her world.
But that's pretty much who this centres on, with one whole section of the 3-part novel also set during the 10th annual Hunger Games which, here, are still relatively new and with large parts of the novel concerning how said Games could be made more 'entertaining' for the viewers in the Capitol.
Note I said 'for viewers in the Capitol', as their children are never selected in The Reaping to take place in said Games ...
Personally, I found Cornelius Snow (and Lucy Gray Baird, who he is chosen to mentor) to not be as strong or engaging a protagonist as Katniss Everdeen was. YMMV, of course.
I've seen The Tempest, and so I was interested to see an origin story for Sycorax - the most powerful witch of Algiers. Except she isn't the evil monster that Shakespeare has written about. In this story, she is a child, a girl and a young woman. A young woman who knows too much and is too different to the others in her village, protected by her parents up until the point where they are no longer able to protect her.
I love the way in this is written - it's lyrical with a nod to the style of Shakespeare, Nydia Hetherington gives a reason for Sycorax's differences: her physical difference is due to illness and injury, her witch qualities are due to the fact that she simply knows too much for a woman in a time where women shouldn't have known anything beyond childbirth, motherhood and housework.
And then there's the element of magic that runs throughout the novel - which is always a winner as far as I'm concerned. A really enjoyable novel.
I love the way in this is written - it's lyrical with a nod to the style of Shakespeare, Nydia Hetherington gives a reason for Sycorax's differences: her physical difference is due to illness and injury, her witch qualities are due to the fact that she simply knows too much for a woman in a time where women shouldn't have known anything beyond childbirth, motherhood and housework.
And then there's the element of magic that runs throughout the novel - which is always a winner as far as I'm concerned. A really enjoyable novel.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2544 KP) rated A Killing Way in Books
May 8, 2025 (Updated May 8, 2025)
Tracking a Painting Stolen by a Dead Man
When famed silent film cowboy William S. Hart hires Nate Ross, he is looking for a portrait that was recently stolen from his home. He even knows who stole it. The catch? The thief was killed in a suspicious accident that has deeply divided the community of cowboy actors. Can Nate navigate the controversy and find the painting?
Since I live in the town that William S. Hart called home, I got a kick out of seeing a couple places I know well show in this historical mystery. The plot and pacing were great, and I had a hard time putting down this PI novel. Speaking of being a PI novel, there is a little more content than I might normally read, but it was a small amount. The characters are good overall. A few could be stronger, but fans will be happy to spend more time with everyone. If you haven’t started this fun series yet, fix that today.
Since I live in the town that William S. Hart called home, I got a kick out of seeing a couple places I know well show in this historical mystery. The plot and pacing were great, and I had a hard time putting down this PI novel. Speaking of being a PI novel, there is a little more content than I might normally read, but it was a small amount. The characters are good overall. A few could be stronger, but fans will be happy to spend more time with everyone. If you haven’t started this fun series yet, fix that today.
ClareR (6187 KP) rated Days of Light in Books
Nov 23, 2025
Days of Light tells the story of Ivy, from 1938 when she’s young and inexperienced, up to the 1990’s in her final years. Each time we step forward in time, we see Ivy on the same day. We see the consequences of her life choices, her losses and how she matures.
After the initial chapter where Ivy’s brother dies and she decides to marry a much older friend of the family, time jumps forward in decades to begin with, and longer periods of time nearer the end. Ivy joins a religious order as a nun, but I think this is largely because of the unresolved feelings she has for her friend, Frances.
There is a very spiritual feel to this novel: from the first chapter and the light that Ivy sees that distracts her from her brother drowning, her religious awakening, and the light she sees at the end of her life.
This was a lovely, gentle and thoughtful novel. It was an absolute pleasure to read.
After the initial chapter where Ivy’s brother dies and she decides to marry a much older friend of the family, time jumps forward in decades to begin with, and longer periods of time nearer the end. Ivy joins a religious order as a nun, but I think this is largely because of the unresolved feelings she has for her friend, Frances.
There is a very spiritual feel to this novel: from the first chapter and the light that Ivy sees that distracts her from her brother drowning, her religious awakening, and the light she sees at the end of her life.
This was a lovely, gentle and thoughtful novel. It was an absolute pleasure to read.