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Merissa (11721 KP) rated The Witches of BlackBrook (Witches of BlackBrook #1) in Books
Apr 15, 2023
This is an enjoyable and entertaining tale told in the present time but with flashbacks to Salem. It is smoothly linked and always done with a reason, not simply gratuitous. With lots of intrigue and suspense to keep you turning the pages, this is a story that is an easy read with plenty of references made to Wicca and the correspondences to various flowers and crystals etc.
I enjoyed this story and didn't find any editing or grammatical errors. I enjoyed the climax of the story although it didn't really come as a surprise. However, I wasn't reading it for the shock value so this in no way detracted from the story for me. It did remind me of 'Charmed' in more ways than one so I would have no hesitation in recommending this to any fans of Charmed or their version of Wicca.
* 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!
Aug 20, 2015
I enjoyed this story and didn't find any editing or grammatical errors. I enjoyed the climax of the story although it didn't really come as a surprise. However, I wasn't reading it for the shock value so this in no way detracted from the story for me. It did remind me of 'Charmed' in more ways than one so I would have no hesitation in recommending this to any fans of Charmed or their version of Wicca.
* 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!
Aug 20, 2015
ClareR (5589 KP) rated A System So Magnificent It Is Blinding in Books
Apr 25, 2023
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I gave up reading it twice, but something kept pulling me back. I still can’t work out what the system is that’s so blinding, but I did like how quirky the whole novel was. It’s surreal, everyone in it has some sort of mental health issue, and is muddling their way through a life that they can make no sense of. Honestly, I couldn’t make sense of their lives either.
There are some really quite beautiful descriptive passages of London and Easter Island, and I found myself googling one of the photographic artists that was mentioned and falling down a rabbit hole for a while.
Should this win the international Booker prize? I have no idea, and I wouldn’t want to be the one that had to choose. Am I glad that I read it? I’m still not absolutely sure on that one. It’s left me with more questions than answers, and I don’t know as there even are any answers!
There are some really quite beautiful descriptive passages of London and Easter Island, and I found myself googling one of the photographic artists that was mentioned and falling down a rabbit hole for a while.
Should this win the international Booker prize? I have no idea, and I wouldn’t want to be the one that had to choose. Am I glad that I read it? I’m still not absolutely sure on that one. It’s left me with more questions than answers, and I don’t know as there even are any answers!
Karla Dee (6 KP) rated Little Thieves in Books
Nov 19, 2021
I am a fan of the cover because the bone skull and the little Sailor Moon symbol at the top. Also the intro or dedication to the gremlin girls was inspiring and I hope it encourages all the young girly readers to continue breaking the glass ceilings with bricks or whatevs else they can get their hands on. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book warning the reader about the content in her reading which included child abuse and assault.
This read is a grimm retelling story and is very dark and magical. The author, Margaret Owen, based this book on the "The Goose Girl" which I have never heard of or read. This retelling is also a series so there is another book after this one which is the first of the series. I'd also categorize this retelling as LGBTQ+ which I love. I have no idea what Goose Girl is about but the idea of there being a more woke version is AMAZING to me <3<3<3 Bring on the next book please!
This read is a grimm retelling story and is very dark and magical. The author, Margaret Owen, based this book on the "The Goose Girl" which I have never heard of or read. This retelling is also a series so there is another book after this one which is the first of the series. I'd also categorize this retelling as LGBTQ+ which I love. I have no idea what Goose Girl is about but the idea of there being a more woke version is AMAZING to me <3<3<3 Bring on the next book please!
Karla Dee (6 KP) rated Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels in Books
Aug 26, 2022
My prima just moved back to the midwest after being in hollywood and wow did I hear some stories about dark hollwood, woah! I can't share that business but I can share what I read in this book about a Doctor who uses his power and money to control heroine and meth addicts in Cali. I love how the author pursues this story even though the whole city and all the magazine editors are in the Doctors pocket. Honestly the city of Pasadena seemed very nice and bougie before Paul Pringle exposed the city hall and the police department in having covered up an overdose where a girl could have died. A good Samaritan working at the hotel tipped off authorities which led to Pringle finding about the case and believing that there is a cover up. Pringle's persistence in getting a well to do university to talk and the police department to write up a report they had ignored at first just shows a little of his badass detective work. Def recommend reading the whole report aka book <3
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Queen’s Rival in Books
Dec 16, 2022
The Plantagenets and Tudors are my first love in historical fiction, and I seem to be reading more Anne O’Brien books lately. I like how she tells a story from the woman’s perspective. This is a side of the story that we rarely hear from in the real history books - men wrote them, and many women weren’t encouraged to read and write (I’m very sure some did, by the way!).
I liked the way this was set out: from the letters between characters, to the fictional England’s Chronicle (which had some great sarcastic comments).
Cecile Neville, Duchess of York, was Edward IV and Richard III’s mother. She lived through some pretty turbulent times, and must have feared for her own and the lives of her children on several occasions. But she always remained true to her husband and their belief that they were the true rulers of the realm. What a time to have lived!
The emotions were so well conveyed, the historical information so well explained, and it never felt like a history lesson. Just a really great read!
I liked the way this was set out: from the letters between characters, to the fictional England’s Chronicle (which had some great sarcastic comments).
Cecile Neville, Duchess of York, was Edward IV and Richard III’s mother. She lived through some pretty turbulent times, and must have feared for her own and the lives of her children on several occasions. But she always remained true to her husband and their belief that they were the true rulers of the realm. What a time to have lived!
The emotions were so well conveyed, the historical information so well explained, and it never felt like a history lesson. Just a really great read!
ClareR (5589 KP) rated The Man Who Saw Everything in Books
Oct 28, 2021
What can I say about The Man Who Saw Everything? Firstly, I enjoyed reading it. It certainly wasn’t predictable, and I had no idea how the book was going to go in either half. As I read on to the second half, it began to become a little clearer as to why that was, exactly. There is a reason why the main character, Saul Adler, slips around in time. And I can’t tell you why, because to do so will give away the whole book!
This is a book where time, sexuality and personality are all malleable and difficult to pin down - all at the same time. You don’t know what’s real, and what’s in the imagination. Past and present are portrayed not just in the ages of the main character, but also in the former East and West Germany and the old and new (post-Brexit) Europe.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to properly explain this - even if I tried. I do know, however, that I really liked it.
This is a book where time, sexuality and personality are all malleable and difficult to pin down - all at the same time. You don’t know what’s real, and what’s in the imagination. Past and present are portrayed not just in the ages of the main character, but also in the former East and West Germany and the old and new (post-Brexit) Europe.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to properly explain this - even if I tried. I do know, however, that I really liked it.
ClareR (5589 KP) rated A Traveller at the Gates of Wisdom in Books
Sep 3, 2022
Once I’d recognised the trick to this book, I found it fascinating - it took a couple of chapters though, so I would encourage anyone contemplating reading this to keep going for at least three chapters. Or, you know, read this, have some idea of what’s going on, and then get the book, sit back and enjoy!
I’ve often thought that life must have some universal stories: things that happen in our lives that have happened untold times before throughout history, and will probably happen countless times in the future.
That is the premise that ‘A Traveller’ works from. And it’s done so cleverly.
We begin in the Roman world in 1AD, and swap between different continents and cultures. The story remains the same, of love, loss, betrayal, revenge and death. There’s a lot of births and deaths. It really puts in to perspective humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes - and we just keep on making them in to the future.
This is such a thought provoking, imaginative read. John Boyne just never seems to let me down.
I’ve often thought that life must have some universal stories: things that happen in our lives that have happened untold times before throughout history, and will probably happen countless times in the future.
That is the premise that ‘A Traveller’ works from. And it’s done so cleverly.
We begin in the Roman world in 1AD, and swap between different continents and cultures. The story remains the same, of love, loss, betrayal, revenge and death. There’s a lot of births and deaths. It really puts in to perspective humanity’s inability to learn from its mistakes - and we just keep on making them in to the future.
This is such a thought provoking, imaginative read. John Boyne just never seems to let me down.
Merissa (11721 KP) rated The Fire King's Daughter (The Descendants #1) in Books
Oct 7, 2022
THE FIRE KING'S DAUGHTER is the first in The Descendants series and we start with Heidi and Isaiah. Both of them are heirs to the throne, of the Fire and Ice thrones respectively, but they are sent to Earth to protect them from the war that is currently raging. Isaiah finds his feet quickly enough, but Heidi struggles.
This was a quick read that draws you in, giving out information about the kingdoms, the monarchies, Heidi, Isaiah, plus others, as and when needed rather than being an info-dump. There is a possible romantic connection here between Heidi and Isaiah that I look forward to reading more about. Let's just say... they have potential!
This story is only just starting and you are left with a cliffhanger, so fair warning! A great start to a series and definitely 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!
This was a quick read that draws you in, giving out information about the kingdoms, the monarchies, Heidi, Isaiah, plus others, as and when needed rather than being an info-dump. There is a possible romantic connection here between Heidi and Isaiah that I look forward to reading more about. Let's just say... they have potential!
This story is only just starting and you are left with a cliffhanger, so fair warning! A great start to a series and definitely 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!
ClareR (5589 KP) rated I Know What You’ve Done in Books
Feb 19, 2022
This is the ideal book for those that want to see behind the curtains and front doors of their neighbours. Which says a lot about me, because this book had me on tenterhooks from the very first page!
One of the neighbours is the victim of an attempted murder, and just before she passes out on the pavement, she knocks on the door of another resident to warn them of something. She forces her diary on to them, saying that all they need to know is contained within.
The recipient of the diary has a past of her own that she’d rather no one knew about, and so it appears do a lot of the other residents of Acacia Villas.
The information of each of the residents involved in nefarious goings-on is drip fed at just the right speed to keep you turning the pages, and there are many gasp out loud moments!
It’s a great read, and recommended.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to Dorothy Koomson for reading along, commenting in the margins with us Pigeonhole readers!
One of the neighbours is the victim of an attempted murder, and just before she passes out on the pavement, she knocks on the door of another resident to warn them of something. She forces her diary on to them, saying that all they need to know is contained within.
The recipient of the diary has a past of her own that she’d rather no one knew about, and so it appears do a lot of the other residents of Acacia Villas.
The information of each of the residents involved in nefarious goings-on is drip fed at just the right speed to keep you turning the pages, and there are many gasp out loud moments!
It’s a great read, and recommended.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to Dorothy Koomson for reading along, commenting in the margins with us Pigeonhole readers!
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Constitution Check (Dungeons and Dating #4) by Katherine McIntyre in Books
Sep 24, 2022
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is book number 4 in the Dungeons and Dating series and I have to say I have loved every one so far. The series is centred on a group of people who run a business called the Tabletop Tavern and have come together through their love of board games, particularly Dungeons and Dragons.
Each book focuses on different characters and their love life and life in general. This book focuses on Kelly who is trying to get over a domestically violent relationship that ended with the death of her then-girlfriend and Tabby who has never felt any good for anybody.
Katherine is an absolute wizard with words and you get a clear understanding of what each character is going through. She tackles the tougher subjects abuse/homophobia/grief etc in such a delicate but powerful way. It is a pleasure to read even though some of it is heart-breaking.
I 100% recommend reading not just this book but the whole series. Fantastic Katherine.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
This is book number 4 in the Dungeons and Dating series and I have to say I have loved every one so far. The series is centred on a group of people who run a business called the Tabletop Tavern and have come together through their love of board games, particularly Dungeons and Dragons.
Each book focuses on different characters and their love life and life in general. This book focuses on Kelly who is trying to get over a domestically violent relationship that ended with the death of her then-girlfriend and Tabby who has never felt any good for anybody.
Katherine is an absolute wizard with words and you get a clear understanding of what each character is going through. She tackles the tougher subjects abuse/homophobia/grief etc in such a delicate but powerful way. It is a pleasure to read even though some of it is heart-breaking.
I 100% recommend reading not just this book but the whole series. Fantastic Katherine.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **