Enduring Song
Book
France, 1096. Matthew, a young French knight, sets out on the First Crusade. Behind him he leaves a...
Nicholas Sparks recommended Dirty Dancing (1987) in Movies (curated)
The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated A Fist Around the Heart in Books
Oct 5, 2020
https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/06/23/between-two-sisters/
Violent Cop (1989)
7.6
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Movie
Kitano plays detective Azuma, a Dirty Harry-type who uses violent methods when confronting...
Then She Vanishes
6.5
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Book
Everything changed the night Flora Powell disappeared. Heather and Jess were best friends -...
Commitment (2013)
Movie
The son of a North Korean spy decides to follow in his father's footsteps to protect his little...
Hazel (1853 KP) rated Fanya in the Underworld in Books
Dec 6, 2018
Author Jordan Elizabeth has written many stories for young adults of all sorts of genres. With Fanya in the Underworld, Jordan tackles steampunk fiction with elements of fantasy and the paranormal. Set in Alaska during the 19th century when the state was still owned by Tsarist Russia, humans rely on steamtech and spirit magic to fuel their industrious cities.
The story begins shortly after the death of Fanya's father, leaving her as heir to his estate. Unfortunately, her step-mother has overruled her right to her inheritance. By making a fuss to the council, Fanya inadvertently puts both her life and the life of her younger sister in danger. Desperate to protect her sister from the clutches of a mysterious Englishman, Fanya finds herself in the wilderness where the indigenous, magical folk live. Despite having lived in a city her entire life, Fanya soon discovers she has far more in common with the people in the untamed wild.
Whilst a work of imaginative fiction, Fanya in the Underworld works with the historical truth about settlers moving to Alaska, Canada and the United States. Those from Europe who travelled to North America drove out the indigenous folk, destroyed their land and culture and deemed them to be lesser beings. The same has occurred in this novel in which the natives are banned from the cities, treated like animals and even murdered just for being who they are.
By caring so much about her sister, Fanya discovers the truth about the way the cities developed and is shocked by the revelation. Although her sister is at the forefront of her mind, her actions cause huge changes in Alaska resulting in a favourable, although unpredictable, conclusion.
Jordan Elizabeth draws the reader into the steampunk world of Tsarist Alaska. With the aid of illustrations by Aaron Siddal, Fanya in the Underworld is an exciting story unlike any written before. Unique characters, unique scenarios, and a fantastic ending, what more could anyone want?
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche
8.0
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A young girl who is empowered, capable, and smart...the Enola Holmes book series convey an impactful...
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Sing, Unburied, Sing in Books
Oct 3, 2017
The story follows a family on their way to a prison, in which the children's white father is due to be released. The teenage boy and his three year old sister are mostly dependent on one another as well as their grandparents Pop and Mam. The mother Leonie is absent, and rather aloof in their upbringing, forcing her son, Jojo to bring up his kid sister. In between are disturbing stories featured in flashbacks and ghostly apparitions, The novel explores interracial relationships, police brutality and even post traumatic stress disorder to a degree.
While it can seem haphazard, going back and forth in time, and random narratives appearing throughout, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease and despair at the violent nature of society. A truly intriguing read.