Alice (12 KP) rated Cruel Crown: Two Red Queen Short Stories in Books
Jul 3, 2018
I went into Cruel Crown with an open mind - I haven't read Red Queen yet so I hoped that reading the prequel novellas to the best-seller would reveal quite a bit on the inner workings of Red's and Silver's.
In respect of Queen Song it was a pretty dark novella - a lot darker than I expected for a YA prequel. Coriane begins as a impoverished Silver with a hatred of the mundane and a love of the inner workings of machines.
Queen Song follows Coriane's rise from impoverished Silver to Queen of the Kingdom via her diary entries. The entries start off pretty mundane and childlike in their layout but over the course of her growth as a character they become much darker and they reveal that even royalty has flaws.
She comes across - as a teenager - as a bit of a spoiled brat even though she doesn't actually appear to be spoiled. She gives me the vibe of spoiled and irritating child for most of the beginning but after meeting Elara I'll give Coriane her due she's way more laid back.
As previously mentioned I haven't read Red Queen and hoped that the prequels would shed some light on certain things - what a Silver and a Red is, what a singer and a whisper is etc. I found that it didn't, without reading Red Queen first the prequel doesn't really make a whole lot of sense but it does shed light on what happens with royalty etc.
A couple of the characters (Elara I'm looking at you) were a hell of a lot more evil than I expected. Particularly at the end.
But there is a difference between a single candle in darkness, and a sunrise.
That is, without doubt, the best line in the novella. It's strikingly beautiful in contrast to the darkness of the novella.
Steel Scars on the other hand is a nice change of pace from Queen Song. Steel Scars follows a Red soldier - a member of The Scarlet Guard -as she aquires assets for the SG. It contains far more action and drama than Queen Song and it provides a better basis for certain aspects of the Red and Silver world.
It also sets up the introduction to Mare quite nicely as well.
As prequels go, they're good if a little bare of some details. The writing style flowed pretty well and most of the characters were not overly annoying or filler.
What an ending though. The Queenstrial sets Red Queen up incredibly well.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Of Gods and Men in Books
Jan 31, 2018
This novella serves as an excellent taster of Stephen Aryan's writing style and the world in which his other books take place. I haven't read any of his other work yet, but as this is a prequel I didn't feel I was missing out on any inside knowledge. If anything, this book serves as an expanded backstory to one of the main characters of the first series, Vargus.
I really enjoyed the entry into the world, Aryan's easy-flowing narrative and the short, concise self-contained story which contains some good, well described action scenes, good dialogue and hints at a larger world to be explored and does lead you to want to read more.
Small Circle of Beings
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The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
9.2
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From a novella by best-selling author Stephen King comes this poignant tale of the human spirit. ...
Ross (3284 KP) rated The Change 6: Tokyo: Noriko's Story in Books
Nov 6, 2020
Unlike with the previous books, this one has a satisfying ending. Sadly, it didn't close off the loose ends from the other books as I had hoped.
Down Among The Sticks And Bones
8.3
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With Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire introduced us to a vivid intersection of portal worlds...
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8.4
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From Jennifer L. Armentrout, author of the Covenant series, comes the stunning, hotly-anticipated...
Lover's Knot (Dorina Basarab #3.5)
9.0
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One of the most powerful vampires in existence has gone missing, which is fine with Dorina Basarab....
urban fantasy
Merissa (13319 KP) rated Vampire for Christmas in Books
Apr 10, 2023 (Updated Apr 10, 2023)
This is a novella so the storyline is fast-paced and moves along swiftly. Saying that, you will still find all the information you need to be engrossed in the story of how Rafe and Shannon came to be partners and what their histories are.
This is a wonderful story that I would recommend for a rainy evening or when you are curled up in front of a fire, who knows maybe even during the build-up to the season itself! Short, sweet and sexy.
* 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!
October 8, 2016
Merissa (13319 KP) rated Dark Night (The Amulet #2) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
This is a novella so therefore it moves along at an incredible pace - everything happens within the space of a few short hours. There is attraction, flirtations, humour, and the threat of violence - all within a few pages.
If you are on the lookout for a hot, coffee-break book, then I can highly recommend this book and The Amulet Series as a whole.
* 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!
Jul 29, 2015