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Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) rated Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) in Books
Dec 4, 2018 (Updated Dec 4, 2018)
A vampire story you can sink your teeth into
I credit Anne Rice with my love of vampire novels and series. It has become a lifelong reading habit.
If you love a good vampire book, you need to read the one written by the Queen Mother of all vampire series. It takes you through the centuries of Louis the vampires life, how he came to be, who his friends are, who he meets and what happens. It's a long, winding tale of intrigue, betrayal and love.
I love the rich history and the detailed characters, background and psychology. Rice is a great writer, creates a detailed world within out world, that you find yourself falling into and falling in love with.
Pick this up, you will be hooked and there's more books, so you won't be dissapointed.
If you love a good vampire book, you need to read the one written by the Queen Mother of all vampire series. It takes you through the centuries of Louis the vampires life, how he came to be, who his friends are, who he meets and what happens. It's a long, winding tale of intrigue, betrayal and love.
I love the rich history and the detailed characters, background and psychology. Rice is a great writer, creates a detailed world within out world, that you find yourself falling into and falling in love with.
Pick this up, you will be hooked and there's more books, so you won't be dissapointed.

David McK (3562 KP) rated Men at Arms (Discworld, #15; City Watch #2) in Books
Jan 28, 2019 (Updated May 22, 2020)
Only the second book in Terry Pratchett's Discworld series to feature the City guard (in a total of eight such books, and at least one short story), this takes place a year or so after he events of "Guards! Guards!", and is probably best described as a police procedural/whodunnit crossover.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is also the first book to feature Leonard of Quirm (albeit in a small role), and expands upon the characters first introduced in "Guards! Guards!" as well as upon the themes of racial (or speciesist) intolerence and bigotry. Like "Guards! Guards!", and unlike some of the later City Watch novels, Corporal Carrot once again takes a central role in the narrative: a position later filled by Vimes, with Carrot himself becoming more of a background figure.
This, to the best of my knowledge, is also the first book to feature Leonard of Quirm (albeit in a small role), and expands upon the characters first introduced in "Guards! Guards!" as well as upon the themes of racial (or speciesist) intolerence and bigotry. Like "Guards! Guards!", and unlike some of the later City Watch novels, Corporal Carrot once again takes a central role in the narrative: a position later filled by Vimes, with Carrot himself becoming more of a background figure.
"Dear Katniss Everdeen,
I desperately want to be like you ..."
So might read the opening words of my (imaginary) letter written by the protaganist of this series to the protaganist of the (more famous) Hunger Games series, as there are (more than) a few similarities in common: both novels are set in a dystopian future, both feature a female protaganist, both have some PG-rated romance thrown in, and both deal with themes of family.
Actually, on second thoughts: maybe I'm being a bit unfair on Tris Prior - if this novel had come along first (instead of [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358275334s/2767052.jpg|2792775]), my imaginary letter may well have started with:
"Dear Tris Prior
I desperately want to be like you ..."
;-)
I desperately want to be like you ..."
So might read the opening words of my (imaginary) letter written by the protaganist of this series to the protaganist of the (more famous) Hunger Games series, as there are (more than) a few similarities in common: both novels are set in a dystopian future, both feature a female protaganist, both have some PG-rated romance thrown in, and both deal with themes of family.
Actually, on second thoughts: maybe I'm being a bit unfair on Tris Prior - if this novel had come along first (instead of [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)|Suzanne Collins|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1358275334s/2767052.jpg|2792775]), my imaginary letter may well have started with:
"Dear Tris Prior
I desperately want to be like you ..."
;-)
John Stack seems to have a knack for choosing unusual settings.
His previous novels - <i>Ship of Rome</i>, <i>Captain of Rome</i> and <i>Masters of Rome</i> all concerned the Roman navy during the first Punic war against Carthage. While this novel is not part of that series, it also has another unusual setting: this time, that of the Spanish Armada.
While it does have an unusual setting, it also shares some similarites with those other books: again, the main protaganist of the novel is an outsider, this time a loyal Recusant (or practising, secret, Catholic) in the English navy compared to the Greek captain in the Roman navy of the <i>Masters of the Sea</i> series. Again, a large chunk of it takes place on sea, rather than on land. Again, it is an enjoyable read.
His previous novels - <i>Ship of Rome</i>, <i>Captain of Rome</i> and <i>Masters of Rome</i> all concerned the Roman navy during the first Punic war against Carthage. While this novel is not part of that series, it also has another unusual setting: this time, that of the Spanish Armada.
While it does have an unusual setting, it also shares some similarites with those other books: again, the main protaganist of the novel is an outsider, this time a loyal Recusant (or practising, secret, Catholic) in the English navy compared to the Greek captain in the Roman navy of the <i>Masters of the Sea</i> series. Again, a large chunk of it takes place on sea, rather than on land. Again, it is an enjoyable read.

David McK (3562 KP) rated Master of Rome (Masters of the Sea, #3) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The third book in John Stack's 'Masters of the Sea' series, this continues the story of Atticus from the previous two novels. As I've said before, it's an interesting setting - the Roman Navy during the First Punic War - due to it's relative unfamiliarity to the reader: we're all aware of Hannibal crossing the Alps (which was during the Second Punic War), and of the might of the Roman army, but I can think of very few other books dealing with their navy!
This starts with teh Roman army defeated at Tunis, and then details the repercussions from this defeat and various other naval battles the fleet participates in. The novel also covers a long(ish) period of time: the events within are, sometimes, maybe a year or so apart.
Readable enough, but not a brilliant piece of writing.
This starts with teh Roman army defeated at Tunis, and then details the repercussions from this defeat and various other naval battles the fleet participates in. The novel also covers a long(ish) period of time: the events within are, sometimes, maybe a year or so apart.
Readable enough, but not a brilliant piece of writing.

Erika (17789 KP) rated The Locksmith's Daughter in Books
Jan 21, 2019
An Elizabethan novel without royals as the main characters.
Recently, I haven't wanted to read any historical fiction novels. I feel like recently, a lot of them are either focused on royals, or on WWII. Harper Collins sent one of their promo emails at the beginning of this month, and after reading the description, I had to have it.
I really liked the main character, Mallory, made some dumb decisions, like everyone, but it was nice to see that she legitimately learned from her mistakes.
After Mallory ruined her reputation, her father seeks out the Spymaster of Elizabethan England, Sir Francis Walsingham, to give her a job. She becomes a spy, seeking out Catholics. Again, I was thankful that the Queen only appeared in person once.
Harper Collins totally got me on this one, and I was glad to read it.
I really liked the main character, Mallory, made some dumb decisions, like everyone, but it was nice to see that she legitimately learned from her mistakes.
After Mallory ruined her reputation, her father seeks out the Spymaster of Elizabethan England, Sir Francis Walsingham, to give her a job. She becomes a spy, seeking out Catholics. Again, I was thankful that the Queen only appeared in person once.
Harper Collins totally got me on this one, and I was glad to read it.
What a pleasure listening to Anna Massey narrate the audiobook of Rebecca. At first, I thought this was going to be another case of me finding classic raved about novels too much of a slow boil but I was so engaged in the prose and mind of the protagonist I ended up loving it.
Being in the head of the protagonist; who we don't even know the name of; is such a realistic if at times frustrating experience. As a self-doubting socially shy woman she's perfectly written and I'm sure many can sympathise. Thrust into a world of being waited on rather than doing the waiting when she marries Maxim de Winter, the shadow of his late wife looms large in her new home - Manderley
A beautifully written tale of suspense and mystery that will transport you to a different time.
Being in the head of the protagonist; who we don't even know the name of; is such a realistic if at times frustrating experience. As a self-doubting socially shy woman she's perfectly written and I'm sure many can sympathise. Thrust into a world of being waited on rather than doing the waiting when she marries Maxim de Winter, the shadow of his late wife looms large in her new home - Manderley
A beautifully written tale of suspense and mystery that will transport you to a different time.

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Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) Dec 4, 2018
Rebecca Starkey (19 KP) Dec 4, 2018