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Devon (The Son Series Book 3)
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Devon~ I fell in love with Ireena Monroe, and then she fell in love with my identical twin brother....
African-American African American contemporary romance sports adult
Alice (12 KP) rated Red Sister in Books
Jul 3, 2018
<i>Many thanks to Mark for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review </i>
Original review can be found on my blog Raptureinbooks <a href="http://wp.me/p5y0lX-1I9">here</a href>
<blockquote>It is important, when killing a nun, to bring an army of sufficient size.</blockquote>
I know they say to never judge a book by its cover but first impressions are everything. The above quote is the first line written in <i>Red Sister</i> - Mark Lawrence's newest masterpiece. I don't use the term lightly.
For those of you who haven't read his work before - know this: it will change how you read fantasy for the better. There's a really apt line in this book for this sentiment:
<blockquote>...a book is as dangerous as any journey you might take. The person who closes the back cover may not be the same one that opened the front one. </blockquote>
For those of you who have, you know his main characters are the ultimate in anti-heroes. All male, all rough, all the epitome of badassery. <i>Red Sister</i> is the first with a strong - and I mean strong -all female cast.
From the first instance you know this book is going to be top of the scale of epicness, <i>Red Sister</i> will draw you in within moments of opening the pages.
It follows the story of Nona Grey- an eight year old girl saved from the noose by an unlikely saviour - a nun - Abbess Glass, leader of the Sweet Mercy Convent. Nona becomes a novice nun and begins her journey to becoming a Red Sister- a nun skilled in combat. At first the book can feel a little like you've stepped backwards in time to where children are bought and sold on the road, where the Church has almost absolute power and where little girls do not become killer nuns; however as the story progresses and Nona's back story is revealed to us piece by piece I found my original thoughts to be utter bullshit because frankly the plot is outstanding.
I'll hold my hand up and say I've never read a book about nuns before but Red Sister has ruined me for any other.
As signature with Mark's work, Red Sister has the perfect balance between seriousness and humour with some brilliant descriptions of the most simplest of things:
<blockquote>...and a quill. This latter gave the impression that the bird from which it was taken had died of some wasting disease, falling from its perch into a dirty puddle before being run over by several carts and finally thoroughly chewed by a hungry cat.</blockquote>
The dialogue was witty and the right tone for what is ultimately a group of girls in boarding school who both love and hate each other and what they do on a daily basis. The friendships made at Sweet Mercy are friendships built to last through the toughest of scenarios, literally through thick and thin. Nona's past catches up with her frequently and she is tested to her highest limits and on occasion shoved over that limit.
<blockquote>"Trust is the most insidious of poisons." </blockquote>
There are some harsh lessons to be learned in <i>Red Sister</i> and not just the physical ones - of which there are many. The plot is thick with action, betrayal, uncanny abilities and supernatural old world bloodlines that show through in current generations that haven't been seen since the first tribes settled in Abeth; with prophecies galore and the odd psycho, bare knuckle fighting in the pits and justice is wrought.
The revelations are spectacular and revealed in unexpected ways that have totally done them justice. The writing style of Mark Lawrence is once more on point with the right amount of length for each chapter; the supernatural demon element was written in a great way. Overall, it was a masterpiece of the genre and deserves all the stars.
<i>Red Sister</i> has been one of the highlights of my year so far and it is outstanding. I've tried not to give anything away which is hard cause I want to give all the spoilers! I'll leave you with a parting quote that sums up the book nicely.
<blockquote>"Words are steps along a path: The important thing is to get where you're going."</blockquote>
Original review can be found on my blog Raptureinbooks <a href="http://wp.me/p5y0lX-1I9">here</a href>
<blockquote>It is important, when killing a nun, to bring an army of sufficient size.</blockquote>
I know they say to never judge a book by its cover but first impressions are everything. The above quote is the first line written in <i>Red Sister</i> - Mark Lawrence's newest masterpiece. I don't use the term lightly.
For those of you who haven't read his work before - know this: it will change how you read fantasy for the better. There's a really apt line in this book for this sentiment:
<blockquote>...a book is as dangerous as any journey you might take. The person who closes the back cover may not be the same one that opened the front one. </blockquote>
For those of you who have, you know his main characters are the ultimate in anti-heroes. All male, all rough, all the epitome of badassery. <i>Red Sister</i> is the first with a strong - and I mean strong -all female cast.
From the first instance you know this book is going to be top of the scale of epicness, <i>Red Sister</i> will draw you in within moments of opening the pages.
It follows the story of Nona Grey- an eight year old girl saved from the noose by an unlikely saviour - a nun - Abbess Glass, leader of the Sweet Mercy Convent. Nona becomes a novice nun and begins her journey to becoming a Red Sister- a nun skilled in combat. At first the book can feel a little like you've stepped backwards in time to where children are bought and sold on the road, where the Church has almost absolute power and where little girls do not become killer nuns; however as the story progresses and Nona's back story is revealed to us piece by piece I found my original thoughts to be utter bullshit because frankly the plot is outstanding.
I'll hold my hand up and say I've never read a book about nuns before but Red Sister has ruined me for any other.
As signature with Mark's work, Red Sister has the perfect balance between seriousness and humour with some brilliant descriptions of the most simplest of things:
<blockquote>...and a quill. This latter gave the impression that the bird from which it was taken had died of some wasting disease, falling from its perch into a dirty puddle before being run over by several carts and finally thoroughly chewed by a hungry cat.</blockquote>
The dialogue was witty and the right tone for what is ultimately a group of girls in boarding school who both love and hate each other and what they do on a daily basis. The friendships made at Sweet Mercy are friendships built to last through the toughest of scenarios, literally through thick and thin. Nona's past catches up with her frequently and she is tested to her highest limits and on occasion shoved over that limit.
<blockquote>"Trust is the most insidious of poisons." </blockquote>
There are some harsh lessons to be learned in <i>Red Sister</i> and not just the physical ones - of which there are many. The plot is thick with action, betrayal, uncanny abilities and supernatural old world bloodlines that show through in current generations that haven't been seen since the first tribes settled in Abeth; with prophecies galore and the odd psycho, bare knuckle fighting in the pits and justice is wrought.
The revelations are spectacular and revealed in unexpected ways that have totally done them justice. The writing style of Mark Lawrence is once more on point with the right amount of length for each chapter; the supernatural demon element was written in a great way. Overall, it was a masterpiece of the genre and deserves all the stars.
<i>Red Sister</i> has been one of the highlights of my year so far and it is outstanding. I've tried not to give anything away which is hard cause I want to give all the spoilers! I'll leave you with a parting quote that sums up the book nicely.
<blockquote>"Words are steps along a path: The important thing is to get where you're going."</blockquote>
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated See What I Have Done in Books
Jul 25, 2017
A story about a spoilt sociopath
Contains spoilers, click to show
I have to say I found Lizzie Borden's character is detestable even though there were instances where her father's harsh behaviour showed. She is manipulative and spoilt, a classic sociopath and while the murderer is never openly stated, it seems very likely she had a hand in it. I felt extremely sorry for her elder sister Emma, who seems to have to put up with her behaviour. Either way, I don't feel this novel added much to this infamous tale.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2415 KP) rated Revenge of the Gypsy Queen in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When mystery author Tracey Eaton heads to New York for her sister-in-law's wedding, she finally gets her first real life mystery. The bride has vanished and the family wants to cover it up. Why? This is my third time through the book, and I enjoy it each time. Still have a couple of small issues with the ending, but they are minor.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-revenge-of-gypsy-queen-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-revenge-of-gypsy-queen-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Snatched (2017) in Movies
Mar 12, 2018
A film like this has to focus on the comedy and let the story unfold naturally. Here there just was not enough comedy to save it, meaning you focus on the story and realise how badly executed the mother/daughter, sister/brother relationships are.
The interaction between Amy Schumer's brother and the State Department agent he keeps phoning was mildly amusing but there was nothing in Amy Schumer's scenes worth a smile and her character was irritating and useless.
The interaction between Amy Schumer's brother and the State Department agent he keeps phoning was mildly amusing but there was nothing in Amy Schumer's scenes worth a smile and her character was irritating and useless.
MizzParadox (8 KP) rated To All The Boys I've Loved Before (2018) in Movies
Aug 26, 2018
Likeable characters (2 more)
Diverse cast
Easy viewing
Sweet timekiller
I haven't read the book so went in with an open mind as it was recommended by Netflix.
Definitely an enjoyable watch but heavily predictable.
Watch if you're looking for a feelgood girly movie to kill some time.
Also personally a little conflicted as Lara Jean was fab but didn't believe Janel Parrish as her sister and although she's a great actor it felt as if she was cast just to raise the profile of the movie.
Definitely an enjoyable watch but heavily predictable.
Watch if you're looking for a feelgood girly movie to kill some time.
Also personally a little conflicted as Lara Jean was fab but didn't believe Janel Parrish as her sister and although she's a great actor it felt as if she was cast just to raise the profile of the movie.
Sarah Betts (103 KP) rated The Lady in the Coppergate Tower in Books
Dec 31, 2019
I received this copy of The Lady Lady in the Copper gate Tower from Shadow Mountain Publishing through Netgalley.
This steampunk romance was so much fun! Hazel and Sam are such great characters and I loved Hazel's deperation to have a family.
I found it very relatable.
Well, maybe not the mentally unstable twin sister
Or the uncle who might be a vampire
Or the assistant who might be a Murder.
Ok, you got me
But this one was an absolute ball to read.
This steampunk romance was so much fun! Hazel and Sam are such great characters and I loved Hazel's deperation to have a family.
I found it very relatable.
Well, maybe not the mentally unstable twin sister
Or the uncle who might be a vampire
Or the assistant who might be a Murder.
Ok, you got me
But this one was an absolute ball to read.
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