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David McK (3816 KP) rated Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3) in Books

Oct 7, 2019

Treason (Star Wars: Thrawn #3)

Timothy Zahn | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The third Thrawn book written in the 'new' Star Wars canon (i.e. after Disney's buyout of the Star Wars brand), this is different than the previous (Star Wars: Thrawn: Alliances) in that it is set entirely within one timeframe (early days of the Empire, round about the time of the fourth season of the Star Wars: Rebels cartoon), and that it does not skip character about per chapter.

Like the previous novel, however, it does take efforts to portray threat of the Gryssk, even (at one point) going so far as to insinuate that they are behind the Rebellion, with Thrawn himself becoming embroiled in a dispute between Director Krennic (see Rogue One) and Grand Moff Tarkin and with the future of his own TIE Defender programme on the line.

While Star Wars: Rebels may have shown his more ruthless side, these novels take great pains to show his loyalty to his crew and, in return, their loyalty back to him. The Treason of the title may be slightly (purposefully?) misleading, with Thrawn himself also uncovering a conspiracy as his own loyalty - and that of his protégé from the first 'new' novel, who is now seconded to work with the Chiss - is called into question.

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From an Antagonistic to a Synergistic Predator Prey Perspective: Bifurcations in Marine Ecosystem

Tore Johannessen

(0 Ratings) Rate It

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From an Antagonistic to a Synergistic Predator Prey Perspective: Bifurcations in Marine Ecosystems...

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Catherine House in Books

May 21, 2020

Catherine House

Elisabeth Thomas | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

5.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

This book totally stressed me out. I usually love a good boarding school novel (though technically these students are in their college years), but this was mostly just a bunch of kids drinking and occasionally attending weird classes. Why are there never normal people at these schools who just do their work and don't drink?

Anyway, besides that pet peeve, this book was incredibly slow and nothing ever happened. This was mostly a story about a lot of frivolous kids at school with some weird scientific plasma stuff thrown in. It was incredibly difficult to care about Ines for most of the book--or any of the other characters--and truly, most of the plot. I thought about abandoning the book, but wanted to see if anything interesting ever happened with the scientific aspect. (No, not really.) The book sells itself as a mysterious ride, but it's more a character-driven novel. About lackluster, annoying characters.

Now the last third was fairly enjoyable and somehow an irritating book with eh characters had a satisfying ending, but getting there was just painful. Thomas is a good writer and this is no doubt one of those smart books where not much happens that book critics will worship, but it didn't really work for me. 2.5 stars.

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Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Apartment in Books

May 22, 2020

The Apartment

K.L. Slater | 2020 | Thriller

6.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The Apartment by K.L. Slater is a creepy novel that shows if something is too good to be true then it is.

I am a fan of K.L. Slater. If you have not read any of Kim's work, start with her most well-known work, Blink. All of her novels average between 3.69 and 4.00 on Goodreads.

While I did enjoy this fast-reading story, it was not an original one. However, that does not make it inferior to those that have come before. Many reviewers compared this to Riley Sager's Lock Every Door. They both are mysteries involving an apartment building where people have been known to disappear. If Sager's novel had not been released so close to this book, I do not think as many people would make the comparison.

Slater's The Apartment is a slow burn. Many reviewers want instant gratification, instant suspense, instant terrors, etc. Not all books are going slam you in the face. Not all books should.

It is those differences that make this book, and any book, worth reading. You can take the view of Mark Hunter in Pump Up the Volume or you can embrace both the similarities and differences in an author's work.

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Ali A (82 KP) rated The Fountains of Silence in Books

Jun 1, 2020

The Fountains of Silence

Ruta Sepetys | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics, Young Adult (YA)

9.5

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

The Fountains of Silence is about Texan teen Daniel visiting Francisco Franco's Spain in the 1950's. Franco is a dictator who needs business men to invest in his country so he opens it to Americans. Daniel visits with his parents to see his mother's birthplace. Ana works at the hotel Daniel and his parents are staying in and is assigned to their rooms. Daniel and Ana quickly become friends but Ana is guarded with him. Her family were Republicans, those who were against Franco's rein, and now are either shunned to live as second class citizens or died horrific deaths. Daniel quickly learns that Spain isn't what the government likes to show and there are secrets everyone is hiding.

I was fascinated with this novel as it's something I have never really learned of this time in history in school. I knew of before, during World War II, but never afterward with Franco's dictation. I cared about the characters and wanted to know the outcome. I could tell when some things would happen and cried during some of them too.

It was a heartfelt novel set in a dark time that had family and love and exploration. A must read for historical fiction readers and lovers of Ruta Sepetys.