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ClareR (6081 KP) rated Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen in Books
Jun 3, 2024
Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen by Nicola Tallis is such an interesting non-fiction account of Elizabeth’s life: from her mother, Anne Boleyn meeting Henry VIII, to the day she succeeds to the throne. In those intervening years, Elizabeth is pronounced a bastard after the execution of her mother, is predated on by her stepmothers husband, is accused of trying to topple her sister Mary from the throne, is imprisoned in the Tower and other great houses - as long as she is out of Mary’s way. She is spied on and may well have really been involved in plots against her sister.
Elizabeth was far too clever to be caught, and that comes across really clearly. She was her parent’s daughter: clever, resilient and she knew the best people to have around her. These personality traits and the things that happened to her, formed the young woman and queen she would later be.
Nicola Tallis read through, and included, a lot of Elizabeth’s personal correspondence. It must have been exhausting for Elizabeth. She was constantly under suspicion of treason. She may well have been though, and she certainly didn’t conform wholeheartedly to Catholicism as Mary wanted her to.
This was such a fascinating read - and I’m notoriously picky with non-fiction. I often find it dry and hard to concentrate on, but not with Young Elizabeth. It was riveting, and held my attention from start to finish!
Elizabeth was far too clever to be caught, and that comes across really clearly. She was her parent’s daughter: clever, resilient and she knew the best people to have around her. These personality traits and the things that happened to her, formed the young woman and queen she would later be.
Nicola Tallis read through, and included, a lot of Elizabeth’s personal correspondence. It must have been exhausting for Elizabeth. She was constantly under suspicion of treason. She may well have been though, and she certainly didn’t conform wholeheartedly to Catholicism as Mary wanted her to.
This was such a fascinating read - and I’m notoriously picky with non-fiction. I often find it dry and hard to concentrate on, but not with Young Elizabeth. It was riveting, and held my attention from start to finish!
Stumbling Stones
Book
"Alice knew that Selma sometimes felt judged by their mother and didn't always like it when Alice...
Historical Fiction Jewish History Family History WWII
Sweetest Blood
8.5
Rate It
Book
Felix. When my sister gets cursed into a coma by a witch coven, I’m forced to pay them...
MM Paranormal Romance Vampires Witches
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2488 KP) rated The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper in Books
Jul 12, 2025 (Updated Jul 12, 2025)
Sandy’s Cruising Toward Another Murder
Sandy’s agent has booked his next job on the comeback trail. He’s joined by his sister and a band, and his job is to provide two shows a night on a week-long Caribbean cruise. It should be easy enough, right? Complicating things is the dead body that Sandy finds in his dressing room the first night of the cruise. The victim was part of another show on board the ship. Sandy doesn’t feel like the cruise ship’s security is taking the murder seriously, especially if they consider him a suspect. Can he figure out what really happened before the cruise ends?
This is another fun mystery with Sandy. The mystery could have kicked off sooner, but the setup was still entertaining and did set up some subplots. Once it did get going, we had some nice twists before the logical solution. I did figure part of it out a little early, but not too much before the big reveal. I enjoyed watching Sandy develop more here, especially in his relationship with his sister. And I liked how her blindness came into play in the story. There was one reference to something that happened after the book is set, but it’s a minor issue. I’m glad I finally started this series. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you’ll be glad you picked it up as well.
This is another fun mystery with Sandy. The mystery could have kicked off sooner, but the setup was still entertaining and did set up some subplots. Once it did get going, we had some nice twists before the logical solution. I did figure part of it out a little early, but not too much before the big reveal. I enjoyed watching Sandy develop more here, especially in his relationship with his sister. And I liked how her blindness came into play in the story. There was one reference to something that happened after the book is set, but it’s a minor issue. I’m glad I finally started this series. If you are looking for a new cozy series, you’ll be glad you picked it up as well.
Ledgend (2 more)
Magic
Caraval
Be spell bound and enchanted
I really enjoyed it magic always has a price as they say in once upon a time but this book show it in an enlightening way and charming characters. All wishes and hope come with challenages attached a great story from beginning to end.
Follow Scarlett as she wants to enter the world of Caraval the place she heard stories of since she and her sister were young. Follow Her adventure of escaping from her home only to learn that fantasies are just as dark and hard if not harder than reality. Watch as she learns to believes everything and nothing and get caught up in the dream yourself.
Follow Scarlett as she wants to enter the world of Caraval the place she heard stories of since she and her sister were young. Follow Her adventure of escaping from her home only to learn that fantasies are just as dark and hard if not harder than reality. Watch as she learns to believes everything and nothing and get caught up in the dream yourself.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[Johnny Graphic and the Etheric Bomb] by [D.R. Martin] was an incredible adventure. In the classic sense of serial adventures from the 1940's the young cub photographer, who happens to see ghosts and is 12 yrs old, has to save the world from a horrible new bomb. Along with his sister, Melanie and other friends, they travel the world to solve the mystery and stop destruction.
As a teacher who just spent the past three weeks teaching about the making of the atomic bomb this book seemed to parallel that with a 'ghostly' twist. (I know bad pun.) I will be looking forward to reading book two. Also did I mention besides ghosts there are zombies. Highly recommended.
As a teacher who just spent the past three weeks teaching about the making of the atomic bomb this book seemed to parallel that with a 'ghostly' twist. (I know bad pun.) I will be looking forward to reading book two. Also did I mention besides ghosts there are zombies. Highly recommended.
Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Big Burn in Books
Jan 12, 2018
[The Big Burn] by [Jeanette Ingold] is an excellently written historical fiction that deals with an interesting topic. The plot is focused around three young people: Elizabeth, a homesteader with her sister, Jarret, a fire fighter, and Seth, and African American soldier. The even that brings them all together is the forest fires of 1910 in Idaho and Montana know as the Big Burn.
[Ingold] tells a fast moving tale through the various perspectives of those involved. The fact that she chose very different characters but remained historically accurate says a lot about the skill of the author. This book is a welcome addition to any classroom library, especially for those reluctant readers.
[Ingold] tells a fast moving tale through the various perspectives of those involved. The fact that she chose very different characters but remained historically accurate says a lot about the skill of the author. This book is a welcome addition to any classroom library, especially for those reluctant readers.
MissCagey (2652 KP) rated Dark Places (2015) in Movies
May 18, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
Mediocre adaptation from a book by Gillian Flynn. I couldn't fathom Theron's character, Libby. Yes she was young when the murders happened but she seems so detached and unemotional about what happened she just didn't seem believable to me. Also, by the end of the film I still didn't understand why she lied about the evidence she gave, why had she never visited her brother in prison when they seemed quite close when they were young, DNA and fingerprint testing was around in 1985 so how come this was not used or further tested in the intervening years re the gun and the neck of the sister? More holes than a sieve!
Auburn (57 KP) rated Just For Clicks in Books
Apr 10, 2019
Thank you for letting me read this egalley.
First off I want to say how much this book blew my mind. I went in thinking this would be a fluffy story and man was I wrong. This book is so much more. There is drama, love, family, and an overarching idea that sometimes life may look bad from your point of view but others may see something else. Perspective. This book has it and it makes you sit up and listen.
Poppy and Claire are sister goals and I will forever root for them.
If you are in the mood to be moved and feel all while getting that warm feeling of love pick up this book.
First off I want to say how much this book blew my mind. I went in thinking this would be a fluffy story and man was I wrong. This book is so much more. There is drama, love, family, and an overarching idea that sometimes life may look bad from your point of view but others may see something else. Perspective. This book has it and it makes you sit up and listen.
Poppy and Claire are sister goals and I will forever root for them.
If you are in the mood to be moved and feel all while getting that warm feeling of love pick up this book.
Maris (8 KP) rated The Cruel Prince in Books
Jun 10, 2019
Absolutely stunning! magical, mystical creatures, and a dark truth. I loved this story and is one of my top favorite reads of 2018.
Are main character Jude is a mortal living in the Fey world with her twin sister. They are bullied from other creatures. Holy Black did a wonderful job writing this story were I could visualize the whole story in my head like a movie.
This lovely gem is such a dark, twisted story that the ending had me shocked. I can not wait for the second book as I need to have more from this story.
Catch my full book review on my book blog
https://vivamariesbooks.blog/2018/09/13/the-cruel-prince-by-holly-black/
Are main character Jude is a mortal living in the Fey world with her twin sister. They are bullied from other creatures. Holy Black did a wonderful job writing this story were I could visualize the whole story in my head like a movie.
This lovely gem is such a dark, twisted story that the ending had me shocked. I can not wait for the second book as I need to have more from this story.
Catch my full book review on my book blog
https://vivamariesbooks.blog/2018/09/13/the-cruel-prince-by-holly-black/