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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2589 KP) rated The Sherlock Society in Books
Oct 9, 2024 (Updated Oct 9, 2024)
Solve a Case While Making New Friends
Alex Sherlock, his sister, Zoe, and his friends are trying to find a summer job when Zoe finds the perfect solution - become detectives. While the idea doesn’t quite go as they had envisioned, they are soon on an interesting case looking for a treasure. What will they find?
The book had some issues with the plot, at least to me, including an exciting beginning followed by a flashback to how the characters got there. On the whole, however, it was entertaining, and I’m sure the intended target audience will love it. I definitely loved the characters, the growth we got in one of them, and the bond they formed. I also appreciated the realistic family dynamic. There’s some great laughs along the way as well. I’m sure middle schoolers will rush through this book. Despite my reservations, I enjoyed the book overall and I’ll be back for more.
The book had some issues with the plot, at least to me, including an exciting beginning followed by a flashback to how the characters got there. On the whole, however, it was entertaining, and I’m sure the intended target audience will love it. I definitely loved the characters, the growth we got in one of them, and the bond they formed. I also appreciated the realistic family dynamic. There’s some great laughs along the way as well. I’m sure middle schoolers will rush through this book. Despite my reservations, I enjoyed the book overall and I’ll be back for more.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Deathless Girls in Books
Mar 24, 2024
57 of 220
Book
The Deathless Girls
By Kiran Millwood Hargrave
⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.
Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts.
They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate...
Another book that took me by surprise I didn’t know what to expect but it turned out pretty decent. I really liked the end as I wasn’t expecting that either. A sold 3 star.
Book
The Deathless Girls
By Kiran Millwood Hargrave
⭐️⭐️⭐️
On the eve of her divining, the day she'll discover her fate, seventeen-year-old Lil and her twin sister Kizzy are captured and enslaved by the cruel Boyar Valcar, taken far away from their beloved traveller community.
Forced to work in the harsh and unwelcoming castle kitchens, Lil is comforted when she meets Mira, a fellow slave who she feels drawn to in a way she doesn't understand. But she also learns about the Dragon, a mysterious and terrifying figure of myth and legend who takes girls as gifts.
They may not have had their divining day, but the girls will still discover their fate...
Another book that took me by surprise I didn’t know what to expect but it turned out pretty decent. I really liked the end as I wasn’t expecting that either. A sold 3 star.
ClareR (6250 KP) rated The Shadow Key in Books
Oct 9, 2024
The Shadow Key is an enjoyable, unnerving read, set in a quiet, secluded Welsh village in the late 1700’s.
Henry has been disgraced in his London medical practice, and takes a job as a doctor in a small Welsh mining village. A lucky break, perhaps? Except, no. The inhabitants of the village don’t like him at all, because he’s English, his employer, the local Lord, is decidedly odd and menacing, and Lord Julian’s sister is clearly suffering from some sort of mental illness.
Henry does start to like the village, and the villagers learn that he will help them with no conditions.
There’s an underlying menace throughout the book, and if I were Henry I wouldn’t have stayed to tough it out!
The descriptions of the village and the family seat, swing between beauty (particularly the landscape) and dread. I felt as a reader I was constantly being wrong-footed, played with. It really is a good read - the tension!!
Most definitely recommended!
Henry has been disgraced in his London medical practice, and takes a job as a doctor in a small Welsh mining village. A lucky break, perhaps? Except, no. The inhabitants of the village don’t like him at all, because he’s English, his employer, the local Lord, is decidedly odd and menacing, and Lord Julian’s sister is clearly suffering from some sort of mental illness.
Henry does start to like the village, and the villagers learn that he will help them with no conditions.
There’s an underlying menace throughout the book, and if I were Henry I wouldn’t have stayed to tough it out!
The descriptions of the village and the family seat, swing between beauty (particularly the landscape) and dread. I felt as a reader I was constantly being wrong-footed, played with. It really is a good read - the tension!!
Most definitely recommended!
ClareR (6250 KP) rated Favourite Daughter in Books
Nov 23, 2025
Favourite Daughter by Morgan Dick, narrated by Heather Kosik and Susanna Fournier was funny in a dark way. Two estranged sisters are thrown together after the death of their father. Mickey, 33, an alcoholic Kindergarten teacher, hasn’t seen her father for 26 years, and is left his substantial estate – but there are conditions. Arlo (short for Charlotte) is her half-sister and a psychologist, and the sisters have never met. They’re both in for some surprises in the weeks ahead, that’s for sure. This is one of those books where you catch yourself letting out a (rather unladylike) snort of laughter, and then double-checking yourself: because should you really be laughing at what you’ve just laughed at? Well, life is based on ridiculous things, isn’t it? If you didn’t laugh, you’d probably cry or go mad! I really enjoyed this, Arlo and Mickey were really interesting characters who developed and grew up over the course of the novel.
Shake-speared in the Park (Bay Browning Mysteries #2)
Book
When Bay Browning helps direct the Flourish College summer theater production, "Shakespeare's...
Traditional Mystery Paranormal Twists Series
David McK (3816 KP) rated Frank Herbert's Dune, the Graphic Novel book 3: The Prophet in Books
Apr 6, 2025
My exposure to Dune - despite knowing the basics i.e. Science fiction, Sandworms, Arrakis - really only comes from the 2021 (Dune) and 2024 (Dune: part 2) movies.
Which I'm well aware, due to the nature of the medium, leaves a lot out.
As such, it's interesting reading this (after having read the previous 2 entries in the same graphic novel series) to see how much is familiar, and how much is changed.
Oh, the basics are there right enough (in the movies), but there are several differences to the story: Paul Atriedes sister (only teased in Part 2), here, being the most prominent example.
Not having read the 'original' original, I can't say how much was changed for the move from print to graphic novel medium, but I do believe that the authors/artists/stencillers here did try to stick as close as possible to that story.
I can understand why it was slimmed down for the move to the big screen.
Which I'm well aware, due to the nature of the medium, leaves a lot out.
As such, it's interesting reading this (after having read the previous 2 entries in the same graphic novel series) to see how much is familiar, and how much is changed.
Oh, the basics are there right enough (in the movies), but there are several differences to the story: Paul Atriedes sister (only teased in Part 2), here, being the most prominent example.
Not having read the 'original' original, I can't say how much was changed for the move from print to graphic novel medium, but I do believe that the authors/artists/stencillers here did try to stick as close as possible to that story.
I can understand why it was slimmed down for the move to the big screen.
The Man in the Stone Cottage
Book
In 1846 Yorkshire, the Brontë sisters— Charlotte, Anne, and Emily— navigate precarious lives...
Historical Fiction English Literature
ClareR (6250 KP) rated The Sunshine Man in Books
Nov 23, 2025
The Sunshine Man is set in two timelines: 1989 and 1971.
In 1989, Bridie prepares to find and shoot the man, Jimmy Maguire, that murdered her sister upon his release from prison. She follows him as he’s picked up from the prison gates by his daughter, and as she drives him to old haunts and to visit his family.
In 1971, Jimmy and Providence are good friends. Jimmy and his family are outcasts, undesirables, always in trouble with the police. Providence can see beyond this with Jimmy.
This is such a sad story of family in all its guises (good and bad), revenge and redemption.
The Sunshine Man is a slow burn, but I found it worthwhile. I really got to know the characters, whether I really wanted to or not. Some were distinctly unpleasant people, but the motivations for their actions, whilst not excusable, were explained. I certainly won’t be forgetting this book in a hurry.
In 1989, Bridie prepares to find and shoot the man, Jimmy Maguire, that murdered her sister upon his release from prison. She follows him as he’s picked up from the prison gates by his daughter, and as she drives him to old haunts and to visit his family.
In 1971, Jimmy and Providence are good friends. Jimmy and his family are outcasts, undesirables, always in trouble with the police. Providence can see beyond this with Jimmy.
This is such a sad story of family in all its guises (good and bad), revenge and redemption.
The Sunshine Man is a slow burn, but I found it worthwhile. I really got to know the characters, whether I really wanted to or not. Some were distinctly unpleasant people, but the motivations for their actions, whilst not excusable, were explained. I certainly won’t be forgetting this book in a hurry.
Sticks and Stones (The Wish Makers #1)
10.0
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Book
Everyone has a dark side. Mandy’s just moved in with her. The last time Mandy Matteo broke a...
Young Adult Coming of Age Fantasy
Break My Bones (The Wish Makers #2)
10.0
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Everyone makes mistakes. Crissy’s just might kill her. Crissy is sure her boyfriend Brad is the...
Young Adult Fantasy