Mark's bookshelf: all en-US Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:31:45 -0700 60 Mark's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act]]> 38620150
Since its creation in 1876, the Indian Act has shaped, controlled, and constrained the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Peoples, and is at the root of many enduring stereotypes. Bob Joseph’s book comes at a key time in the reconciliation process, when awareness from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities is at a crescendo. Joseph explains how Indigenous Peoples can step out from under the Indian Act and return to self-government, self-determination, and self-reliance—and why doing so would result in a better country for every Canadian. He dissects the complex issues around truth and reconciliation, and clearly demonstrates why learning about the Indian Act’s cruel, enduring legacy is essential for the country to move toward true reconciliation.]]> 160 Bob Joseph 0995266522 Mark 4 history
This book is divided into various sections, explaining the Indian Act, which was enacted in 1876, how it was inspired by the Bagot Report of 1844, and some of the amendments that were made in 1951. The author then talks about how we can revoke the Act and move to a self-governing future for Indigenous Peoples outside of the Indian Act. There is then a chronology of the Indian Residential Schools staring in 1755, when the Indian Department was created, to 1996 when the last of the 139 schools, Gordon Indian Residential School in Punnichy Saskatchewan closed, to 2017 when Prime Minister Trudeau apologizes at Happy Valley-Goose Bay Newfoundland to the former Indigenous students that attended residential schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Note: while this timeline in this book ends in November 2017, that is because the author had finished writing this book. We know that there are more entries. The book ends with the 94 Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report.

This is a very important book to read, especially if you are not familiar with the Indian Act and how Canada treated its Indigenous Peoples in the past. I thought the author did a great job in explaining an extremely complicated topic and making it easy for people to understand. It is not an overly long book; the paperback version is 189 pages, and I think it is appropriate for teenagers to read.

The author, Bob Joseph, is the son of Chief Robert Joseph of the Gwawaenuk Nation, which is one of the Kwakwaka’wakw tribes on Vancouver Island. He is the founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. and an initiated member of the Hamatsa Society. ]]> 4.57 2018 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act
author: Bob Joseph
name: Mark
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/21
date added: 2025/04/21
shelves: history
review:
�21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act� is about explaining the legal act that controlled and still controls the lives of Indigenous People in Canada. As the Indian Act is a large and complicated legal document, the author, Bob Joseph, has taken 21 points from it and explained them so that people who are not familiar with the Act can get an understanding of what it has done and still does.

This book is divided into various sections, explaining the Indian Act, which was enacted in 1876, how it was inspired by the Bagot Report of 1844, and some of the amendments that were made in 1951. The author then talks about how we can revoke the Act and move to a self-governing future for Indigenous Peoples outside of the Indian Act. There is then a chronology of the Indian Residential Schools staring in 1755, when the Indian Department was created, to 1996 when the last of the 139 schools, Gordon Indian Residential School in Punnichy Saskatchewan closed, to 2017 when Prime Minister Trudeau apologizes at Happy Valley-Goose Bay Newfoundland to the former Indigenous students that attended residential schools in Newfoundland and Labrador. Note: while this timeline in this book ends in November 2017, that is because the author had finished writing this book. We know that there are more entries. The book ends with the 94 Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report.

This is a very important book to read, especially if you are not familiar with the Indian Act and how Canada treated its Indigenous Peoples in the past. I thought the author did a great job in explaining an extremely complicated topic and making it easy for people to understand. It is not an overly long book; the paperback version is 189 pages, and I think it is appropriate for teenagers to read.

The author, Bob Joseph, is the son of Chief Robert Joseph of the Gwawaenuk Nation, which is one of the Kwakwaka’wakw tribes on Vancouver Island. He is the founder of Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. and an initiated member of the Hamatsa Society.
]]> <![CDATA[Vimy (Pen & Sword Military Classic)]]> 190293 One chill Easter dawn in 1917, a blizzard blowing in their faces, the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in France went over the top of a muddy scarp known as Vimy Ridge. Within hours, they held in their grasp what had eluded both British and French armies in over two years of fighting: they had seized the best-defended German bastion on the Western Front.

How could an army of civilians from a nation with no military tradition secure the first enduring victory in thirty-two months of warfare with only 10,000 casualties, when the French had lost 150,000 men in their unsuccessful attempt? Pierre Berton's haunting and lucid narrative shows how, unfettered by military rules, civilians used daring and common sense to overcome obstacles that had eluded the professionals.

Drawing on unpublished personal accounts and interviews, Berton brings home what it was like for the young men, some no more than sixteen years old, who clawed their way up the sodden, shell-torn slopes in a struggle they innocently believed would make war obsolete. He tells of the soldiers who endured horrific conditions to secure this great victory, painting a vivid picture of trench warfare. In his account of this great battle, Pierre Berton brilliantly illuminated the moment of tragedy and greatness that marked Canada's emergence as a nation.

]]> 336 Pierre Berton 0850529883 Mark 5
Vimy is Canadian historian Pierre Berton’s 1986 account of that battle. It is perhaps one of the more famous books on the battle,

The author divided the book into three main sections. The first section dealt with the leadup and preparation of the battle, covering the extremely chaotic mobilization of Canadians at the start of the war and the, for the time, groundbreaking and innovative preparation and training for the battle. Then he covers the events of the actual battle, dedicating chapters to each of the four Canadian Divisions and their actions during the battle. The final section deals with the aftermath of the battle including the unveiling of the monument to the battle in July 1936 by King Edward VIII (one of the few duties he did before he abdicated the throne on 10 December 1936).

What is interesting about this book is that the author used letters, memoirs, and interviews of common soldiers for a lot of his source material and not just the famous generals such as General Byng and Currie. So you hear the stories from soldiers from across Canada and of all ranks. I say soldiers as this was a predominantly land battle, but the author did include recollections from some pilots for the Royal Flying Corp which was supporting the battle.

The author does s good job of explaining the big picture while interjecting the individual accounts so the reader will understand what is going on even if they don’t have much knowledge of the First World War. There is also a decent collection of maps in the book to help illustrate what is happening.

If you are interested in military history, especially that of the First World War then I recommend this book. In fact. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is just interested in Canada in general, as this book will help explain one of the key events that led to Canada being the nation we are today.
]]> 4.30 1986 Vimy (Pen & Sword Military Classic)
author: Pierre Berton
name: Mark
average rating: 4.30
book published: 1986
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves:
review:
For most of the world the Battle for Vimy Ridge which took place from 9 to 12 April 1917 is just a paragraph or footnote in the larger British “Battle of Arras� part of the Nivelle Offensive. For Canada and Canadians, however, this battle has almost mythical status and it is perhaps the most famous Canadian Battle not only of the First World War but of all times.

Vimy is Canadian historian Pierre Berton’s 1986 account of that battle. It is perhaps one of the more famous books on the battle,

The author divided the book into three main sections. The first section dealt with the leadup and preparation of the battle, covering the extremely chaotic mobilization of Canadians at the start of the war and the, for the time, groundbreaking and innovative preparation and training for the battle. Then he covers the events of the actual battle, dedicating chapters to each of the four Canadian Divisions and their actions during the battle. The final section deals with the aftermath of the battle including the unveiling of the monument to the battle in July 1936 by King Edward VIII (one of the few duties he did before he abdicated the throne on 10 December 1936).

What is interesting about this book is that the author used letters, memoirs, and interviews of common soldiers for a lot of his source material and not just the famous generals such as General Byng and Currie. So you hear the stories from soldiers from across Canada and of all ranks. I say soldiers as this was a predominantly land battle, but the author did include recollections from some pilots for the Royal Flying Corp which was supporting the battle.

The author does s good job of explaining the big picture while interjecting the individual accounts so the reader will understand what is going on even if they don’t have much knowledge of the First World War. There is also a decent collection of maps in the book to help illustrate what is happening.

If you are interested in military history, especially that of the First World War then I recommend this book. In fact. I would also recommend this book to anyone who is just interested in Canada in general, as this book will help explain one of the key events that led to Canada being the nation we are today.

]]> <![CDATA[The Killing Stones (Jimmy Perez, #9)]]> 222376507 The Killing Stones marks the eagerly awaited return of Ann Cleeves' beloved detectives from the Shetland series, and a gripping new investigation with a stunning new setting, from the New York Times bestselling author and creator of three iconic detectives beloved in TV and DI Jimmy Perez (the Shetland series), DI Vera Stanhope, and DI Matthew Venn (The Long Call).

It's been several years since Detective Jimmy Perez left Shetland. He has settled into his new home in Orkney, the group of islands, off the northern coast of Scotland, with his partner Willow Reeve and their growing family. One stormy winter night, his oldest and closest friend, Archie Stout, goes missing. Ever the detective, Perez catches a boat to the island of Westray, where Archie worked as a farmer and lived with his wife and children.

But when he arrives he finds a shocking Archie's body, on an archaeological dig site and an ancient Westray story stone with precise spirals carved into it beside him, the clear murder weapon. The artifact, taken from a nearby museum, seems to suggest a premediated murder.

But Perez is so close to the case that he struggles to maintain an objective distance from the potential suspects. He finds it difficult to question Archie's wife, whom he's known for years. Rumors swirl about the dead man's relationship with a young woman new to the island, an artist. With each new lead, the case becomes more twisted and Perez wonders if he will ever find out what happened in his friend's final days.]]> 384 Ann Cleeves 1250357284 Mark 0 to-read 4.12 2025 The Killing Stones (Jimmy Perez, #9)
author: Ann Cleeves
name: Mark
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Murder at a Scottish Christmas (A Scottish Shire Mystery)]]> 204294823
All Paislee wants for Christmas is for her new home to be finished, but it looks like she’ll have to wait for New Year’s Day. Whether the paint on the walls has dried or not, she’ll host a feast for her twelve-year-old son Brody, Grandpa, their black Scottish terrier Wallace, and friends—including police station receptionist Amelia Henry and her brother McCormac, whose black locks can fulfill the Scottish first-footer tradition that a tall, dark-haired man should be the first person to enter your home on New Year’s to bring good luck.

But McCormac’s luck is about to run out. During Hogmanay—when the Scots welcome the New Year with dancing, bonfires, and midnight fireworks—he collapses as the sky brightens in a blaze of color. A shooter has used the noise of the fireworks to hide a gun’s blast. Amelia is inconsolable, and Paislee vows to do whatever she can to help DI Zeffer solve the murder—even if it puts her in the killer’s sights next . . .]]> 320 Traci Hall 149674439X Mark 3
This book to me is more of a relaxing mindless read, one that I don't have to really pay attention while reading. Perfect for a bedtime read.

While I enjoyed this book, there were two things I did not like. (1) Parts of it felt like a bad after-school TV special where kids learn the danger of something. In this case we learned that dog smuggling and puppy mills are bad. There was no subtlety, especially with the veterinarian. (2) The character of Amelia was just annoying and the things she did were just stupid.

I think if you like the first five books in the series that you will also like this book.]]> 3.81 2024 Murder at a Scottish Christmas (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
This is the sixth book in the "Scottish Shire Mystery" series. The series of books is a lighthearted crime series where the main character who runs a knitting store ends up solving a murder in each book. It is a mixture of family/friends drama and investigation.

This book to me is more of a relaxing mindless read, one that I don't have to really pay attention while reading. Perfect for a bedtime read.

While I enjoyed this book, there were two things I did not like. (1) Parts of it felt like a bad after-school TV special where kids learn the danger of something. In this case we learned that dog smuggling and puppy mills are bad. There was no subtlety, especially with the veterinarian. (2) The character of Amelia was just annoying and the things she did were just stupid.

I think if you like the first five books in the series that you will also like this book.
]]> Prey (Sam Shephard Book 6) 210272740 Fresh from maternity leave, Dunedin detective Sam Shephard investigates the unsolved murder of a highly esteemed church minister ... with potentially deadly consequences. Queen of New Zealand Crime, Vanda Symon, returns with a shocking, twisty new Sam Shephard thriller...

`New Zealand's answer to Siobhan Clarke´ The Times

`The Edinburgh of the south has never been more deadly´ Ian Rankin

`New Zealand's modern Queen of Crime´ Val McDermid

______

On her first day back from maternity leave, Detective Sam Shephard is thrown straight into a cold-case investigation � the unsolved murder of a highly respected Anglican Priest in Dunedin.

The case has been a thorn in the side of the Police hierarchy, and for her boss it' s personal.

With all the witness testimony painting a picture of a dedicated church and family man, what possible motive could there have been for his murder?

But when Sam starts digging deeper into the case, it becomes apparent someone wants the sins of the past to remain hidden. And when a new potential witness to the crime is found brutally murdered, there is pressure from all quarters to solve the case before anyone else falls prey.

But is it already too late... ?

Dark, emotive and thought-provoking, Prey is a chilling, sophisticated thriller that cements Vanda Symon' s position as the new `Queen of New Zealand Crime´ .]]> 313 Vanda Symon Mark 4
As this is the sixth book in the series it is recommended that you read the prior five books first as they will flesh out the characters and while the story is fairly self-contained you will miss a lot of the nuances in the series such as her reactions to her boss if you have not read the books in order.

I enjoyed this entry in the Sam Shephard series of books as the author does a great job of not only having Sam struggle to solve the cold case but also adjusting to the difficulties of being a new mother. Looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store for Sam and the rest of the Dunedin detectives.
]]> 4.35 Prey (Sam Shephard Book 6)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:
Prey is the sixth book in the Sam Shephard series of books by New Zealand author, Vanda Symon. The series revolves around Dunedin (City in New Zealand’s Southern Islan) Detective Sam Shephard. In this book she is returning to work following maternity leave and investigating a 25-year-old cold case while adjusting to life back at work following the birth of her first child.

As this is the sixth book in the series it is recommended that you read the prior five books first as they will flesh out the characters and while the story is fairly self-contained you will miss a lot of the nuances in the series such as her reactions to her boss if you have not read the books in order.

I enjoyed this entry in the Sam Shephard series of books as the author does a great job of not only having Sam struggle to solve the cold case but also adjusting to the difficulties of being a new mother. Looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store for Sam and the rest of the Dunedin detectives.

]]> <![CDATA[Galaphile (The First Druids of Shannara, #1)]]> 205064662
One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?

Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him.

Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel which will one day be known as Paranor with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is one other who seeks dominion over the Four Lands—and for far less virtuous ends.

For this foe has been corrupted by an ancient evil—one that will not only reach out and touch Galaphile’s nearest and dearest, but also echo down through the centuries, sowing the seeds for some of the darkest times the Four Lands will ever face.]]> 336 Terry Brooks 0593129806 Mark 4 fantasy
For those that have read any of the previous books you know what to expect from this one. He follows the same style of writing and it is like returning to visit an old friend. Some of his books have been better than others with this one I think it is one of the better books. I was entertained the entire time and interested in the characters and what happens next.

This book, and all of the Shannara books are appropriate for readers of all ages. The author does not go into graphic details about violence, sex, and other adult material

If you are a fan of the Shannara books I recommend this book which right now (March 2025) is the first book in a series of unknown number of books (I am thinking it will be a trilogy). If you have not read any of the Shannara books then I recommend reading the before mentioned first Shannara Trilogy prior to this book.
]]> 4.06 2025 Galaphile (The First Druids of Shannara, #1)
author: Terry Brooks
name: Mark
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves: fantasy
review:
Galaphile by Terry Brooks is the first book in the “First Druid of Shannara� series which is as you can guess set in the author’s world of Shannara. There are 36 books set in 12 different series in the Shannara umbrella, so you have most likely seen some of his books if you have looked at the Fantasy section of a bookstore. The good thing is that for the most part each series is self-contained so you can almost read them in any order and this series, First Druid is no exception. However, there are some little things that you will miss if you have not read the previous books especially at the end of the book when there is a major reveal that would not be as impact full if you have not read the first Shannara Trilogy (The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara).

For those that have read any of the previous books you know what to expect from this one. He follows the same style of writing and it is like returning to visit an old friend. Some of his books have been better than others with this one I think it is one of the better books. I was entertained the entire time and interested in the characters and what happens next.

This book, and all of the Shannara books are appropriate for readers of all ages. The author does not go into graphic details about violence, sex, and other adult material

If you are a fan of the Shannara books I recommend this book which right now (March 2025) is the first book in a series of unknown number of books (I am thinking it will be a trilogy). If you have not read any of the Shannara books then I recommend reading the before mentioned first Shannara Trilogy prior to this book.

]]> <![CDATA[Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History]]> 70240521 The #1 New York Times bestselling historical novelist delivers her magnum opus—a landmark work of feminist nonfiction that radically redefines our understanding of the extraordinary roles ordinary women played throughout British history.

Most histories have been written by men, about men, relegating women—with the exception of a few queens—to the shadows of time. Now, bestselling author Philippa Gregory reveals the importance of ordinary women, providing a more balanced and truer chronicle that expands and adds rich detail to the story of Great Britain.

In Normal Women, Gregory draws on an enormous archive of primary and secondary sources to rewrite British history, focusing on the agency, persistence, and effectiveness of everyday women throughout periods of social and cultural transition. She sweeps from the making of the Bayeux tapestry in the eleventh century to the Black Death in 1348—after which women were briefly paid the same wages as men, the last time for seven centuries—to the 1992 ordination of women by the Church of England, when the church accepted, for the first time, that a woman could perform the miracle of the mass.

Through the stories of the female soldiers of the civil war, the guild widows who founded the prosperity of the City of London, highwaywomen and pirates, miners, ship owners, international traders, the women who ran London theaters and commissioned plays from Shakespeare, and the "female husbands" who married each other legally in church and lived as husband and wife, Gregory redefines "normal" female behavior to include heroism, rebellion, crime, treason, money-making, and sainthood. As she makes clear, normal women make history.

Normal Women will include black-and-white illustrations throughout and a full-color insert.]]> 688 Philippa Gregory 0063304325 Mark 4 history
The book starts off in 1066, the Norman invasion and goes to modern times, the 2020s. Each chapter is framed around significant events in British history such as 1348� The Black Death, 1455 � War of the Roses, and 1945 � Post Second World War. In each chapter the author discusses topics such as education, sports, Work, and Sexuality. It is interesting to see how some things change over time and depressing to see how some things did not change.

While the book is focused on women it also is a good book on the general history of Britain as she goes over a lot of the key events that shaped British history.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in history in general and especially those that want to learn more about how women have been treated over the years. I think you will learn some disturbing information that most likely was not taught in school.
]]> 3.93 2023 Normal Women: Nine Hundred Years of Making History
author: Philippa Gregory
name: Mark
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/28
shelves: history
review:
This book is about the contributions/struggles of women in British History. Normally, with the exception of famous Queens such as Queen Elizabeth (I and II) or novelists like Jane Austen, when you read about British History, you read about it from a male point of view with very little mention of women. This book aims to rectify that by focusing on not just the famous British women but women from all backgrounds and classes.

The book starts off in 1066, the Norman invasion and goes to modern times, the 2020s. Each chapter is framed around significant events in British history such as 1348� The Black Death, 1455 � War of the Roses, and 1945 � Post Second World War. In each chapter the author discusses topics such as education, sports, Work, and Sexuality. It is interesting to see how some things change over time and depressing to see how some things did not change.

While the book is focused on women it also is a good book on the general history of Britain as she goes over a lot of the key events that shaped British history.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in history in general and especially those that want to learn more about how women have been treated over the years. I think you will learn some disturbing information that most likely was not taught in school.

]]> The Guns of August 40779082
In this landmark, Pulitzer Prize–winning account, renowned historian Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I: thirty days in the summer of 1914 that determined the course of the conflict, the century, and ultimately our present world. Beginning with the funeral of Edward VII, Tuchman traces each step that led to the inevitable clash. And inevitable it was, with all sides plotting their war for a generation. Dizzyingly comprehensive and spectacularly portrayed with her famous talent for evoking the characters of the war’s key players, Tuchman’s magnum opus is a classic for the ages.]]> 658 Barbara W. Tuchman Mark 4 history
I found this to be an informative read which was still enjoyable to read. The author, Barbara W. Tuchman did a great job at taking a very complex subject and making it relatable to readers who may not be overly familiar with the subject. I was a bit surprised that she did not go into more detail about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, for The Black Hand. However, I understand why the author did not go into it.

If you are into military history then I recommend this book. I will be looking to see if she has any other books on the First World War.]]> 4.17 1962 The Guns of August
author: Barbara W. Tuchman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1962
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/12
shelves: history
review:
The Guns of August recounts the events of August 1914 and how the world was drawn into what we now call the First World War and the first 30 days of the war.

I found this to be an informative read which was still enjoyable to read. The author, Barbara W. Tuchman did a great job at taking a very complex subject and making it relatable to readers who may not be overly familiar with the subject. I was a bit surprised that she did not go into more detail about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, for The Black Hand. However, I understand why the author did not go into it.

If you are into military history then I recommend this book. I will be looking to see if she has any other books on the First World War.
]]> <![CDATA[Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)]]> 25895524 The international bestselling author of the Broken Empire and the Red Queen's War trilogies begins a stunning epic fantasy series about a secretive order of holy warriors...

At the Convent of Sweet Mercy, young girls are raised to be killers. In some few children the old bloods show, gifting rare talents that can be honed to deadly or mystic effect. But even the mistresses of sword and shadow don't truly understand what they have purchased when Nona Grey is brought to their halls.

A bloodstained child of nine falsely accused of murder, guilty of worse, Nona is stolen from the shadow of the noose. It takes ten years to educate a Red Sister in the ways of blade and fist, but under Abbess Glass's care there is much more to learn than the arts of death. Among her class Nona finds a new family—and new enemies.

Despite the security and isolation of the convent, Nona's secret and violent past finds her out, drawing with it the tangled politics of a crumbling empire. Her arrival sparks old feuds to life, igniting vicious struggles within the church and even drawing the eye of the emperor himself.

Beneath a dying sun, Nona Grey must master her inner demons, then loose them on those who stand in her way.]]> 467 Mark Lawrence 1101988851 Mark 4 fantasy I enjoyed this book. 4.14 2017 Red Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #1)
author: Mark Lawrence
name: Mark
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves: fantasy
review:
I enjoyed this book.
]]> Wolves of Winter 198532521
For the Dogs, the war has only just begun. Caught up in the siege of Calais, in the midst of a brutal eleven-month blockade of a small port on the French coast, the band of brothers known as the Essex Dogs are no longer blindly walking into the unknown. But the men still have more questions than answers about what faces them - and why.

What are they really fighting for? And why does the king care so much about taking such a small French town?

Soon, their journey will reveal who really wants this war to last for a hundred years. And as the battle rages, they hear the first, faint, chesty rattle of a natural disaster that is sweeping towards the Dogs and their world . . .

Spanning the siege city built outside Calais' walls, to the pirate ships patrolling the harbour, and into the dark corners of oligarchs' houses, where the deals that shape—and end—lives are made, this captivating and brutal story brings the 1300s effortlessly to life.]]> 448 Dan Jones 0593653793 Mark 3 historical-fiction 4.04 2023 Wolves of Winter
author: Dan Jones
name: Mark
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/04
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
This is the second book in the series and I am unsure if I liked it as much as the first. I did not find the beginning part of the book where one character is having drug-induced visions very good. I found that the book got better after the first quarter. I am curious as to how the next book will end the series and who will be in it.
]]> Essex Dogs (Essex Dogs, #1) 61111302 The New York Times bestselling historian makes his historical fiction debut with an explosive novel set during the Hundred Years' War.

July 1346. Ten men land on the beaches of Normandy. They call themselves the Essex Dogs: an unruly platoon of archers and men-at-arms led by a battle-scarred captain whose best days are behind him. The fight for the throne of the largest kingdom in Western Europe has begun.

Heading ever deeper into enemy territory toward Crécy, this band of brothers knows they are off to fight a battle that will forge nations, and shape the very fabric of human lives. But first they must survive a bloody war in which rules are abandoned and chivalry itself is slaughtered.

Rooted in historical accuracy and told through an unforgettable cast, Essex Dogs delivers the stark reality of medieval war on the ground - and shines a light on the fighters and ordinary people caught in the storm.
]]> 464 Dan Jones 0593653785 Mark 3 historical-fiction
It was an interesting start to the trilogy, however, I did find the majority of the characters to be a bit boring. Also, I am wondering how accurate the depiction of real historical figures are, especially that of the Black Prince, Prince Edward.

I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what happens next. ]]> 3.82 2022 Essex Dogs (Essex Dogs, #1)
author: Dan Jones
name: Mark
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
This is a historical fiction account of the beginning of the Hundred Year's war (war between England and France) as seen through the eyes of the Essex Dogs, a company of mercenaries fighting for England.

It was an interesting start to the trilogy, however, I did find the majority of the characters to be a bit boring. Also, I am wondering how accurate the depiction of real historical figures are, especially that of the Black Prince, Prince Edward.

I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing what happens next.
]]> <![CDATA[Warrior (The Word and the Void)]]> 40961022
Sinnissippi Park, in Hopewell, Illinois, has long been a place of magic.

Jack McCall learned this at a young age when confronted with a deadly childhood disease. He overcame that threat with aid from the unlikeliest of companions -- the woodland creature Pick and his trusted owl Daniel -- and the magic that existed within his own heart.

Now grown, Jack has graduated from college, leaving behind that terrible time and having never witnessed magic again. That is about to change. Lacking direction in life, he is summoned by the Lady, who recruits men and women to the service of the Word. For she is in dire need of Jack's unique history to help preserve the world's future -- a service that will be needed only once but on which all things hinge.]]> 102 Terry Brooks Mark 4 fantasy 4.26 2018 Warrior (The Word and the Void)
author: Terry Brooks
name: Mark
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is a short story that takes place before the events of "The Word and the Void" series. There is nothing in this book that affects any of the other books so it is not essential to read this book. I would recommend reading the other short story "Imaginary Friends" first to get more of an introduction to the main character Jack McCall.
]]> <![CDATA[Prince of Wolves (Pathfinder Tales)]]> 8510013 Howls in the Dark

For elven pathfinder Varian Jeggare and his devil-blooded assistant Radovan, things are rarely as they seem. Yet not even the notorious crime-solving duo is prepared for what they find when a search for a missing pathfinder takes them into the mist-shrouded mountains of gothic Ustalav. Beset on all sides by noble intrigue, mysterious locals, and the deadly creatures of the night, Varian and Radovan must use both sword and spell to track the strange rumors to their source and uncover a secret of unimaginable proportions. But it'll take more than merely solving the mystery to finish this job, for a shadowy figure has taken note of the pair's investigations, and is set on making sure neither man gets out of Ustalav alive.

From fan-favorite author Dave Gross comes a new fantastical mystery set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.]]> 360 Dave Gross 1601252870 Mark 3 fantasy
]]> 3.73 2010 Prince of Wolves (Pathfinder Tales)
author: Dave Gross
name: Mark
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/01/13
shelves: fantasy
review:
This was a hard book to review. On one hand, I thought there were elements of the book that I liked, the setting, the plot, and the characters but I did not like the way the author chose to tell the story is what I did not like. The author decided to tell the story from the first-person narrative of the two main characters, with chapters alternating between the two. It was very confining at the beginning as it was not communicated to the reader that each chapter was from the POV of one of the characters. It took me a few chapters before I figured it out.


]]> Belgarath the Sorcerer 381083
When the world was young and Gods still walked among their mortal children, a headstrong orphan boy set out to explore the world. Thus began the extraordinary adventures that would mold that youthful vagabond into a man, and the man into the finely honed instrument of Prophecy known to all the world as Belgarath the Sorcerer.
Then came the dark day when the Dark God Torak split the world asunder, and the God Aldur and his disciples began their monumental labor to set Destiny aright. Foremost among their number was Belgarath. His ceaseless devotion was foredoomed to cost him that which he held most dear--even as his loyal service would extend through echoing centuries of loss, of struggle, and of ultimate triumph.]]> 723 David Eddings 0345373243 Mark 4 4.11 1995 Belgarath the Sorcerer
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/11
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:

]]> Hellknight 25659430 Devils in Her Blood

The Hellknights are a brutal organization of warriors and spellcasters dedicated to maintaining law and order at any cost. For devil-blooded Jheraal, a veteran Hellknight investigator, even the harshest methods are justified if it means building a better world for her daughter. Yet things get personal when a serial killer starts targeting hellspawn like Jheraal and her child, somehow magically removing their hearts and trapping the victims in a state halfway between life and death. With other Hellknights implicated in the crime, Jheraal has no choice but to join forces with a noble paladin and a dangerously cunning diabolist to defeat an ancient enemy for whom even death is no deterrent.

From celebrated dark fantasy author Liane Merciel comes an adventure of love, murder, and grudges from beyond the grave, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.]]> 432 Liane Merciel 0765375486 Mark 3
I enjoyed this book, it starts off as a murder mystery in the fantasy setting of Pathfinder so there are demons, Paladins, and the undead. If you have never read any of the Pathfinder Tales books I think you would be fine starting off with this one.]]> 3.92 2016 Hellknight
author: Liane Merciel
name: Mark
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves:
review:
This is labelled as book 32 in the Pathfinder Tales series of books, however, you (as far as I can tell) don't have to read them in any order, they are more or less standalone books. Alos, while they are based on the Pathfinder Role-Playing game you don't need to be familiar with that to enjoy these books.

I enjoyed this book, it starts off as a murder mystery in the fantasy setting of Pathfinder so there are demons, Paladins, and the undead. If you have never read any of the Pathfinder Tales books I think you would be fine starting off with this one.
]]> <![CDATA[The Second Generation (Dragonlance: The Second Generation, #1)]]> 668860 But peace on Krynn comes at a price. The forces of darkness are ever vigilant, searching for ways to erode the balance of power and take control. When subtle changes begin to permeate the fragile peace, new lives are drawn into the web of fate woven around all the races. The time has come to pass the sword -- or the staff -- to the children of the Lance.
They are the Second Generation.
An all-new repackaged paperback edition of a classic Dragonlance novel.
This book of five novellas bridges the gap between the Chronicles and Legends trilogies and "Dragons of Summer Flame," While detailing their adventures, "The Second Generation" also sets up key events and characters in future Dragonlance novels.
]]> 440 Margaret Weis 0786902604 Mark 3 fantasy
The five stores are:

- Kitiara's Son, which you can guess is about the son of Kitara
- The Legacy, which is about Palin Majere, who is Caramon and Tika's son
- Wanna Bet? is about Palin, Tanin. and Sturm Majere, who are the sons of Caramon and Tike and one of their first adventures
- Raistlin's Daughter is a myth about the daughter of Raistlin Majere
- The Sacrifice is about Tanis and Laurana's son Gilthas

The stories are hit and miss, some better than others. If you are a fan of the Dragonlance books then you will want to read this book especially if you are about to read Dragons of Summer Flame. ]]> 3.70 1995 The Second Generation (Dragonlance: The Second Generation, #1)
author: Margaret Weis
name: Mark
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: fantasy
review:
This book is a collection of short stories that act as a bridge between the Dragonlance Legends series and Dragons of Summer Flame. The short stories introduce the reader to the children of some of the main characters.

The five stores are:

- Kitiara's Son, which you can guess is about the son of Kitara
- The Legacy, which is about Palin Majere, who is Caramon and Tika's son
- Wanna Bet? is about Palin, Tanin. and Sturm Majere, who are the sons of Caramon and Tike and one of their first adventures
- Raistlin's Daughter is a myth about the daughter of Raistlin Majere
- The Sacrifice is about Tanis and Laurana's son Gilthas

The stories are hit and miss, some better than others. If you are a fan of the Dragonlance books then you will want to read this book especially if you are about to read Dragons of Summer Flame.
]]> <![CDATA[The Seeress of Kell (The Malloreon, #5)]]> 959192 399 David Eddings 0345330064 Mark 4 fantasy 4.02 1991 The Seeress of Kell (The Malloreon, #5)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1991
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/10
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Demon Lord of Karanda (The Malloreon, #3)]]> 888673 422 David Eddings 0345330048 Mark 4 fantasy 3.99 1988 Demon Lord of Karanda (The Malloreon, #3)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 2020/12/09
date added: 2025/01/11
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> I Was Anastasia 33998348 333 Ariel Lawhon 0385541694 Mark 2
Of course if you know anything about the Anastasia story and the DNA testing that took place it sort of ruins the novel for you.]]> 3.72 2018 I Was Anastasia
author: Ariel Lawhon
name: Mark
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2018/06/30
date added: 2025/01/09
shelves:
review:
This is the story of Anna who thought she was (or pretended to be) Anastasia. For the most part the story was enjoyable, what I found annoying was the way the author jumped around her life. She would just randomly jump to periods of time then go one day earlier or two weeks earlier. It made things frustrating. I do think that if she had kept to a straight timeline then you would have seen some gaps in the story.

Of course if you know anything about the Anastasia story and the DNA testing that took place it sort of ruins the novel for you.
]]> <![CDATA[King of the Murgos (The Malloreon, #2)]]> 983153 454 David Eddings 0345330021 Mark 4 fantasy 3.95 1988 King of the Murgos (The Malloreon, #2)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/07
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Winter Witch (Pathfinder Tales)]]> 7959022 Fury of the North

In a village of the frozen north, a child is born possessed by a strange and alien spirit, only to be cast out by her tribe and taken in by the mysterious winter witches of Irrisen, a land locked in permanent magical winter. Farther south, a young mapmaker with a penchant for forgery discovers that his sham treasure maps have begun striking gold.

This is the story of Ellasif, a barbarian shield maiden who will stop at nothing to recover her missing sister, and Declan, the ne'er-do-well young spellcaster-turned-forger who wants only to prove himself to the woman he loves. Together they'll face monsters, magic, and the fury of Ellasif's own cold-hearted warriors in their quest to rescue the lost child. Yet when they finally reach the ice-walled city of Whitethrone, where trolls hold court and wolves roam the streets as men, will it be too late to save the girl from the forces of darkness?

From New York Times best seller Elaine Cunningham comes a fantastic new adventure of swords and sorcery, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.]]> 361 Elaine Cunningham 1601252862 Mark 3 fantasy
I enjoyed this book. It is a fairly simple fantasy novel, which is not a bad thing; sometimes, I want to read just a simple story and not a multi-book saga. The two main characters were interesting and while certain elements of the story were fairly predictable I still found myself reading the next chapter to see what will happen next.

Don't know if the author has written any other books with the characters from this book but if she has I will have to check them out. ]]> 3.54 2010 Winter Witch (Pathfinder Tales)
author: Elaine Cunningham
name: Mark
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/07
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is labeled as book 2 in the Pathfinder Tales series of books but don't worry if you have not read the first book as this is a standalone book and can be read anytime. Also, even though this book is set in the Pathfinder Role-Playing Game universe you don't need to be familiar with the Pathfinder game system to enjoy the book.

I enjoyed this book. It is a fairly simple fantasy novel, which is not a bad thing; sometimes, I want to read just a simple story and not a multi-book saga. The two main characters were interesting and while certain elements of the story were fairly predictable I still found myself reading the next chapter to see what will happen next.

Don't know if the author has written any other books with the characters from this book but if she has I will have to check them out.
]]> <![CDATA[Guardians of the West (The Malloreon, #1)]]> 673657
Then suddenly the Voice of Prophecy cried out a warning: “Beware Zandramas!� Not even Belgarath the Sorcerer knew who or what Zandramas was. But Garion discovered hints in a previously obscured part of the Mrin Codex. Worse, he learned that the Dark Prophecy was still waging its ancient struggle against the Prophecy of Light. Again, great evil was brewing in the East. And again, Garion found himself a pawn, caught between the two ancient Prophecies, with the fate of the world somehow resting on him.]]> 438 David Eddings 0345352661 Mark 4 fantasy 4.11 1987 Guardians of the West (The Malloreon, #1)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1987
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/01/06
shelves: fantasy
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Enchanters' End Game (The Belgariad #5)]]> 44687
The quest was over. The Orb of Aldur was restored. And once again, with the crowning of Garion, there was a descendant of Riva Iron-grip to rule as Overlord of the West.

But the Prophecy was unfulfilled. In the east, the evil God Torak was about to awaken and seek dominion. Somehow, Garion had to face the God, to kill or be killed. On the outcome of that dread duel rested the destiny of the world. Now, accompanied by his grandfather, the ancient sorcerer Belgarath, Garion headed toward the City of Endless Night, where Torak awaited him.

To the south, his fiancée, the princess Ce'Nedra, led the armies of the West in a desperate effort to divert the forces of Torak's followers from the man she loved.

The Prophecy drove Garion on. But it gave no answer to the question that haunted him: How does a man kill an immortal God?]]> 384 David Eddings 0345300785 Mark 4 4.19 1984 Enchanters' End Game (The Belgariad #5)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.19
book published: 1984
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/05
date added: 2025/01/05
shelves:
review:
The final book in the series. If you are reading this book you will have read the previous books in the series, so you know what to expect from this book. The ending is fairly predictable but I still enjoy the series. It is not a deep book but one that is a light fun read.
]]> <![CDATA[Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad #4)]]> 645023
THE BELGARIAD

It had all begun with the theft of the Orb that had so long protected the West from the evil God Torak. Before that, Garion had been a simple farm boy. Afterward, he discovered that his aunt was really the Sorceress Polgara and his grandfather was Belgarath, the Eternal Man. Then, on the long quest to recover the Orb, Garion found to his dismay that he, too, was a sorcerer.

Now, at last, the Orb was regained and the quest was nearing its end. Of course, the questors still had to escape from this crumbling enemy fortress and flee across a desert filled with Murgo soldiers searching for them, while Grolim Hierarchs strove to destroy them with dark magic. Then, somehow, they must manage to be in Riva with the Orb by Erastide.

After that, however, Garion was sure that his part in these great events would be finished.

But the Prophecy still held future surprises for Garion - and for the little Princess Ce'Nedra!

THUS CONTINUES BOOK FOUR OF THE BELGARIAD]]> 375 David Eddings 0345335708 Mark 4
I think my biggest complaint about this book (and the series) is that the characters are too perfect, they have no real flaws, they are all experts. They also lead real protected lives, no mater the situation, nobody important gets killed or badly injured. This takes the suspense out of what are supposed to be tense situations, you know that they are going to be victorious in whatever they do.

Even with that flaw it is an enjoyable read and one that I will do over and over again.]]> 4.17 1984 Castle of Wizardry (The Belgariad #4)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1984
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/04
shelves:
review:
This is the fourth book in the "Belgariad" series and if you have not read the previous books you need to as they are all connected. Once you have read the previous three books you know what to expect from this book, it is written just like the next chapter in the story. This is good in a a way as you know what to expect from the author.

I think my biggest complaint about this book (and the series) is that the characters are too perfect, they have no real flaws, they are all experts. They also lead real protected lives, no mater the situation, nobody important gets killed or badly injured. This takes the suspense out of what are supposed to be tense situations, you know that they are going to be victorious in whatever they do.

Even with that flaw it is an enjoyable read and one that I will do over and over again.
]]> <![CDATA[Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad #3)]]> 44688 BOOK 3 OF THE BELGARIAD, the worldwide bestselling fantasy series by master storyteller David Eddings. Discover the epic story that inspired thousands - from Raymond Feist's The Riftwar Cycle series to George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.

Fate leads on...

To stranger lands and darker magic...

Travelling through ever more dangerous realms, Garion and his companions pursue the stolen Orb. Among them Ce'Nedra, the Imperial Princess - one whose fate seems bound to his.

As they get closer to their goal and battle looms, Garion's powers of sorcery - and his spirit - are tested to their limits.]]> 305 David Eddings 0345335457 Mark 4 4.14 1983 Magician's Gambit (The Belgariad #3)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1983
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves:
review:
The third book in the series. Not much to say, it is basically a continuation of the first two books. If you liked them you will most likely enjoy this book also.
]]> <![CDATA[Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka]]> 200837962
After the war she was demobbed as one of the most highly decorated women in Polish history. Yet the Soviet-backed post-war Communist regime not only imprisoned her, but also ensured that her remarkable story remained hidden for over forty years. Now, through new archival research and exclusive interviews with people who knew and fought alongside Zo, Clare Mulley brings this forgotten heroine back to life, and also transforms how we see the history of women's agency in the Second World War.]]> 224 Clare Mulley 1399601067 Mark 4 history
The book though mostly focused on her life during the Second World War, and the Polish resistance movement also covers the events leading up to the war when she was an instructor for the PWK (Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet, translated to Women’s Military Training), and her post war activities.

While I enjoyed the entire book the two parts of the book that really stuck out to me were the sections talking about The Warsaw Uprising (1 August 1944 to 2 October 1944) and her life in post-Second World War Poland.

The Warsaw Uprising was just heartbreaking to read, the struggles of being caught between two mighty forces, Hitler’s Third Reich in the West and Stalin’s Soviet Union in the East. The residents of that city didn’t stand a chance and the end result being the city razed and catastrophic casualties for the Polish, estimated 16,000 members of the Polish Resistance killed and between 150,000 to 200,000 Polish civilians killed, many in mass executions.

Her life in post Second World War Poland was just as tragic, Poland was “Liberated� by the Soviet Union and became a communist state, and she struggled with the new regime, spending time in prison while continuing to fight for the rights of her fellow female soldiers and becoming a teacher. I found this part of the book to be the most moving, here is a person who spent the last six years fighting an evil regime (The Third Reich) only to find herself living in another one.

I enjoyed the book but be warned that is a lot of information in the book. The author gives us the names of a lot of people that ElĹĽbieta worked with and unless you are used to Polish names it can get confusing at the beginning of the book. Also, the names of places are as they were at the time of events, an example being the city of LwĂłw which during the War was a Polish city, it is now Lviv, a Ukrainian City.

If you are looking for a book on the Polish Resistance or a book on an incredible woman then I recommend this book.
]]> 4.19 2024 Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka
author: Clare Mulley
name: Mark
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/03
shelves: history
review:
Agent Zo was a Polish soldier, Elżbieta Zawacka (her war-time nom de guerre was Zo) who during the Second World War not only fought the Germans, but also sexism and became the only female to join the Polish Special Forces, “The Silent Unseen�, and the only female member of the British SOE to parachute into NAZI-Occupied Poland.

The book though mostly focused on her life during the Second World War, and the Polish resistance movement also covers the events leading up to the war when she was an instructor for the PWK (Przysposobienie Wojskowe Kobiet, translated to Women’s Military Training), and her post war activities.

While I enjoyed the entire book the two parts of the book that really stuck out to me were the sections talking about The Warsaw Uprising (1 August 1944 to 2 October 1944) and her life in post-Second World War Poland.

The Warsaw Uprising was just heartbreaking to read, the struggles of being caught between two mighty forces, Hitler’s Third Reich in the West and Stalin’s Soviet Union in the East. The residents of that city didn’t stand a chance and the end result being the city razed and catastrophic casualties for the Polish, estimated 16,000 members of the Polish Resistance killed and between 150,000 to 200,000 Polish civilians killed, many in mass executions.

Her life in post Second World War Poland was just as tragic, Poland was “Liberated� by the Soviet Union and became a communist state, and she struggled with the new regime, spending time in prison while continuing to fight for the rights of her fellow female soldiers and becoming a teacher. I found this part of the book to be the most moving, here is a person who spent the last six years fighting an evil regime (The Third Reich) only to find herself living in another one.

I enjoyed the book but be warned that is a lot of information in the book. The author gives us the names of a lot of people that ElĹĽbieta worked with and unless you are used to Polish names it can get confusing at the beginning of the book. Also, the names of places are as they were at the time of events, an example being the city of LwĂłw which during the War was a Polish city, it is now Lviv, a Ukrainian City.

If you are looking for a book on the Polish Resistance or a book on an incredible woman then I recommend this book.

]]> <![CDATA[Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad #2)]]> 587582 The Trail of Prophecy...

Legends told of how the evil God Torak had coveted the power of the Orb of Aldur, until defeated in a final battle. But prophecy spoke of a time when he would awake and again seek dominance over the world. Now the Orb has been stolen by a priest of Torak, and that time was at hand.

The master Sorcerer Belgarath and his daughter Polgara the arch-Sorceress were on the trail of the Orb, seeking to regain it before the final disaster. And with them went Garion, a simple farm boy only months before, but now the focus of the struggle. He has never believed in sorcery and wanted no part of it. Yet with every league they traveled, the power grew in him, forcing him to acts of wizardry he could not accept.

This continues the magnificent epic of The Belgariad, began in Pawn of Prophecy, set among strange lands against a background of a war of men, Kings, and Gods that had spanned seven thousand years - a novel of strange fate and a prophecy that must come true!]]> 326 David Eddings 0345335651 Mark 4 fantasy Pawn of Prophecy so if you have not read the first book stop and do so. The entire series could easily considered one big book.

As this is basically just the 2nd act of a big story there is not much different in this book than the first. There are some new characters added but the tone and style are the exact same. So if you like the first book you will most likely enjoy this one also.]]> 4.14 1982 Queen of Sorcery (The Belgariad #2)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1982
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/02
date added: 2025/01/02
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is book two of "The Belgaraid" series and takes place immediately after the events of Pawn of Prophecy so if you have not read the first book stop and do so. The entire series could easily considered one big book.

As this is basically just the 2nd act of a big story there is not much different in this book than the first. There are some new characters added but the tone and style are the exact same. So if you like the first book you will most likely enjoy this one also.
]]> <![CDATA[Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)]]> 44659 BOOK 1 OF THE BELGARIAD, the worldwide bestselling fantasy series by master storyteller David Eddings. Discover the epic story that inspired thousands - from Raymond Feist's The Riftwar Cycle series to George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.

A battle is coming...

...And in that battle shall be decided

the fate of the world

Myths tell of the ancient wars of Gods and men, and a powerful object - the Orb - that ended the bloodshed. As long as it was held by the line of Riva, it would assure the peace.

But a dark force has stolen the Orb, and the prophecies tell of war.

Young farm boy Garion knows nothing of myth or fate. But then the mysterious Old Storyteller visits his aunt, and they embark on a sudden journey. Pursued by evil forces, with only a small band of companions they can trust, Garion begins to doubt all he thought he knew...]]> 304 David Eddings 0345468643 Mark 4
Of course I am not blind to the fact that it is not the greatest book it is very formalistic and not very original with the characters basically textbook characters.

Despite this I still love the book and will continue to read this book and the rest of the series a least once a year.]]> 4.17 1982 Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)
author: David Eddings
name: Mark
average rating: 4.17
book published: 1982
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/01
date added: 2025/01/01
shelves:
review:
This book is one of my guilty pleasures. I first read this book when I was about 15 and over the last 30 years have read the book multiple times, it is like comfort food always puts me in a good mood reading this book.

Of course I am not blind to the fact that it is not the greatest book it is very formalistic and not very original with the characters basically textbook characters.

Despite this I still love the book and will continue to read this book and the rest of the series a least once a year.
]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)]]> 5 435 J.K. Rowling 043965548X Mark 4 fantasy
This is probably my favourite of the Harry Potter novels, it is the perfect length without useless fluff (some of the later books tend to drag in places) and the characters are acting normal (well as normal as a character in a book about wizards can be) not like the later books were you want to yell at the characters and tell them to smarten up.

If you have read any of the Harry Potter books then you most likely have read this one, if you have not I would suggest starting at the beginning of the series and work your way up to this one. It will make a lot more sense that way, if you start with this one there will be several points which will leave you confused.]]> 4.57 1999 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Mark
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves: fantasy
review:
In this book, Harry Potter along with his friends Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley are starting their third year of school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Of course in addition to the pressures of school the murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Azkaban Wizard's prison and is after Harry.

This is probably my favourite of the Harry Potter novels, it is the perfect length without useless fluff (some of the later books tend to drag in places) and the characters are acting normal (well as normal as a character in a book about wizards can be) not like the later books were you want to yell at the characters and tell them to smarten up.

If you have read any of the Harry Potter books then you most likely have read this one, if you have not I would suggest starting at the beginning of the series and work your way up to this one. It will make a lot more sense that way, if you start with this one there will be several points which will leave you confused.
]]> <![CDATA[The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2)]]> 41637836
The alethiometer answered: He is a murderer.

When she saw the answer, she relaxed at once.

Lyra finds herself in a shimmering, haunted otherworld � Cittàgazze, where soul-eating Spectres stalk the streets and wingbeats of distant angels sound against the sky.

But she is not without allies: twelve-year-old Will Parry, fleeing for his life after taking another's, has also stumbled into this strange new realm.

On a perilous journey from world to world, Lyra and Will uncover a deadly secret: an object of extraordinary and devastating power.

And with every step, they move closer to an even greater threat � and the shattering truth of their own destiny.]]> 370 Philip Pullman Mark 4 fantasy
I enjoyed the book and would recommend that if you have read the first book that you read this book. ]]> 4.23 1997 The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials, #2)
author: Philip Pullman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.23
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/27
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is the second book in the "His Dark Materials" series and follows the events of the first book. You need to have read the first book in order to understand this book.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend that if you have read the first book that you read this book.
]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]> 49813
Classic Edition includes: Bright red cloth-bound boards with gilt lettering, gilt-stamped J.K. Rowling signature and gilted page ends; pictorial inlay; sewn-in satin ribbon placemarker; full-color harlequin endpapers.]]> 223 J.K. Rowling 0747545723 Mark 5
This is a great story that sets the tone of the series, it introduces us to the main characters (both good and bad).

Being a children's book it is as you would expect free of excessive violence and has no questionable language or behaviour so it is safe for kids of all ages.

In closing I would recommend this book to everybody and if people are not into reading this book makes for a great catalyst to start them reading.]]> 4.57 1997 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Mark
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/25
date added: 2024/12/27
shelves:
review:
First book in the "Harry Potter" series, a series about a boy wizard Harry Potter and his adventures at the School of Wizardry, Hogwarts.

This is a great story that sets the tone of the series, it introduces us to the main characters (both good and bad).

Being a children's book it is as you would expect free of excessive violence and has no questionable language or behaviour so it is safe for kids of all ages.

In closing I would recommend this book to everybody and if people are not into reading this book makes for a great catalyst to start them reading.
]]> <![CDATA[Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1)]]> 153008
Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission... and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.

Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair... and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear.

Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.]]> 1040 Jacqueline Carey 0330493744 Mark 4 fantasy
Setting aside the sexual elements of the book I thought the story was interesting and the characters fairly well developed. While it was a long book (the hardcover is 1040 pages) I did not think it dragged on, the story kept me engaged the entire time. As for the sexual element, I did not mind it but if you don't like fairly detailed depictions then I would avoid reading this book (and series).

I am curious to see what happens in the next book and how the story progresses. ]]> 4.01 2001 Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Trilogy, #1)
author: Jacqueline Carey
name: Mark
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is a hard book to describe and to review. I would say it is a fantasy novel but you might classify it as an erotic fantasy novel. I don't know where the division line would be. The story is a traditional fantasy-type story but it has some fairly graphic depictions of sex in it. I did not know anything about this book when I started reading it so the sexual element took me by surprise, especially when it delved into bondage and pain.

Setting aside the sexual elements of the book I thought the story was interesting and the characters fairly well developed. While it was a long book (the hardcover is 1040 pages) I did not think it dragged on, the story kept me engaged the entire time. As for the sexual element, I did not mind it but if you don't like fairly detailed depictions then I would avoid reading this book (and series).

I am curious to see what happens in the next book and how the story progresses.
]]> <![CDATA[Azure Bonds (Forgotten Realms: Finder's Stone, #1)]]> 291735 380 Kate Novak 0880386126 Mark 4
The book is a dungeons and dragons novel set in the Forgotten Realms world, however you don't have to be overly familiar with either one to enjoy the book. There is no big back story or history that you need to know. It is a simple question style book.

If you are a dungeons and dragons fan I do suggest reading this book as I think it is one of the better books that they produced, some I only read once but this one I ended up rereading probably once a year.]]> 3.84 1988 Azure Bonds (Forgotten Realms: Finder's Stone, #1)
author: Kate Novak
name: Mark
average rating: 3.84
book published: 1988
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves:
review:
This is one of my comfort books type of read. There is nothing overly great about this book I just enjoy reading it, always cheers me up.

The book is a dungeons and dragons novel set in the Forgotten Realms world, however you don't have to be overly familiar with either one to enjoy the book. There is no big back story or history that you need to know. It is a simple question style book.

If you are a dungeons and dragons fan I do suggest reading this book as I think it is one of the better books that they produced, some I only read once but this one I ended up rereading probably once a year.
]]> <![CDATA[The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)]]> 883954 415 J.R.R. Tolkien 0007136579 Mark 5
This book picks up immediately following the events of book two, "The Two Towers". So if you have not read either that book or book one read them before you read this one. At the end of this book is a series of appendixes that amplify the backstory and some of the characters. It is not however necessary to read them to enjoy the book.]]> 4.59 1955 The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Mark
average rating: 4.59
book published: 1955
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/19
date added: 2024/12/19
shelves:
review:
This is the third and final book in "The Lord of the Rings" series. It is hard to talk about this book as a stand-alone book as it was not meant to be a separate book but due to limitations of publishing forced to be one.

This book picks up immediately following the events of book two, "The Two Towers". So if you have not read either that book or book one read them before you read this one. At the end of this book is a series of appendixes that amplify the backstory and some of the characters. It is not however necessary to read them to enjoy the book.
]]> <![CDATA[The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)]]> 1092794
Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin - alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

--front flap]]> 340 J.R.R. Tolkien 0007136560 Mark 5
So as this is the 2nd book, it goes without saying you need to read "The Fellowship of the Ring" before this book otherwise you will not know what is going on and afterwards you have to read "The Return of the King" to get an ending.]]> 4.62 1954 The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Mark
average rating: 4.62
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/17
date added: 2024/12/17
shelves:
review:
It is part of "The Lord of the Rings" you either love it or hate it. it is hard to review this book as it was originally intended to be the middle portion of one massive book but it just was not possible to publish it like that at the time. I am glad as I think the book would have been to much of a pain to read comfortably.

So as this is the 2nd book, it goes without saying you need to read "The Fellowship of the Ring" before this book otherwise you will not know what is going on and afterwards you have to read "The Return of the King" to get an ending.
]]> <![CDATA[The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)]]> 34
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
--back cover]]> 398 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618346252 Mark 5 4.36 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings, #1)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Mark
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/16
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Hobbit, or There and Back Again]]> 5907 Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent. The text in this 372-page paperback edition is based on that first published in Great Britain by Collins Modern Classics (1998), and includes a note on the text by Douglas A. Anderson (2001).]]> 366 J.R.R. Tolkien Mark 5
This is the story of the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins and his adventures with the Dwarves during their quest to reclaim their home and treasure which has been taken over by Smaug the Magnificent a dragon which years earlier had driven the dwarves out of the mountain. This will be a big spoiler for the few that have not read the books or seen the movies, this book sets up "The Lord of the Rings" books as Bilbo gains possession of the One Ring (though he does not know it to be so, he thinks that it is just a ring that turns him invisible).

This was written as a children's story so it is not as dark as The Lord of the Rings and it is easier to read than "The Silmarillion". As it is a children's book the violence is very minimal and there is not bad language or depictions of sex. It is safe for all ages to read this book.

In short I recommend this book to everyone, if you have never read it do your self a favour and discover why it is such an acclaimed novel and if you have read it read it again and re-immerse yourself in the world of Middle-Earth.]]> 4.29 1937 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Mark
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1937
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/14
date added: 2024/12/14
shelves:
review:
I don't need to really explain this book as it is so famous but just in case you have been living under a rock your entire life and never set foot in a library or do any reading hear you go:

This is the story of the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins and his adventures with the Dwarves during their quest to reclaim their home and treasure which has been taken over by Smaug the Magnificent a dragon which years earlier had driven the dwarves out of the mountain. This will be a big spoiler for the few that have not read the books or seen the movies, this book sets up "The Lord of the Rings" books as Bilbo gains possession of the One Ring (though he does not know it to be so, he thinks that it is just a ring that turns him invisible).

This was written as a children's story so it is not as dark as The Lord of the Rings and it is easier to read than "The Silmarillion". As it is a children's book the violence is very minimal and there is not bad language or depictions of sex. It is safe for all ages to read this book.

In short I recommend this book to everyone, if you have never read it do your self a favour and discover why it is such an acclaimed novel and if you have read it read it again and re-immerse yourself in the world of Middle-Earth.
]]> <![CDATA[Schemes & Scandals (A Rip Through Time, #3.5)]]> 213287713
Lady Inglis introduces Mallory to Dickens—the meeting of a lifetime—but in return she wants their help. She’s being blackmailed. Someone stole letters she wrote to another lover and is threatening to publish them.

Mallory isn’t sure what to make of Lady Inglis, but no woman deserves that, so she insists on taking the case with or without Gray’s help. Growing tension between them soon tells Mallory that Gray is hiding a secret of his own. She has until Hogmanay to uncover the blackmailer…and, hopefully, to put things right with Gray so they can enjoy the holiday together.]]> 176 Kelley Armstrong Mark 3 historical-fiction 4.26 2024 Schemes & Scandals (A Rip Through Time, #3.5)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mark
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/12
date added: 2024/12/13
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
This was a fun short novella which while it did not advance the main overall story di provide a good Christmas type story.
]]> <![CDATA[The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)]]> 119322
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other.]]> 399 Philip Pullman 0679879242 Mark 4 fantasy 4.02 1995 The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1)
author: Philip Pullman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/17
date added: 2024/11/17
shelves: fantasy
review:
I enjoyed this book, the first in the series. I thought that the characters were well written and the overall plot was interesting.
]]> <![CDATA[The Man in Black (Ruth Galloway, #12.5)]]> 55847017
Elly Griffiths has always written short stories to experiment with different voices and genres as well as to explore what some of her fictional creations such as Ruth Galloway, Harbinder Kaur, and Max Mephisto might have done outside of the novels. The Man in Black gathers these bite-sized tales all together in one splendid volume.

There are ghost stories, cozy mysteries, tales of psychological suspense, and poignant vignettes of love and loss.

In the title story, Ruth Galloway crosses paths with a mysterious man in a bookstore, setting in motion a rescue mission that hinges on the legends and lore of Norfolk.

Looking into the past, a young magician in 1920s Leeds wonders just what happened to his missing landlady in “Max Mephisto and the Disappearing Act.�

In “Justice Jones and the Etherphone,� a witty girl detective investigates the dire prediction of a fortune teller in dreary postwar London.

A flashback in time reveals Harbinder Kaur as a Detective Sergeant surviving her first day on the job at Shoreham DCI.

To celebrate the holidays, Ruth gets her very first Christmas tree, and her beloved cat narrates his own seasonal story in “Flint’s Fireside Tale.�

And readers can armchair travel with stories set on the Amalfi Coast, in Capri, and in Egypt as Ruth and DCI Nelson experience their very own version of Death on the Nile.

The Man in Black illustrates the breadth and variety of Elly Griffiths’s talent for blood-chilling, page-turning stories all with her trademark humor and heart.]]> 14 Elly Griffiths Mark 0 to-read 3.90 The Man in Black (Ruth Galloway, #12.5)
author: Elly Griffiths
name: Mark
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/16
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)]]> 43587154 JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself.]]> 540 Fonda Lee 0316440884 Mark 0 to-read 4.06 2017 Jade City (The Green Bone Saga, #1)
author: Fonda Lee
name: Mark
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Critical Role: Vox Machina—Kith & Kin]]> 57525734 Explore the past of Critical Role’s daring half-elf twins, Vex’ahlia and Vax’ildan in this original prequel to their adventures with Vox Machina.

Vex and Vax have always been outsiders. A harsh childhood in the elite elven city of Syngorn quickly taught them not to rely on others. Now, freed from the expectations of their exacting father and the scornful eyes of Syngorn’s elves, the cunning ranger and the conning rogue have made their own way in the world of Exandria.

The twins have traveled far and experienced great hardship. But with the help of Vex's quick wit and Vax's quicker dagger, they've always kept ahead of trouble. Now, unknown perils await them in the bustling city of Westruun, where the twins become entangled in a web spun by the thieves� guild known to many as the Clasp. Trapped by a hasty deal, Vex and Vax (along with Vex's faithful bear companion, Trinket) set out into the wilds to fulfill their debt to the infamous crime syndicate.

As the situation grows more complicated than they ever could have imagined, for the first time Vex and Vax find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that threatens the home they have carried with each other for years.

Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp, Critical Role: Vox Machina � Kith & Kin follows a brand-new adventure that delves into the twin's unexplored history, and returns to some of the iconic moments that forged Vox Machina's most unbreakable bond.]]> 352 Marieke Nijkamp 0593496620 Mark 2 fantasy 3.97 2021 Critical Role: Vox Machina—Kith & Kin
author: Marieke Nijkamp
name: Mark
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/09
date added: 2024/11/10
shelves: fantasy
review:
I was not a big fan of this book, it was a fairly standard fantasy novel and the only reason it stands out is that it has the characters from the TV show "The Legend of Vox Machina". If you are a fan of the show you might get some enjoyment from the book but it was not enough for me.
]]> <![CDATA[The Hangman's Secret (Victorian Mystery #3)]]> 41023316 Intrepid photographer Sarah Bain and her motley crew of friends are back to hunt criminals in the dark, seedy underbelly of Victorian London, but little do they know, the darkness may lurk closer than they first divined.

Photographer Sarah Bain and her friends Lord Hugh Staunton and sometime street urchin Mick O’Reilly are private detectives with a new gig—photographing crime scenes for London’s Daily World newspaper. The Daily World is the latest business venture of their sole client, Sir Gerald Mariner, a fabulously wealthy and powerful banker.

One cold, snowy January morning, Sarah, Hugh, and Mick are summoned to the goriest crime scene they’ve ever encountered. A pub owner named Harry Warbrick has been found hanged and decapitated amid evidence of foul play. His murder becomes a sensation because he was England’s top hangman and he’s met the same fate that he inflicted on hundreds of criminals.

Sir Gerald announces that the Daily World—meaning Sarah and her friends—will investigate and solve Harry Warbrick’s murder before the police do. The contest pits Sarah against the man she loves, Police Constable Barrett. She and her friends discover a connection between Harry Warbrick’s murder and the most notorious criminal he ever executed—Amelia Carlisle, the “Baby-Butcher,� who murdered hundreds of infants placed in her care.

Something happened at Amelia’s execution. The Official Secrets Act forbids the seven witnesses present to divulge any information about it. But Harry had a bad habit of leaking tips to the press. Sarah and her friends suspect that one of the other witnesses killed Harry to prevent him from revealing a secret related to the execution. What is the secret, and who hanged the hangman?]]> 304 Laura Joh Rowland 1683319028 Mark 2 historical-fiction
The only reason I am still reading the series is because once I start a series I hate not finishing it, I could hope that the next book will be better but I know it will be more of the same. ]]> 3.81 2019 The Hangman's Secret (Victorian Mystery #3)
author: Laura Joh Rowland
name: Mark
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2024/11/03
date added: 2024/11/03
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
Much like the previous two books in the series, this book was frustrating to read. For me, it was for a few reasons, the first is that the main character seems to keep secrets for no logical reason and will not tell people what is happening just to create a sense of drama. Then we add the fact that the method of solving the case is to rely on coincidences and dumb luck. Finally we have the plot line of Sarah's father which seems to be there just to drag out the book and I think will be slowly advanced over the course of the next couple of books.

The only reason I am still reading the series is because once I start a series I hate not finishing it, I could hope that the next book will be better but I know it will be more of the same.
]]> <![CDATA[A Mortal Likeness (Victorian Mystery, #2)]]> 35232444 304 Laura Joh Rowland 1683314484 Mark 2 historical-fiction ]]> 3.70 2018 A Mortal Likeness (Victorian Mystery, #2)
author: Laura Joh Rowland
name: Mark
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2018
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/31
date added: 2024/11/01
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
I was hoping that this book would have been an improvement over the first book but unfortunately it is the same quality as book one.

]]> <![CDATA[The Ripper's Shadow (Victorian Mystery #1)]]> 30316229
Miss Sarah Bain, a photographer in Whitechapel, is an independent woman with dark secrets. In the privacy of her studio, she supplements her meager income by taking illicit “boudoir photographs� of the town's local ladies of the night. But when two of her models are found gruesomely murdered within weeks of one another, Sarah begins to suspect it's more than mere coincidence.

Teamed with a motley crew of friends--including a street urchin, a gay aristocrat, a Jewish butcher and his wife, and a beautiful young actress--Sarah delves into the crime of the century. But just as she starts unlocking the Ripper's secrets, she catches the attention of the local police, who believe she knows more than she's revealing, as well as from the Ripper himself, now bent on silencing her and her friends for good.

Caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer, Sarah races through Whitechapel's darkest alleys to find the truth...until she makes a shocking discovery that challenges everything she thought she knew about the case. Intelligent and utterly engrossing, Laura Joh Rowland's Victorian mystery The Ripper's Shadow will keep readers up late into the night.
]]> 358 Laura Joh Rowland 1683310055 Mark 2 historical-fiction
The book then has Sarah very conveniently form her "Scooby" gang of accomplishes who are unfortunately the worst stereotypes of Victorian characters imaginable. There is your streetwise urchin who has a heart of gold, an aristocrat who is secretly a homosexual, and a Russian Jewish couple who fled Russia after the pogrom which occurred in the early 1880s.

The writer did a good job of setting the scene of Victorian England with her depictions of the city and some of the beliefs of the time, with Optography as an example. She let us down by having all the good characters having modern views towards sexuality and not behaving the way a typical 1880s Londener would. While talking about bad writing I can't forget to mention the scene where they encounter a doctor who has a machine to cure hysteria in women, it was especially bad. ]]> 3.49 2017 The Ripper's Shadow (Victorian Mystery #1)
author: Laura Joh Rowland
name: Mark
average rating: 3.49
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/30
date added: 2024/10/30
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
I did not think that this was a very good book. The Ripper's Shadow takes place in London England in 1888, a time when Jack the Ripper was terrorizing Whitechapel. The main character Sarah Bain is a photographer living alone with no friends or family who finds out that she has a connection with Jack the Ripper's victims.

The book then has Sarah very conveniently form her "Scooby" gang of accomplishes who are unfortunately the worst stereotypes of Victorian characters imaginable. There is your streetwise urchin who has a heart of gold, an aristocrat who is secretly a homosexual, and a Russian Jewish couple who fled Russia after the pogrom which occurred in the early 1880s.

The writer did a good job of setting the scene of Victorian England with her depictions of the city and some of the beliefs of the time, with Optography as an example. She let us down by having all the good characters having modern views towards sexuality and not behaving the way a typical 1880s Londener would. While talking about bad writing I can't forget to mention the scene where they encounter a doctor who has a machine to cure hysteria in women, it was especially bad.
]]> <![CDATA[The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, #2.5)]]> 210040063 Molly the Maid has a whole new mystery to solve in this heartwarming novella from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest.

Molly Gray has always loved the holidays. When Molly was a child, her gran went to great lengths to make the season merry and bright, full of cherished traditions. The first few Christmases without Gran were hard on Molly, but this year, her beloved boyfriend and fellow festive spirit, Juan Manuel, is intent on making the season Molly’s mofinst joyful yet.

But when a Secret Santa gift exchange at the Regency Grand Hotel raises questions about who Molly can and cannot trust, she dives headfirst into solving her most consequential—and personal—mystery yet. Molly has a bad feeling about things, and she starts to wonder: has she yet again mistaken a frog for a prince?

A heartwarming, magical story about the true spirit of the season, The Mistletoe Mystery reminds us that love is the greatest mystery of all.]]> 112 Nita Prose 0593875443 Mark 2
Hopefully this is just a one-off and the author gets back to writing mysteries involving murder. ]]> 3.41 2024 The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, #2.5)
author: Nita Prose
name: Mark
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2024
rating: 2
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves:
review:
I was disappointed with this novel. While the "Molly the Maid" series is not a hard-core mystery series, I was expecting at least some type of murder mystery in the novella. Instead, we got a story that reminded me of a badly made-for-TV Christmas romance movie.

Hopefully this is just a one-off and the author gets back to writing mysteries involving murder.
]]> The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 16690 288 Robert A. Heinlein 0340837942 Mark 3 science-fiction 4.16 1966 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
author: Robert A. Heinlein
name: Mark
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1966
rating: 3
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves: science-fiction
review:
An enjoyable book which had some interesting concepts on Artificial intelligence in computers, especially considering it was written in the 1960's. Unfortunately, the way the author portrayed men's attitudes towards women was not as forward-thinking. However, that is me judging the book by modern-day values.
]]> Nightblind (Dark Iceland, #2) 27248849
Dark, chilling and complex, Nightblind is an extraordinary thriller from an undeniable new talent.]]> 283 Ragnar JĂłnasson Mark 4 3.74 2014 Nightblind (Dark Iceland, #2)
author: Ragnar JĂłnasson
name: Mark
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2023/08/08
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
review:
I did enjoy this book and had some random thoughts. What happened to the reporter from the previous novels, it seemed like the author had plans for her to be part of the series but then just dropped her. Maybe she will be in the next book, I did find her interesting. I was not a fan of the Kristan scenes, felt like something out of a bad TV romance. Can we please find out about Ari's father, the author has been dragging this out for too long. I hope he reveals it in the next book and it is worth the wait.
]]> <![CDATA[Pride amid Prejudice (Modern Military Memoirs)]]> 200190655
Necole’s story is a tale of two lives, the CWO raised in a military family, and the woman coming to terms with her sexuality and her identity, in a time where the two could not co-exist. A lesbian member of the military police during the LGBTQ Purge in the Canadian Armed Forces, Necole would achieve success and promotion in her military career despite a near-constant struggle for identity.

But the higher she rose in rank within the Canadian Armed Forces, the less her voice was heard. When she should have had the most influence on the organization, she had none. When she’d finally earned a seat at the table, no one listened to what she had to say. Her life was dedicated to an institution that didn’t return her loyalty.

The result?

Depression and drinking and a downward spiral, all hidden behind a mask. And then the courage to be honest, with others and herself, and put the pieces of her life back together again.

Pride Amid Prejudice is the story of one woman’s struggle to find a voice for herself in a world determined to silence her. A journey of self-discovery through adversity, of resilience in the face of discrimination, and pride amid prejudice.]]> 159 Necole Belanger 1990644848 Mark 4
It is a very emotional memoir of her struggles serving in the CAF as (1) a woman, and (2) a lesbian, in a time when it was not fully acceptable to be either. She joined the CAF in 1987 (sorry spoiler for the book), this was just after they changed the regulations and allowed women to serve in most trades, however, homosexuality was still grounds to be released from the military. The ban on homosexuality was removed in 1992 (23 years after the Canadian Government decriminalized homosexuality in Canada).

So at the beginning of her career, CWO Belanger had to hide who she was, a lesbian in order to serve in the Canadian military, an institution she believed in, one that had let her down. This led to mental health issues which took a massive toll on her and she reveals this in real brutal honesty as she talks about her resorting to alcohol and the inevitable harm it did not only to herself but also to her wife and children.

I would recommend reading this book as it will quite revealing especially I think to anyone that actually knows the CWO, for the record I do not. For those in the military wondering why we have organizations such as the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre and events such as Pride flag raising and parades this book should help you understand.
]]> 4.00 Pride amid Prejudice (Modern Military Memoirs)
author: Necole Belanger
name: Mark
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/19
date added: 2024/10/19
shelves:
review:
This book is Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Necole Belanger account of her life and career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). For those not familiar with the Canadian Military, CWO is the highest rank for non-commissioned members and a rank that is very hard to be promoted to.

It is a very emotional memoir of her struggles serving in the CAF as (1) a woman, and (2) a lesbian, in a time when it was not fully acceptable to be either. She joined the CAF in 1987 (sorry spoiler for the book), this was just after they changed the regulations and allowed women to serve in most trades, however, homosexuality was still grounds to be released from the military. The ban on homosexuality was removed in 1992 (23 years after the Canadian Government decriminalized homosexuality in Canada).

So at the beginning of her career, CWO Belanger had to hide who she was, a lesbian in order to serve in the Canadian military, an institution she believed in, one that had let her down. This led to mental health issues which took a massive toll on her and she reveals this in real brutal honesty as she talks about her resorting to alcohol and the inevitable harm it did not only to herself but also to her wife and children.

I would recommend reading this book as it will quite revealing especially I think to anyone that actually knows the CWO, for the record I do not. For those in the military wondering why we have organizations such as the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre and events such as Pride flag raising and parades this book should help you understand.

]]> <![CDATA[The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1)]]> 40605251 The magical saga of the women behind King Arthur's throne.

“A monumental reimagining of the Arthurian legends . . . reading it is a deeply moving and at times uncanny experience. . . . An impressive achievement.”—The New York Times Book Review

In Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterpiece, we see the tumult and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds stunningly before us.

As Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur's kingdom, as the Knights of the Round Table take on their infamous quest, as Merlin and Viviane wield their magics for the future of Old Britain, the Isle of Avalon slips further into the impenetrable mists of memory, until the fissure between old and new worlds' and old and new religions' claims its most famous victim.]]> 1009 Marion Zimmer Bradley Mark 4 fantasy By Marion Zimmer Bradley
Genre: Fantasy, Arthurian Legend

If you are a fan of the Arthurian Legend (King Arthur, Knights of Camelot) and like well written female characters then this classic novel might interest you.

First published in 1982 this book is the story of King Arthur told from the point of view of the female characters, predominantly Morgaine, the half-sister to Arthur and a high priestess of Avalon.

This was not my first time reading this book but I think it has been at least 20 years since I last read it so I had forgotten a lot of the events that occurred in the novel. I really enjoyed this book and found it very interesting to hear the story from the point of view of the women.

This is a long book, the hardcover is 1,009 pages but don’t let the length deter you I found it to be an engaging read, one that will make you stay up just to read a few more pages. Though the book does talk about sex, murder, and rape it does not go into graphic details so I think the book would be appropriate for teenagers and up.

This is also the first book in the Avalon series, however, I don’t think when it was first published the author envisioned it being a series as the book has a good ending.
]]> 4.20 1982 The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1)
author: Marion Zimmer Bradley
name: Mark
average rating: 4.20
book published: 1982
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/18
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: fantasy
review:
The Mists of Avalon
By Marion Zimmer Bradley
Genre: Fantasy, Arthurian Legend

If you are a fan of the Arthurian Legend (King Arthur, Knights of Camelot) and like well written female characters then this classic novel might interest you.

First published in 1982 this book is the story of King Arthur told from the point of view of the female characters, predominantly Morgaine, the half-sister to Arthur and a high priestess of Avalon.

This was not my first time reading this book but I think it has been at least 20 years since I last read it so I had forgotten a lot of the events that occurred in the novel. I really enjoyed this book and found it very interesting to hear the story from the point of view of the women.

This is a long book, the hardcover is 1,009 pages but don’t let the length deter you I found it to be an engaging read, one that will make you stay up just to read a few more pages. Though the book does talk about sex, murder, and rape it does not go into graphic details so I think the book would be appropriate for teenagers and up.

This is also the first book in the Avalon series, however, I don’t think when it was first published the author envisioned it being a series as the book has a good ending.

]]> Redwall (Redwall, #1) 7996 A quest to recover a legendary lost weapon by bumbling young apprentice monk, mouse Matthias.

Redwall Abbey, tranquil home to a community of peace-loving mice, is threatened by Cluny the Scourge savage bilge rat warlord and his battle-hardened horde. But the Redwall mice and their loyal woodland friends combine their courage and strength.]]> 352 Brian Jacques 1862301387 Mark 4 fantasy 4.14 1986 Redwall (Redwall, #1)
author: Brian Jacques
name: Mark
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1986
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/30
date added: 2024/09/30
shelves: fantasy
review:
A fun book while geared towards adolescents is still an enjoyable read for adults.
]]> <![CDATA[Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen, #2)]]> 40651803 640 John Gwynne Mark 4 fantasy 4.45 2014 Valor (The Faithful and the Fallen, #2)
author: John Gwynne
name: Mark
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/29
date added: 2024/09/29
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is the second book in the series, and it continues where the first book left off. It was an exciting read, but it did have a lot of characters. Looking forward to seeing what book three brings us.
]]> <![CDATA[The Great Deceiver (The Brighton Mysteries, Book 7)]]> 58965285 The next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.

Magician Max Mephisto, now divorced and living in London, is on his way to visit daughter Ruby and her new-born baby when he is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted's assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and he's convinced that he'll be accused of her murder.

Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn't know is that the girl's family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (aka Mrs Stephens) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own.

The inhabitants of the boarding house, most of whom are performing in an Old Time Music Hall show on Brighton pier, are a motley crew. The house is also connected to a sinister radio personality called Pal. When a second magician's assistant is killed, Edgar suspects a serial killer. He persuades Max to come out of semi-retirement and take part in a summer show. But who can pose as his assistant? Edgar shocks the team by recommending someone close ...]]> 272 Elly Griffiths Mark 4 4.04 2023 The Great Deceiver (The Brighton Mysteries, Book 7)
author: Elly Griffiths
name: Mark
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/15
date added: 2024/09/16
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Shadow Murders (Department Q, #9)]]> 60181723 In the penultimate thriller of the 'New York Times' and number one internationally best-selling Department Q series, the team must hunt for a nefarious serial killer who has slipped under the radar for decades.

On her 60th birthday, a woman commits suicide. When the case lands on Detective Carl Mørck's desk, he can't imagine what this has to do with Department Q, Copenhagen's cold cases division. It's a tragedy to be sure, but the cause of death seems to be clear. But his superior, Marcus Jacobsen, is convinced that this is not in fact a suicide, but a murder related to an unsolved case that has been plaguing him since 1988.

At Marcus's behest, Carl and the Department Q gang—Rose, Assad, and Gordon—reluctantly begin to investigate. However, they quickly discover that Marcus is on to something: Every two years for the past three decades, there have been unusual, impeccably timed deaths with connections between them that cannot be ignored. As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that these "accidents" are in fact murders by a very cunning and violent serial killer.

Faced with their toughest case yet, made only more difficult by COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges of their own personal lives, the Department Q team must race to find the culprit before the next murder is committed, as it is becoming increasingly clear that the killer is far from finished.]]> 464 Jussi Adler-Olsen 1524742589 Mark 4
If you have not read any of the Department Q novels then I suggest that you start with the first book in the series, “The Keeper of Lost Causes� as the writer has his characters grow and develop over the course of the series and if you read them out of order it would be confusing also the author does not give much of a recap of what happened previously in his novels.

I enjoyed this book, thought the case was interesting and as usual the interaction between the characters was good. There was one side plot involving the Department Q Head, Carl that while I didn’t like it that much, I understand that since it was used to set up the next book it needed to be there.

This book is a great example of Nordic Noir, which if you are not familiar with that genre is crime fiction written from the police point of view, set in the Nordic countries. It is darker in tone than English murder mysteries and often is set in bleak landscapes.

I recommend this book and am looking forward to book 10 which is supposed to come out around the end of this year (2024).]]> 3.98 2021 The Shadow Murders (Department Q, #9)
author: Jussi Adler-Olsen
name: Mark
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/11
date added: 2024/09/11
shelves:
review:
The Shadow Murders is the ninth novel in the Department Q series of books that feature Department Q of the Copenhagen Police Force. This small Department consisting of just four people, Carl, Assad, Rose and Gorden specializes in cold cases and this time they are against a serial killer who has remained hidden for decades.

If you have not read any of the Department Q novels then I suggest that you start with the first book in the series, “The Keeper of Lost Causes� as the writer has his characters grow and develop over the course of the series and if you read them out of order it would be confusing also the author does not give much of a recap of what happened previously in his novels.

I enjoyed this book, thought the case was interesting and as usual the interaction between the characters was good. There was one side plot involving the Department Q Head, Carl that while I didn’t like it that much, I understand that since it was used to set up the next book it needed to be there.

This book is a great example of Nordic Noir, which if you are not familiar with that genre is crime fiction written from the police point of view, set in the Nordic countries. It is darker in tone than English murder mysteries and often is set in bleak landscapes.

I recommend this book and am looking forward to book 10 which is supposed to come out around the end of this year (2024).
]]> Precipice 199957301
In London, twenty-six-year-old Venetia Stanley—aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless—is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.� She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.

As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer with Scotland Yard is assigned to investigate a leak of top-secret documents. Suddenly, what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that could topple the British government—and will alter the course of political history.

An unrivaled master of seamlessly weaving fact and fiction, Precipice is another electrifying thriller from the brilliant imagination of Robert Harris.]]> 387 Robert Harris 1804940941 Mark 4 historical-fiction
This book, “Precipice� is set in the United Kingdom during the days leading up to the First World War and continues throughout the first couple of the war. The story’s two main characters are real historical figures, the Prime Minister of England, Herbert Henry Asquith and the object of his affection Beatrice Venetia Stanley, who was the daughter of the 4th Baron Sheffield and 35 years younger than the Prime Minister. The author drew upon the real-life letters that the Prime Minister wrote to Venetia (as she was called); the Prime Minister would write 3 letters a day to her over the course of their relationship and over 500 still survive. These letters not only contained his feelings towards her but also his thoughts about the war and actual classified information and telegrams that he received.

When reading this book I found it interesting to learn more about Prime Minister Asquith who I did not know very much about and was surprised to learn about how much of his letter writing was based on actual letters and how infatuated he was with Venetia. In addition, the author once again does a great job of depicting life from 1915 to 1916 in the United Kingdom. He goes over the Prime Minister's handling of the troubles in Ireland, the interaction with Winston Churchill, and one of his eventual downfalls, The Dardanelles Campaign also known as the Gallipoli Campaign where the allies suffered a devastating defeat suffering 132,000 casualties (the Australian, New Zealand and, Newfoundland soldiers had a very high percentage of casualties).

If you are a fan of historical fiction then I highly recommend this book. While it talks about war and deals with infidelity the author does not use graphic language in the book so it is appropriate for older teens to read it and those who don’t like foul language
]]> 4.18 2024 Precipice
author: Robert Harris
name: Mark
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/04
date added: 2024/09/04
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
When it comes to historical fiction one of my favourite authors is Robert Harris. I find it does an amazing job of combining historical facts and fictional characters to make an interesting story.

This book, “Precipice� is set in the United Kingdom during the days leading up to the First World War and continues throughout the first couple of the war. The story’s two main characters are real historical figures, the Prime Minister of England, Herbert Henry Asquith and the object of his affection Beatrice Venetia Stanley, who was the daughter of the 4th Baron Sheffield and 35 years younger than the Prime Minister. The author drew upon the real-life letters that the Prime Minister wrote to Venetia (as she was called); the Prime Minister would write 3 letters a day to her over the course of their relationship and over 500 still survive. These letters not only contained his feelings towards her but also his thoughts about the war and actual classified information and telegrams that he received.

When reading this book I found it interesting to learn more about Prime Minister Asquith who I did not know very much about and was surprised to learn about how much of his letter writing was based on actual letters and how infatuated he was with Venetia. In addition, the author once again does a great job of depicting life from 1915 to 1916 in the United Kingdom. He goes over the Prime Minister's handling of the troubles in Ireland, the interaction with Winston Churchill, and one of his eventual downfalls, The Dardanelles Campaign also known as the Gallipoli Campaign where the allies suffered a devastating defeat suffering 132,000 casualties (the Australian, New Zealand and, Newfoundland soldiers had a very high percentage of casualties).

If you are a fan of historical fiction then I highly recommend this book. While it talks about war and deals with infidelity the author does not use graphic language in the book so it is appropriate for older teens to read it and those who don’t like foul language

]]> <![CDATA[First Frost (Walt Longmire, #20)]]> 199558474
It’s the summer of 1964, and recent college graduates Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear read the writing on the wall and enlist to serve in the Vietnam War. As they catch a few final waves in California before reporting for duty, a sudden storm assaults the shores and capsizes a nearby cargo boat. Walt and Henry jump to action, but it’s soon revealed by the police who greet them ashore that the sunken boat carried valuable contraband from underground sources.

The boys, in their early twenties and in the peak of their physical prowess from playing college football for the last four years, head out on Route 66. The question, of course, is how far they will get before the consequences of their actions catch up to them—the answer being, not very.

Back in the present day, Walt is forced to speak before a Judge following the fatal events of The Longmire Defense. With powerful enemies lurking behind the scenes, the sheriff of Absaroka County must consider his options if he wishes to finish the fight he started.

Going back and forth between 1964 and the present day, Craig Johnson brings us a propulsive dual timeline as Walt Longmire stands between the crossfire of good and evil, law and anarchy, and compassion and cruelty at two pivotal stages in his life.]]> 333 Craig Johnson 0593830687 Mark 4 For this book the author decided to use flashbacks to tell two different stories. In the “present� we have Walt in court facing a judicial review of a shooting that occurred in the previous novel. “The Longmire Defense� and he is also adjusting to living with Vic. The flashbacks take place as Walt is telling Vic about a road trip that he and Henry took in the summer of 1966 along route 66.
I thought that the author did a good job switching between the two different timelines and while they were different each was interesting. He had the right mixture of comedy, action and drama in the novel and the story in the present has set up what looks to be a story arc for a couple of novels. I am curious to see if he will continue to tell more of the 1964 timeline in future novels as I think it could be exciting to read. I was also happy to see more Vic in the story. I do hope that we eventually get a novel centred around her and told from her perspective.
]]> 4.33 2024 First Frost (Walt Longmire, #20)
author: Craig Johnson
name: Mark
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/02
date added: 2024/09/02
shelves:
review:
This is the 20th novel in the Walt Longmire series, and I think that you need to read them in order as in each novel the character’s progress and events move on and if you read them out of order small things might not make sense.
For this book the author decided to use flashbacks to tell two different stories. In the “present� we have Walt in court facing a judicial review of a shooting that occurred in the previous novel. “The Longmire Defense� and he is also adjusting to living with Vic. The flashbacks take place as Walt is telling Vic about a road trip that he and Henry took in the summer of 1966 along route 66.
I thought that the author did a good job switching between the two different timelines and while they were different each was interesting. He had the right mixture of comedy, action and drama in the novel and the story in the present has set up what looks to be a story arc for a couple of novels. I am curious to see if he will continue to tell more of the 1964 timeline in future novels as I think it could be exciting to read. I was also happy to see more Vic in the story. I do hope that we eventually get a novel centred around her and told from her perspective.

]]> Dragons of Eternity 201102262 An intrepid woman and her friends must somehow undo the great damage they have done to the future of their world in the thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Dragonlance seriesWhen Destina Rosethorn and her companions were transported to a time 300 years before their birth—to the days of the Third Dragon War famed in song and story—the last thing they wanted to do was upset history. But upon returning to the near-past from which they departed, they discover a world completely altered. Thanks in no small part to the Graygem of Gargath that Destina carries, the war that was once won is now lost, and the forces of evil hold sway over the land.The river of Time is rising, flowing inexorably towards present day. So it is up to Destina and her friends to make one last, desperate attempt to restore Time's river to its proper channel. For if they cannot manage it, the altered past will sweep over the present until no trace of their old world remains.]]> 400 Margaret Weis 1984819429 Mark 4 fantasy
This book has time travel and alternative timelines in it so the story can be a bit convoluted at times so don't think too much about it and just enjoy the characters. The characters, specifically the return of the original Heroes of the Lance is what the reader will enjoy most, the interaction between a grumpy dwarf and a light-fingered kender and two twin brothers is what makes the story.

If you are fans of the Dragonlance Saga then you will enjoy this book. To me it almost seemed like the authors wrote it as a farewell to the saga, but I could be wrong.

]]> 4.26 Dragons of Eternity
author: Margaret Weis
name: Mark
average rating: 4.26
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/09/01
date added: 2024/09/01
shelves: fantasy
review:
This book was written for Dragonlance fans. It is the third book in the Dragonlance Destinies series but you need to have read the original Dragonlance Chronicles and Dragonlance Legends to fully enjoy this book.

This book has time travel and alternative timelines in it so the story can be a bit convoluted at times so don't think too much about it and just enjoy the characters. The characters, specifically the return of the original Heroes of the Lance is what the reader will enjoy most, the interaction between a grumpy dwarf and a light-fingered kender and two twin brothers is what makes the story.

If you are fans of the Dragonlance Saga then you will enjoy this book. To me it almost seemed like the authors wrote it as a farewell to the saga, but I could be wrong.


]]> <![CDATA[The Dark Wives (Vera Stanhope, #11)]]> 203578858 As New York Times bestseller Ann Cleeves's beloved Vera series explodes in popularity in print and on TV, this stunning eleventh book explores the web of secrets surrounding a young man's death.

The man’s body is found in the early morning light by a local dog walker in the park outside Rosebank, a home for troubled teens in the coastal village of Longwater. The victim is Josh, a staff member, who was due to work the previous night but never showed up.

DI Vera Stanhope is called out to investigate the death, with her only clue being the disappearance of one of the home’s residents, fourteen-year-old Chloe Spence. Vera can’t bring herself to believe that a teenager is responsible for the murder, but even she can’t dismiss the possibility.

Vera, Joe and new team member Rosie Bell, are soon embroiled in the case, and when a second connected body is found near the Three Dark Wives monument in the wilds of the Northumberland countryside, superstition and folklore begin to collide with fact. Vera knows she has to find Chloe to get to the truth, and the dark secrets in their community that may be far more dangerous than she could have ever believed possible.
]]> 384 Ann Cleeves 1250836840 Mark 4
In this novel she is once again investigating a murder but this time there is also a missing 14-year-old girl. In addition, Vera and the team are dealing with the ramifications of the events of the previous novel, “The Rising Tide�.

If you are a fan of crime mystery novels I think you will enjoy all of the Vera Stanhope novels and if you have read them and are curious if this novel is a good addition to the series, I think it is. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to continuing the series.
]]> 3.96 2024 The Dark Wives (Vera Stanhope, #11)
author: Ann Cleeves
name: Mark
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/31
date added: 2024/08/31
shelves:
review:
Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope is back in this eleventh novel in the Vera Stanhope series of books set in Northumberland England.

In this novel she is once again investigating a murder but this time there is also a missing 14-year-old girl. In addition, Vera and the team are dealing with the ramifications of the events of the previous novel, “The Rising Tide�.

If you are a fan of crime mystery novels I think you will enjoy all of the Vera Stanhope novels and if you have read them and are curious if this novel is a good addition to the series, I think it is. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to continuing the series.

]]> <![CDATA[The Mercy of Gods (The Captive’s War #1)]]> 201930181
Caught up in academic intrigue and affairs of the heart, Dafyd Alkhor is pleased just to be an assistant to a brilliant scientist and his celebrated research team. ĚýThen the Carryx ships descend, decimating the human population and taking the best and brightest of Anjiin society away to serve on the Carryx homeworld, and Dafyd is swept along with them. They are dropped in the middle of a struggle they barely understand, set in a competition against the other captive species with extinction as the price of failure.

Only Dafyd and a handful of his companions see past the Darwinian contest to the deeper game that they must play to learning to understand â€� and manipulate â€� the Carryx themselves. With a noble but suicidal human rebellion on one hand and strange and murderous enemies on the other, the team pays a terrible price to become the trusted servants of their new rulers. Dafyd Alkhor is a simple man swept up in events that are beyond his control and more vast than his imagination. ĚýHe will become the champion of humanity and its betrayer, the most hated man in history and the guardian of his people. This is where his story begins.]]> 422 James S.A. Corey 031652557X Mark 4 science-fiction 4.11 2024 The Mercy of Gods (The Captive’s War #1)
author: James S.A. Corey
name: Mark
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/08/28
date added: 2024/08/28
shelves: science-fiction
review:

]]> Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2) 60652997 Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex� Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies� most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.]]> 481 Leigh Bardugo 1250313104 Mark 3 fantasy 4.09 2023 Hell Bent (Alex Stern, #2)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Mark
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/07
date added: 2024/08/08
shelves: fantasy
review:
I thought it was an okay sequel to "Ninth House". The way the book ended makes me think that there will be another book in the series, however, as of August 2024 there is no word if that is true or not.
]]> <![CDATA[Blue Lightning (Shetland Island, #4)]]> 7157547
Shetland Detective Jimmy Perez knows it will be a difficult homecoming when he returns to the Fair Isles to introduce his fiancée, Fran, to his parents. It’s a community where everyone knows each other, and strangers, while welcomed, are still viewed with a degree of mistrust.

Challenging to live on at the best of times, with the autumn storms raging, the island feels cut off from the rest of the world. Trapped, tension is high and tempers become frayed. Enough to drive someone to murder...

When a woman’s body is discovered at the renowned Fair Isles bird observatory, with feathers threaded through her hair, the islanders react with fear and anger. With no support from the mainland and only Fran to help him, Jimmy has to investigate the old-fashioned way. He soon realizes that this is no crime of passion—but a murder of cold and calculated intention.

With no way off the island until the storms abate, Jimmy knows he has to work quickly. There’s a killer on the island just waiting for the opportunity to strike again.]]> 368 Ann Cleeves 0230746659 Mark 4 4.03 2010 Blue Lightning (Shetland Island, #4)
author: Ann Cleeves
name: Mark
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2020/03/06
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:
I liked this book even if the ending was depressing.
]]> Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) 43263680
Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs� are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.]]> 461 Leigh Bardugo 1250313074 Mark 3 fantasy 4.00 2019 Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1)
author: Leigh Bardugo
name: Mark
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/04
date added: 2024/08/05
shelves: fantasy
review:
Thought that this was an interesting book, curious to see how the second book finishes off the story,
]]> A Calamity of Souls 198494052
Jack Lee is a white lawyer from Freeman County, Virginia, who has never done anything to push back against racism, until he decides to represent Jerome Washington, a Black man charged with brutally killing an elderly and wealthy white couple. Doubting his decision, Lee fears that his legal skills may not be enough to prevail in a case where the odds are already stacked against both him and his client. And he quickly finds himself out of his depth when he realizes that what is at stake is far greater than the outcome of a murder trial.

Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer from Chicago who has devoted her life to furthering the causes of justice and equality for everyone. She comes to Freeman County and enters a fractious and unwieldy partnership with Lee in a legal battle against the best prosecutor in the Commonwealth. Yet DuBose is also aware that powerful outside forces are at work to blunt the victories achieved by the Civil Rights era.

Lee and DuBose could not be more dissimilar. On their own, neither one can stop the prosecution’s deliberate march towards a guilty verdict and the electric chair. But together, the pair fight for what once seemed impossible: a chance for a fair trial and true justice.

Over a decade in the writing, A Calamity of Souls breathes richly imagined and detailed life into a bygone era, taking the reader through a world that will seem both foreign and familiar.]]> 480 David Baldacci 1538765020 Mark 4 historical-fiction
This book is a fictional legal novel that focuses on civil rights and racial tensions in the United States. Though the case of Jerome Washington is fictional the setting and feelings are sadly accurate.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was an interesting read. In this type of book it is very easy to make the lawyer, Jack Lee, a white saviour. I thought that the author managed to write the character of Jack in a way that makes him believable. This is helped by the introduction of Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer who specialises in civil rights cases throughout the USA.

When reading this book I found a lot of similarities with Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird�. This is not a bad thing but just something I noticed. While this book is not the typical genre of writing for the author, who normally writes suspense novels I think that fans of his will enjoy it as much as his other books.
]]> 4.38 2024 A Calamity of Souls
author: David Baldacci
name: Mark
average rating: 4.38
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/07/31
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
Jerome Washington is a Black man accused of killing an elderly and wealthy white couple, to add to his troubles the time is 1968 and he is in Virginia, Southern United States. A time and place that is not friendly to people that are not white. His only chance of justice lies in the hands of Jack Lee a white lawyer.

This book is a fictional legal novel that focuses on civil rights and racial tensions in the United States. Though the case of Jerome Washington is fictional the setting and feelings are sadly accurate.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was an interesting read. In this type of book it is very easy to make the lawyer, Jack Lee, a white saviour. I thought that the author managed to write the character of Jack in a way that makes him believable. This is helped by the introduction of Desiree DuBose is a Black lawyer who specialises in civil rights cases throughout the USA.

When reading this book I found a lot of similarities with Harper Lee’s classic novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird�. This is not a bad thing but just something I noticed. While this book is not the typical genre of writing for the author, who normally writes suspense novels I think that fans of his will enjoy it as much as his other books.

]]> <![CDATA[The Cuckoo (Patrik Hedström, #11)]]> 203382629 A community torn apart

As a heavy mist rolls into the Swedish coastal town of Fjällbacka, shocking violence shakes the small community to its core. Rolf Stenklo, a famous photographer, is found murdered in his gallery. Two days later, a brutal tragedy on a private island leaves the prestigious Bauer family devastated.

A town full of secrets

With his boss acting strangely, Detective Patrik Hedström is left to lead the investigation. Tensions rise threatening cracks in the team of officers at Tanumshede police station and pressure mounts as the press demand answers.

A reckoning in blood

In pursuit of inspiration for her next true-crime book, Patrik’s wife Erica Falck leaves behind their three children and travels to Stockholm to research the unsolved decades-old murder of a figure from Rolf’s past. As Erica searches for the truth, she realizes that her mystery is connected to Patrik’s case. These threads from the past are woven into the present and old sins leave behind long shadows.]]> 432 Camilla Läckberg 0008283850 Mark 3
In this book, as with the author’s previous books in the series there are essentially two stories, one that takes place in modern-day time, in this case a murder of a famous photographer and another that takes place in the past, this time the murder of a trans women in the 1980s. The interesting part is seeing how the cases are related.

I enjoyed this book, and while it is a crime/mystery book it is not hardcore and is easy to read and there is not a lot of graphic depiction of the murders. I had forgotten that the author’s way of developing characters is to fill their personal lives with tragedy and this book is no different, she also ends the book on an emotional cliffhanger related to one of the character’s tragedies. Though with this one I can almost predict what will happen in the next book.

Overall I think if you have read and enjoyed the previous books in the series I think you will enjoy this one also as it follows the author’s standard writing style. If you have not read her earlier books then I recommend you read them in order as this series does not lend itself to reading in no particular order.
]]> 3.98 2022 The Cuckoo (Patrik Hedström, #11)
author: Camilla Läckberg
name: Mark
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/22
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves:
review:
The Cuckoo is the 11th book in the Fjällbacka series or Patrik Hedström series, depending on where you purchased the book. While you could read this book without having read the previous books I would not recommend it as in the series the characters evolve as the series progresses so you would be missing a lot of the finer details.

In this book, as with the author’s previous books in the series there are essentially two stories, one that takes place in modern-day time, in this case a murder of a famous photographer and another that takes place in the past, this time the murder of a trans women in the 1980s. The interesting part is seeing how the cases are related.

I enjoyed this book, and while it is a crime/mystery book it is not hardcore and is easy to read and there is not a lot of graphic depiction of the murders. I had forgotten that the author’s way of developing characters is to fill their personal lives with tragedy and this book is no different, she also ends the book on an emotional cliffhanger related to one of the character’s tragedies. Though with this one I can almost predict what will happen in the next book.

Overall I think if you have read and enjoyed the previous books in the series I think you will enjoy this one also as it follows the author’s standard writing style. If you have not read her earlier books then I recommend you read them in order as this series does not lend itself to reading in no particular order.

]]> Southern Man (Penn Cage, #7) 58884700
As the stunned cities of Natchez and Bienville reel, antebellum plantation homes continue to burn and the deadly attacks are claimed by a Black radical group as historic acts of justice. Panic sweeps through the tourist communities, driving them inexorably toward a race war.

But what might have been only a regional sideshow of the 2024 Presidential election explodes into national prominence, thanks to the stunning ascent of Robert E. Lee White, a Southern war hero who seizes the public imagination as a third-party candidate. Dubbed “the Tik-Tok Man,� and funded by an eccentric Mississippi billionaire, Bobby White rides the glory of his Special Forces record to an unprecedented run at the White House—one unseen since the campaign of H. Ross Perot.

To triumph over the national party machines, Bobby evolves a plan of unimaginable daring. One fateful autumn weekend, with White set to declare his candidacy in all fifty states, the forces polarizing America line up against one another: Black vs. white, states vs. the federal government, democracy vs. Fascism. Teaming with his fearless daughter (now a civil rights lawyer) and a former Black Panther who spent most of his life in Parchman Prison, Penn tears into Bobby White’s pursuit of the Presidency and ultimately risks a second Civil War to try to expose its motivation to the world, before the America of our Constitution slides into the abyss.

In Southern Man, Greg Iles returns to the riveting style and historic depth that made the Natchez Burning trilogy a searing masterpiece and hurls the narrative fifteen years forward into our current moment—where America itself teeters on the brink of anarchy.]]> 966 Greg Iles 0062824694 Mark 3
This fictional story takes place in the southern United States, specifically the area around Natchez Mississippi and deals with racial tensions between the residents of the area as well as historical events that influenced the modern town.

As I don’t live in the United States I don’t fully understand some of the aspects of this book especially when it comes to jurisdictions between the different levels of government as well as the finer aspects of the American Civil War. There were a few times as I was reading the book I was thinking, now way it could be legal and happen, but it just might be legal.

This was a hard book to review as I started off really liking the book but around the halfway point it had a number of things that annoyed me. The book is a long book (hardcover 966 pages) and while I don’t mind long books I think it could have been trimmed down a bit. The author I felt also through two many plots into the novel and at the end just went completely overboard and made the book just unbelievable.

I do think that if you were a fan of the first six books in the series you will still enjoy this book and for those that have not read any of Greg Iles� previous books start with the first novel in the series, “The Quiet Game� to get a feel of the author’s writing style.
]]> 3.92 2024 Southern Man (Penn Cage, #7)
author: Greg Iles
name: Mark
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/07/20
date added: 2024/07/20
shelves:
review:
Southern Man by Greg Iles is the seventh book in the Penn Cage but as this book takes place long after the events of book six and the way the author wrote this book I think you can read this book as a standalone novel.

This fictional story takes place in the southern United States, specifically the area around Natchez Mississippi and deals with racial tensions between the residents of the area as well as historical events that influenced the modern town.

As I don’t live in the United States I don’t fully understand some of the aspects of this book especially when it comes to jurisdictions between the different levels of government as well as the finer aspects of the American Civil War. There were a few times as I was reading the book I was thinking, now way it could be legal and happen, but it just might be legal.

This was a hard book to review as I started off really liking the book but around the halfway point it had a number of things that annoyed me. The book is a long book (hardcover 966 pages) and while I don’t mind long books I think it could have been trimmed down a bit. The author I felt also through two many plots into the novel and at the end just went completely overboard and made the book just unbelievable.

I do think that if you were a fan of the first six books in the series you will still enjoy this book and for those that have not read any of Greg Iles� previous books start with the first novel in the series, “The Quiet Game� to get a feel of the author’s writing style.

]]> <![CDATA[The Ring Legends of Tolkien: An Illustrated Exploration of Rings in Tolkien's World, and the Sources that Inspired his Work from Myth, Literature and History]]> 55592665 Learn the most popular legends about the Rings of Power!

The history of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth is filled with an ongoing struggle between good and evil, centered on a set of rings forged by Elves and an evil sorcerer. The Ring Legends of Tolkien recounts stories and conflicts surrounding the Rings of Power. Insightful commentary by Tolkien scholar David Day discusses how people, tactics, and weapons were used to obtain and control the rings, and also how the legends of Middle-earth relate to the real-world mythology on which Tolkien based his famous literary creation. Maps and full-color illustrations help bring this rich universe to life, making it an invaluable reference book for Tolkien fans of all ages.
This work is unofficial and is not authorized by the Tolkien Estate or HarperCollins Publishers.]]> 275 David Day 0753734362 Mark 2
The book is a quick read and covers various topics such as Arthurian legends, Norse Mythology, Celtic and Saxon Myths, and Judo-Christian legends to name a few.

I wish the author had gone into more detail about how the various legends/stories were referenced or incorporated into Tolkien’s writings. Other than that I enjoyed the book, especially the illustrations the author included.
]]> 3.70 2020 The Ring Legends of Tolkien: An Illustrated Exploration of Rings in Tolkien's World, and the Sources that Inspired his Work from Myth, Literature and History
author: David Day
name: Mark
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2020
rating: 2
read at: 2024/06/24
date added: 2024/06/24
shelves:
review:
The book is about stories about rings from either history or various mythology, stories that may have influenced Professor Tolkien in his classic novels: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The book is a quick read and covers various topics such as Arthurian legends, Norse Mythology, Celtic and Saxon Myths, and Judo-Christian legends to name a few.

I wish the author had gone into more detail about how the various legends/stories were referenced or incorporated into Tolkien’s writings. Other than that I enjoyed the book, especially the illustrations the author included.

]]> <![CDATA[Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time, #3)]]> 195790745 Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1890s and the other in the present day. The A Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Victorian Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true friends―and feelings―in this century.

So, understanding the Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern body.]]> 337 Kelley Armstrong 125032128X Mark 3 historical-fiction
I am curious to see where the story goes from here.]]> 4.20 2024 Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time, #3)
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Mark
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/16
date added: 2024/06/17
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
This was not a bad book I was just a bit disappointed with how the author handled time travel. I thought it was a bit rushed and not well thought out and the leaving letters in a hiding spot just did not make any sense.

I am curious to see where the story goes from here.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder at a Scottish Castle (A Scottish Shire Mystery)]]> 138378705
With the summer days getting shorter in the seaside village of Nairn, the annual bagpiping competition at Ramsey Castle promises to be quite the end-of-season blowout. Paisley has snagged a special invitation from the dowager countess, who wants to showcase her cashmere goods in the castle gift shop, and she’s brought her son Brody, Grandpa, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace.

There’s a fierce rivalry between Robert Grant, the Earl of Lyon, and last year’s winner Jory Baxter, with Grant loudly vowing to show up the blowhard Baxter and claim clan bragging rights. But the reigning champion has barely put the reed to his lips when he turns red and collapses, soon to take his dying breath. DI Zeffer suspects foul play.

With a possible murderer in their midst, the rest of Nairn won’t breathe easy until Paisley applies her sleuthing skills to make sure justice is served and the killer pays the piper . . .]]> 304 Traci Hall 1496744373 Mark 3 4.00 2024 Murder at a Scottish Castle (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/13
date added: 2024/06/13
shelves:
review:
This is the fifth book in the series and so far my least favourite. It is hard to say exactly why but I think it is a culmination of things. The main character spends most of the book stating that her primary job is to raise her son, which is admirable but it gets annoying after a while. Same with her attitude not to accept any help.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Shire Mystery)]]> 60978819
As her friend’s matron of honor, Paislee Shaw vows to solve the mystery of a missing brooch and a dying wedding guest . . . Paislee’s specialty sweater shop and yarn business Cashmere Crush, in the charming Scottish village of Nairn, is closed today for a special occasion. Her bonnie bestie Lydia is moments away from walking down the aisle of the church at Old Nairn Kirk to wed Corbin Smythe. Gramps and Paislee’s eleven-year-old son Brody are seated in the pews with the other guests—the only family not in attendance is their black Scottish terrier Wallace. As matron of honor, Paislee is at her friend’s side when Lydia lets out a frantic cry. The Luckenbooth brooch her betrothed gave her is missing. A traditional Scottish love token, the gold heirloom has been in his family for generations and not wearing it could bring bad luck—according to the superstitious Smythes. But the real misfortune falls on a distraught cousin who suddenly disrupts the ceremony and dies with the brooch in her hand. The Smythes insist it’s the curse. But Paislee must broach the subject of…murder. And was the intended victim the guest—or the bride? Only Paislee can determine who to pin the murder on . . .]]> 304 Traci Hall 1496739248 Mark 3 4.05 2023 Murder at a Scottish Wedding (A Scottish Shire Mystery)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/11
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves:
review:
It's the fourth book in the "A Scottish Shire Mystery" series. Not a lot to say about the book, it is a quick easy read. I don't like the way the author writes out how people pronounce words, in this case writing the Scottish accent but that is a minor quibble with the book.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder at a Scottish Social (Scottish Shire, #3)]]> 57876315
When a tainted Scottish shortbread cookie kills the Queen Bee of a competitive mom clique, Paislee Shaw, owner of Cashmere Crush sweater shop and knitting sleuth, must unravel the clues in the third installment of Traci Hall’s Scottish Shire Mystery series.

Opening her shop Cashmere Crush and making a new home for herself, her son Brody, Gramps, and their black Scottish terrier Wallace in the beautiful Scottish village of Nairn is a dream come true. So Paislee is happy to give back by donating a luxurious cashmere sweater for an auction to raise money for the Nairn Food Bank. She’s less happy to make the acquaintance of a clique of competitive moms at the charity event, who treat a baking contest like it’s life or death. It turns out to be the latter for Queen Bee Kristen Buchanan when a peanut-laced shortbread cookie triggers her fatal nut allergy.

Who would poison Kristen? How about half the town? But when Paislee’s pal Blaise is suspected, the sweater-selling sleuth leaps into action to unravel the mystery. Along with gruff but handsome DI Mack Zeffer, she has to sort through a batch of suspects without becoming this cookie-cutter killer’s next target…]]> 288 Traci Hall 1496726030 Mark 3 3.90 2022 Murder at a Scottish Social (Scottish Shire, #3)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/06/10
date added: 2024/06/10
shelves:
review:
This is the third book in the series and if you have read the first two books, you know what this book will be like as it is the same in tone, this is not a bad thing as the tone works. The one thing I thought was overdone was the lessons on bullying, the author went a tad heavy so at times it felt like a bad public service ad about bullies.
]]> Kenobi (Star Wars) 17262173
In this original novel set between the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to the aid of the residents of Tatooine during his exile. But he struggles with his new mission when he realizes that protecting Luke Skywalker-the last hope of the galaxy-means setting aside his compassion and his Jedi warrior training, for the future of the galaxy lies not with Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with a mystical desert recluse known only by the name of Crazy Old Ben.]]> 362 John Jackson Miller 0345546830 Mark 4 science-fiction
If you are a fan of Star Wars and the Star Wars novels then I think you will be happy with this novel. It is an enjoyable tale and has some interesting characters.

One last thing to note, this book was written before the Star Wars show Obi-Wan aired so you may notice some discrepancies between this book and the TV show.]]> 4.08 2013 Kenobi (Star Wars)
author: John Jackson Miller
name: Mark
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2024/06/03
date added: 2024/06/03
shelves: science-fiction
review:
As you can guess by the title "Kenobi" is a Star Wars novel, In this case, one about Obi-Wan Kenobi and is set after the events of "Revenge of The Sith" and before "A New Hope". The novel follows Obi-Wan as he adjusts to life on Tatooine and his feelings about Anikan.

If you are a fan of Star Wars and the Star Wars novels then I think you will be happy with this novel. It is an enjoyable tale and has some interesting characters.

One last thing to note, this book was written before the Star Wars show Obi-Wan aired so you may notice some discrepancies between this book and the TV show.
]]> Faebound (Faebound, #1) 157981739
When a fatal mistake leads to Yeeran’s exile from the Elven lands, they are both forced into the terrifying wilderness beyond their borders. There they encounter the the fae court.

The fae haven’t been seen for a millennium. But now Yeeran and Lettle are thrust into their seductive world � torn between their loyalty to each other, their elven homeland, and their hearts. . .]]> 386 Saara El-Arifi 0593723007 Mark 3 fantasy
However, I liked it enough to want to read the next book and find out where the story goes.]]> 3.53 2024 Faebound (Faebound, #1)
author: Saara El-Arifi
name: Mark
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/30
date added: 2024/05/30
shelves: fantasy
review:
While I enjoyed several elements of this book I did find that there was a tad too much romance in the book, I would have preferred it to be more focused on the fantasy elements. I also thought that by the end there were just too many coincidences.

However, I liked it enough to want to read the next book and find out where the story goes.
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4)]]> 62226126
An old friend in the antiques business has been killed, and a dangerous package he was protecting has gone missing.

As the gang springs into action they encounter art forgers, online fraudsters and drug dealers, as well as heartache close to home.

With the body count rising, the package still missing and trouble firmly on their tail, has their luck finally run out? And who will be the last devil to die?]]> 421 Richard Osman 0241512441 Mark 3
It will be interesting to see what the next book is like after what happened to one of the main characters. ]]> 4.44 2023 The Last Devil to Die (Thursday Murder Club, #4)
author: Richard Osman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/26
date added: 2024/05/26
shelves:
review:
This is the fourth entry in the series so if you have read the first three books you know what to expect from this book. It continues in the extremely unbelievable antics of the "Thursday Murder Club" and their associates. While the ending is more bittersweet than the previous books it is just as crazy.

It will be interesting to see what the next book is like after what happened to one of the main characters.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder in a Scottish Garden (A Scottish Shire Mystery #2)]]> 55204435
Paislee’s custom sweater and yarn business, Cashmere Crush, is the sole support for not only the single mum and her ten-year-old son Brody, but also her eccentric Gramps and Wallace, their black Scottish terrier. So when her landlord, Shawn Marcus, serves her an eviction notice and then pulls a disappearing act, she’ll go to any lengths to find the man and reason with him.

Shawn is heir to the Leery Estate, which Brody’s class will be visiting on a field trip. So Paislee volunteers to chaperone in the hopes of tracking down Shawn and killing two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, the only one killed is a man Paislee sees falling out of the hedges after being shot. It’s not her missing landlord, but Lady Leery’s nephew, Charles Thomson. Gruff DI Mack Zeffer is on the case, but Paislee also has a stake in flushing out the shooter. With suspects sprouting up like weeds, Paislee may need to hedge her bets until she can determine who is trying to lead her down the garden path . . .]]> 304 Traci Hall 1496726014 Mark 3 3.88 2021 Murder in a Scottish Garden (A Scottish Shire Mystery #2)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/19
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves:
review:
While I did enjoy the book I did find the ending to be a bit rushed and very convenient. Was hoping to find out a bit more about the Granddad but I guess this will be slowly teased through many books.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club, #3)]]> 58957615
Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill or be killed. Suddenly the cold case has become red hot.

While Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim chase down the clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again?

From an upmarket spa to a prison cell complete with espresso machine to a luxury penthouse high in the sky, this third adventure of the Thursday Murder Club is full of the cleverness, intrigue, and irresistible charm that readers have come to expect from Richard Osman's bestselling series.]]> 413 Richard Osman 0241512425 Mark 3 4.32 2022 The Bullet That Missed (Thursday Murder Club, #3)
author: Richard Osman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/17
date added: 2024/05/19
shelves:
review:
I thought this was another good entry in the series, however the ending was a bit convoluted but you just accept it.
]]> <![CDATA[Murder in a Scottish Shire (A Scottish Shire Mystery, #1)]]> 52825457 Known as the Brighton of the North, Nairn is both a charming Scottish town and a popular seaside resort—but to Paislee Shaw, it's simply home—unfortunately to a murderer . . .
Ěý
For a twenty-eight-year-old single mum, Paislee has knit together a sensible life for herself, her ten-year-old son Brody, and Wallace, their black Scottish terrier. Having inherited a knack for knitting from her dear departed grandmother, Paislee also owns a specialty sweater shop called Cashmere Crush, where devoted local crafters gather weekly for her Knit and Sip.
Ěý
Lately, though, Paislee feels as if her life is unraveling. She’s been served an eviction notice, and her estranged and homeless grandfather has just been brought to her door by a disconcertingly handsome detective named Mack Zeffer. As if all that wasn't enough, Paislee discovers a young woman who she recently rehired to help in the shop dead in her flat, possibly from an overdose of her heart medicine. But as details of the death and the woman’s life begin to raise suspicions for Detective Inspector Zeffer, it’s Paislee who must untangle a murderous yarn . . .

]]> 304 Traci Hall 1496726006 Mark 3 4.02 2020 Murder in a Scottish Shire (A Scottish Shire Mystery, #1)
author: Traci Hall
name: Mark
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/10
date added: 2024/05/10
shelves:
review:
This was an alright book, a bit slow to start but still enjoyable. I did find the author's decision to write Scottish pronunciation of words to be annoying, I find it always annoying when writers do that I much prefer to read the word spelt normally.
]]> Expectant (Sam Shephard #5) 65648891
A detective expecting her first baby�

The shocking murder of a heavily pregnant woman throws the New Zealand city of Dunedin into a tailspin, and the devastating crime feels uncomfortably close to home for Detective Sam Shephard as she counts down the days to her own maternity leave.

Confined to a desk job in the department, Sam must find the missing link between this brutal crime and a string of cases involving mothers and children in the past. As the pieces start to come together and the realisation dawns that the killer’s actions are escalating, drastic measures must be taken to prevent more tragedy.

For Sam, the case becomes personal, when it becomes increasingly clear that no one is safe and the clock is ticking…]]> 306 Vanda Symon Mark 3
Other than that this was an enjoyable book. It did seem like it was written as an end book to the series, so curious to see if the author writes any more books involving Sam. ]]> 4.09 2023 Expectant (Sam Shephard #5)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/06
date added: 2024/05/06
shelves:
review:
My one complaint about this book is more of a complaint about the series, the fact that issues from previous books don't get addressed. In book 4 there were two fairly important events that occurred , one involving Sam's mother and the other her partner Smithy. The did mention the event with Smithy about 1/2 way through the book but the event with her mom the author seemed to ignore, very frustrating.

Other than that this was an enjoyable book. It did seem like it was written as an end book to the series, so curious to see if the author writes any more books involving Sam.
]]> Bound (Sam Shephard #4) 10432924
But when Detective Sam Shephard scratches the surface, the victim, a successful businessman, is not all he seems to be. And when the evidence points to two of Dunedin's most hated criminals, the case seems cut and dried... until the body count starts to rise.

Meanwhile, Sam is in big trouble again]]> 314 Vanda Symon 0143565273 Mark 3 4.07 2011 Bound (Sam Shephard #4)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/04
date added: 2024/05/04
shelves:
review:
I enjoyed this book up until the end. I thought the case was interesting and I like the character of Sam but I was not happy with the way the author ended the book. There were two major events that occurred at the end of the book and the author left them unresolved. The next book might tell us what happened but it left me wanting to know what happens.
]]> Containment (Sam Shephard #3) 50815122 Dunedin’s favourite young police officer Sam Shephard is drawn into a perplexing investigation when a series of shipping containers wash up on a sleepy New Zealand beach, and a spate of unexplained deaths ensues�

Chaos reigns in the sleepy village of Aramoana on the New Zealand coast, when a series of shipping containers wash up on the beach and looting begins.

Detective Constable Sam Shephard experiences the desperation of the scavengers first-hand, and ends up in an ambulance, nursing her wounds and puzzling over an assault that left her assailant for dead. What appears to be a clear-cut case of a cargo ship running aground soon takes a more sinister turn when a skull is found in the sand, and the body of a diver is pulled from the sea � a diver who didn’t die of drowning�

As first officer at the scene, Sam is handed the case, much to the displeasure of her superiors, and she must put together an increasingly confusing series of clues to get to the bottom of a mystery that may still have more victims�]]> 320 Vanda Symon 1913193195 Mark 3
I am still enjoying the books, and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.]]> 3.82 2009 Containment (Sam Shephard #3)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2024/05/04
date added: 2024/05/04
shelves:
review:
I liked this book but was a bit disappointed with two things. One, they did not really address the events of the last book and two, Sam's boss DI Jones, he is just too over the top in his hatred of Sam and how he torments her. I get that we the reader is supposed to hate him but I think the author just went overboard with his treatment and it is now just unbelievable the stuff he gets away with.

I am still enjoying the books, and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ringmaster (Sam Shephard #2)]]> 43798301 The heart-stoppingly tense next instalment in the richly atmospheric, page-turning and international bestselling Sam Shephard series â€� for fans ofĚýThe Dry

Death is stalking the South Island of New Zealand

Marginalised by previous antics, Sam Shephard, is on the bottom rung of detective training in Dunedin, and her boss makes sure she knows it. She gets involved in her first homicide investigation, when a university student is murdered in the Botanic Gardens, and Sam soon discovers this is not an isolated incident. There is a chilling prospect of a predator loose in Dunedin, and a very strong possibility that the deaths are linked to a visiting circus�

Determined to find out who’s running the show, and to prove herself, Sam throws herself into an investigation that can have only one ending�

Rich with atmosphere, humour and a dark, shocking plot,ĚýThe RingmasterĚýmarks the return of passionate, headstrong police officer, Sam Shephard, in the next instalment of Vanda Symon’s bestselling series.]]> 320 Vanda Symon 191237465X Mark 3 3.72 2008 The Ringmaster (Sam Shephard #2)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/30
date added: 2024/05/02
shelves:
review:
While I liked this book I was let down by the ending, who the murderer was, and then the epilogue of the book. I thought there should have been more fallout from the reveal of the murderer but it was never addressed, hoping it gets mentioned at least in the next book.
]]> Overkill (Sam Shephard #1) 40411430 Book 1 in the PC Sam Shephard series. Action-packed, tension-filled and atmospheric police procedural set in rural New Zealand.

When the body of a young mother is found washed up on the banks of the Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide. But all is not what it seems. Sam Shephard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the wife of her former lover. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects and suspended from duty, she must cast said her personal feelings and take matters into her own hands. To find the murderer... and clear her name. A taut, atmospheric and pageturning thriller, Overkill marks the start of an unputdownable and unforgettable series from one of New Zealand s finest crime writers.]]> 320 Vanda Symon 1912374277 Mark 4
I liked this first book in the series. The author did a great job of introducing the character of Sam and bringing her to life, The case was an interesting one also though I admit I am not overly interested in the technical bits they introduced at the end. Not being from New Zealand (actually not overly familiar with New Zealand at all) I most likely missed a lot of the references but I could make out the gist of what the local slang meant when used.

I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.]]> 3.62 2007 Overkill (Sam Shephard #1)
author: Vanda Symon
name: Mark
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/28
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves:
review:
This is the first book in the Sam Shephard series of books about a female constable, Sam Shephard in a small New Zealand town.

I liked this first book in the series. The author did a great job of introducing the character of Sam and bringing her to life, The case was an interesting one also though I admit I am not overly interested in the technical bits they introduced at the end. Not being from New Zealand (actually not overly familiar with New Zealand at all) I most likely missed a lot of the references but I could make out the gist of what the local slang meant when used.

I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2)]]> 55457493
Elizabeth has received a letter from an old colleague, a man with whom she has a long history. He's made a big mistake, and he needs her help. His story involves stolen diamonds, a violent mobster, and a very real threat to his life.

As bodies start piling up, Elizabeth enlists Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron in the hunt for a ruthless murderer. And if they find the diamonds too? Well, wouldn't that be a bonus?

But this time they are up against an enemy who wouldn't bat an eyelid at knocking off four septuagenarians. Can The Thursday Murder Club find the killer (and the diamonds) before the killer finds them?]]> 422 Richard Osman Mark 4 4.36 2021 The Man Who Died Twice (Thursday Murder Club, #2)
author: Richard Osman
name: Mark
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/27
date added: 2024/04/28
shelves:
review:
Another fun silly entry in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1)]]> 46000520
But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

Alternate cover edition can be found here .]]> 382 Richard Osman Mark 4 3.87 2020 The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club, #1)
author: Richard Osman
name: Mark
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/26
date added: 2024/04/27
shelves:
review:
This was an enjoyable first entry in the series where we are introduced to what I am guessing will be the main characters in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)]]> 60556912
Every day I clean the Winchesters� beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out� and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of�

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!]]> 329 Freida McFadden 1803144378 Mark 1 4.31 2022 The Housemaid (The Housemaid, #1)
author: Freida McFadden
name: Mark
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2024/04/27
date added: 2024/04/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Cross Bones (Temperance Brennan, #8)]]> 128755
Examining a badly decomposed corpse is de rigueur for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. But puzzling damage on the body of a shooting victim, an Orthodox Jewish man, suggests this is no ordinary Montreal murder. When a stranger slips Tempe a photograph of a skeleton unearthed at an archaeological site, Tempe uncovers chilling ties between the dead man and secrets long buried in the dust of Israel. Traveling there with Detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe plunges into an international mystery as old as Jesus, and centered on the controversial discovery of Christ's tomb. Has a mastermind lured her into an elaborate hoax? If not, Tempe may be on the brink of rewriting two thousand years of history—if she can survive the foes dead set on burying her.]]> 453 Kathy Reichs 0743453026 Mark 2
I felt like the author wanted to write a Da Vinci Code style of book but it was not as interesting as that book.

Once again I found Ryan to be annoying and the reason he was included in the trip to Isreal was beyond unbelievable.

I am hoping the next book in the series is better.]]> 3.89 2005 Cross Bones (Temperance Brennan, #8)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 2024/04/25
date added: 2024/04/25
shelves:
review:
I was not a fan of this book, so would say that it is my least favourite in the series so far. I was struggling to finish it and wanted to quit reading it.

I felt like the author wanted to write a Da Vinci Code style of book but it was not as interesting as that book.

Once again I found Ryan to be annoying and the reason he was included in the trip to Isreal was beyond unbelievable.

I am hoping the next book in the series is better.
]]> Origin (Robert Langdon, #5) 32307358 This an alternate cover for B01LY7FD0D

Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement--the unveiling of a discovery that "will change the face of science forever." The evening's host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon's first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough . . . one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.

As the event begins, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presentation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversial than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch's precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch's secret.

Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain's Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch. On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch's shocking discovery . . . and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us. Origin is stunningly inventive--Dan Brown's most brilliant and entertaining novel to date]]> 482 Dan Brown Mark 3
I have always liked the Dan Brown books for what they are, an entertaining read. Some people get all worked up about them as they sometimes can bring up statements/thoughts that are against what most churches/religions like you to believe. I personally just find them to be fun to read and while I do enjoy hearing about some of the hidden meanings/messages in either art or buildings I don't go all conspiracy theory about it.

If you are a fan of Dan Brown's writing then I recommend reading this book. If you have never read any of his previous books you can read this one first as it works as a stand-alone novel.

Merged review:

Origin is the fifth book in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown, if you are familiar with his writing then you will not be surprised with this book. Once again the professor Robert Langdon is involved in a big conspiracy/event and he must get to the bottom of it using symbols hidden in famous things.

I have always liked the Dan Brown books for what they are, an entertaining read. Some people get all worked up about them as they sometimes can bring up statements/thoughts that are against what most churches/religions like you to believe. I personally just find them to be fun to read and while I do enjoy hearing about some of the hidden meanings/messages in either art or buildings I don't go all conspiracy theory about it.

If you are a fan of Dan Brown's writing then I recommend reading this book. If you have never read any of his previous books you can read this one first as it works as a stand-alone novel.]]> 3.87 Origin (Robert Langdon, #5)
author: Dan Brown
name: Mark
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2017/10/08
date added: 2024/04/24
shelves:
review:
Origin is the fifth book in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown, if you are familiar with his writing then you will not be surprised with this book. Once again the professor Robert Langdon is involved in a big conspiracy/event and he must get to the bottom of it using symbols hidden in famous things.

I have always liked the Dan Brown books for what they are, an entertaining read. Some people get all worked up about them as they sometimes can bring up statements/thoughts that are against what most churches/religions like you to believe. I personally just find them to be fun to read and while I do enjoy hearing about some of the hidden meanings/messages in either art or buildings I don't go all conspiracy theory about it.

If you are a fan of Dan Brown's writing then I recommend reading this book. If you have never read any of his previous books you can read this one first as it works as a stand-alone novel.

Merged review:

Origin is the fifth book in the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown, if you are familiar with his writing then you will not be surprised with this book. Once again the professor Robert Langdon is involved in a big conspiracy/event and he must get to the bottom of it using symbols hidden in famous things.

I have always liked the Dan Brown books for what they are, an entertaining read. Some people get all worked up about them as they sometimes can bring up statements/thoughts that are against what most churches/religions like you to believe. I personally just find them to be fun to read and while I do enjoy hearing about some of the hidden meanings/messages in either art or buildings I don't go all conspiracy theory about it.

If you are a fan of Dan Brown's writing then I recommend reading this book. If you have never read any of his previous books you can read this one first as it works as a stand-alone novel.
]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of the Morning Star (Walt Longmire, #17)]]> 57392708 336 Craig Johnson 0593297261 Mark 0 4.41 2021 Daughter of the Morning Star (Walt Longmire, #17)
author: Craig Johnson
name: Mark
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/04/20
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Monday Mourning (Temperance Brennan, #7)]]> 181116
Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist for both North Carolina and Quebec, has come from Charlotte to Montreal during the bleak days of December to testify as an expert witness at a murder trial.

She should be going over her notes, but instead she’s digging in the basement of a pizza parlor. Not fun. Freezing cold. Crawling rats. And now, the skeletonized remains of three young women. How did they get there? When did they die?

Homicide detective Luc Claudel, never Tempe’s greatest fan, believes the bones are historic. Not his case, not his concern. The pizza parlor owner found nineteenth-century buttons in the cellar with the skeletons. Claudel takes them as an indicator of the bones� antiquity.

But something doesn’t make sense. Tempe examines the bones in her lab and establishes approximate age with Carbon-14. Further study of tooth enamel tells her where the women were born. If she’s right, Claudel has three recent murders on his hands. Definitely his case.

Detective Andrew Ryan, meanwhile, is acting mysteriously. What are those private phone calls he takes in the other room, and why does he suddenly disappear just when Tempe is beginning to hope he might be a permanent part of her life? Looks like more lonely nights for Tempe and Birdie, her cat.

As Tempe searches for answers in both her personal and professional lives, she finds herself drawn deep into a web of evil from which there may be no escape. Women have disappeared, never to return...Tempe may be next.

With its powerful mix of nail-biting suspense and cutting-edge forensic science, Monday Mourning is the best yet from this superbly gifted, megastar author who, as New York Newsday says, is “the real thing.”]]> 383 Kathy Reichs 0743453018 Mark 3
I also am getting sick of the character Ryan, I just find him annoying.

Despite those points I am going to continue to read this series. ]]> 4.05 2004 Monday Mourning (Temperance Brennan, #7)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2004
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/18
date added: 2024/04/18
shelves:
review:
While the story was not bad. I find the author's habit of having the main character knocked unconscious every book to be getting very repetitive and boring. Especially as it doesn't really mean anything, she is never in any danger, all good to go within a chapter.

I also am getting sick of the character Ryan, I just find him annoying.

Despite those points I am going to continue to read this series.
]]> <![CDATA[Bare Bones (Temperance Brennan, #6)]]> 128752 A newborn's charred remains turn up in a woodstove. A small plane crashes in a North Carolina cornfield on a sunny afternoon. Both pilot and passenger are burned beyond recognition. And what is the mysterious black substance covering the bodies? Most puzzling of all are the bones discovered at a remote farm outside Charlotte. The remains seem to be of animal origin, but Tempe is shocked when she gets them to her lab.
With help from a special detective friend, Tempe must investigate a poignant and terrifying case that comes at the worst possible moment. Daughter Katy has a new boyfriend who Tempe fears may have something to hide. And important personal decisions face Tempe. Is it time for emotional commitment? Will she have the chance to find out?
Everything must wait on the bones. Why are the X rays and DNA so perplexing? Who is trying to keep Tempe from the answers? Someone is following her and Katy. That someone must be stopped before it's too late.]]> 416 Kathy Reichs 074345300X Mark 3
I am also not a fan of Ryan. at first I did not mind the character but now I am finding him annoying.

We will see what happens in the next book.]]> 3.98 2003 Bare Bones (Temperance Brennan, #6)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2003
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/14
date added: 2024/04/14
shelves:
review:
This is the sixth book in the series and I am seeing an annoying trend. In every book Temperance gets attacked, knocked out, and confined but for some inexplicable (other than it would be the end of the series) not killed. I am know reading the books just waiting for it to happen, knowing it will happen in the last couple of chapters.

I am also not a fan of Ryan. at first I did not mind the character but now I am finding him annoying.

We will see what happens in the next book.
]]> <![CDATA[Grave Secrets (Temperance Brennan, #5)]]> 281350
And then four young girls go missing from Guatemala City.

When a skeleton is found at the back of a rundown hotel, only someone with Tempe's expertise can deduce the identity and cause of death.

But as she searches for answers, her path is blocked at every turn. It is clear that some people will stop at nothing to keep Guatemala's secrets buried.]]> 315 Kathy Reichs 0684859734 Mark 3 3.99 2002 Grave Secrets (Temperance Brennan, #5)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2002
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/09
date added: 2024/04/09
shelves:
review:
I found this book to be an improvement over the last book. Not really a fan of the "will they or won't they" relationship with Ryan, but that is a minor aspect to the book (and series).
]]> <![CDATA[Fatal Voyage (Temperance Brennan, #4)]]> 128759 448 Kathy Reichs 1416510567 Mark 2
My first complaint was with the character Ryan's inclusion in the novel, it was just too far-fetched to be believable and the author just needed a reason for him to be in the story.

They did introduce a new character that worked, the dog Boyd. I am hoping we see more of him as he was the most interesting part of the book and added all the humour.

Neither of the cases had a satisfying conclusion, the conclusion to the air crash was lame and anti-climatic. The other case had too many names and info and I just lost interest in it.

I am hoping that this book is an exception and the rest of the books in the series get better.

]]> 4.05 2001 Fatal Voyage (Temperance Brennan, #4)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 2024/04/07
date added: 2024/04/08
shelves:
review:
I did not like this book as much as the previous books in the series. It started off alright but then it just seemed to drag on. There were two cases in this book and while you expect them to tie in with each other they really didn't other than location.

My first complaint was with the character Ryan's inclusion in the novel, it was just too far-fetched to be believable and the author just needed a reason for him to be in the story.

They did introduce a new character that worked, the dog Boyd. I am hoping we see more of him as he was the most interesting part of the book and added all the humour.

Neither of the cases had a satisfying conclusion, the conclusion to the air crash was lame and anti-climatic. The other case had too many names and info and I just lost interest in it.

I am hoping that this book is an exception and the rest of the books in the series get better.


]]> <![CDATA[Deadly Decisions (Temperance Brennan, #3)]]> 128754 368 Kathy Reichs 0671028367 Mark 4
The one thing I did not like about the book was her Nephew, Kit, I thought he was just an annoying character. I am hoping that we don't see a lot of him in the series also the side story with Ryan (which I think will take place over a couple of books) is so far fairly predictable. ]]> 3.96 2000 Deadly Decisions (Temperance Brennan, #3)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2024/04/05
date added: 2024/04/06
shelves:
review:
This book sees Doctor Temperance Brennan drawn into the world of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. I thought this was an interesting book, not sure how accurate all the information about motorcycles and gangs was but it sounded impressive.

The one thing I did not like about the book was her Nephew, Kit, I thought he was just an annoying character. I am hoping that we don't see a lot of him in the series also the side story with Ryan (which I think will take place over a couple of books) is so far fairly predictable.
]]> <![CDATA[Death du Jour (Temperance Brennan, #2)]]> 128756 451 Kathy Reichs 0671011375 Mark 3 3.97 1999 Death du Jour (Temperance Brennan, #2)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1999
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/04
date added: 2024/04/05
shelves:
review:
This was another good entry in the series, We learn a bit about Temperance's family in this book. I suspect that we will see more of them in the future.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold (Magic Kingdom of Landover, #1)]]> 15547 324 Terry Brooks 1857232569 Mark 3 3.92 1986 Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold (Magic Kingdom of Landover, #1)
author: Terry Brooks
name: Mark
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1986
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/02
date added: 2024/04/03
shelves:
review:
This is a pretty silly book but one that still enjoy. It is the first book in a fantasy story that is easy to read and safe for the entire family to read (no graphic depictions of violence or sex) and ends on a happy note.
]]> <![CDATA[DĂ©jĂ  Dead (Temperance Brennan, #1)]]> 231604 532 Kathy Reichs Mark 4
I did find a few things to be a tad predictable, such as what happened to her friend. While reading I was just thinking why is it happening to her? However that did not spoil the book for me.

I enjoyed this book and will read the next in the series.]]> 3.89 1997 DĂ©jĂ  Dead (Temperance Brennan, #1)
author: Kathy Reichs
name: Mark
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1997
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/27
date added: 2024/03/28
shelves:
review:
This was a good start to the Temperance Brennan series of books.

I did find a few things to be a tad predictable, such as what happened to her friend. While reading I was just thinking why is it happening to her? However that did not spoil the book for me.

I enjoyed this book and will read the next in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[A Wing and a Prayer: The "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action Over Europe in World War II]]> 59052614 "Written from the unusual perspective of a navigator, this is a compelling account of the air war against Germany." --Publishers Weekly

They began operations out of England in the spring of '43. They flew their Flying Fortresses almost daily against strategic targets in Europe in the name of freedom. Their astonishing courage and appalling losses earned them the name that resounds in the annals of aerial warfare and made the "Bloody Hundredth" a legend.

Harry H. Crosby--soon to be portrayed by Anthony Boyle in the miniseries Masters of the Air developed by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg--arrived with the very first crews, and left with the very last. After dealing with his fear and gaining in skill and confidence, he was promoted to Group Navigator, surviving hairbreadth escapes and eluding death while leading thirty-seven missions, some of them involving two thousand aircraft. Now, in a breathtaking and often humorous account, he takes us into the hearts and minds of these intrepid airmen to experience both the triumph and the white-knuckle terror of the war in the skies.

"Affecting . . . A vivid account . . . Uncommonly thoughtful recollections that address the moral ambiguities of a great cause without in any way denigrating the selfless valor or camaraderie that helped ennoble it." --Kirkus Reviews

"Re-creates for us the sense of how it was when European skies were filled with noise and danger, when the fate of millions hung in the balance. An evocative and excellent memoir." --Library Journal

"The acrid stench of fear and cordite, the coal burning stoves, the heroics, the losses . . . This has to be the best memoir I have read, bar none." --George Hicks, director of the Airmen Memorial Museum]]> 350 Harry H. Crosby 1504067320 Mark 4 history
This was an interesting book, especially if you have watched the TV show and the author has a great way of writing, using self-deprecating humour. He does not shy away from telling the horror that the crew went through but does not go into gritty details about what happened when the flax hits the aircraft. As this is the author’s account of the war he doesn’t go into details about why things are happening so if you are unfamiliar with the Second World War in general you might need to read an overview to put things into context.

If you are interested in Second World War history or are looking for a companion book to the TV show then I would recommend this book.
]]> 4.59 1993 A Wing and a Prayer: The "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action Over Europe in World War II
author: Harry H. Crosby
name: Mark
average rating: 4.59
book published: 1993
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/14
date added: 2024/03/15
shelves: history
review:
A Wing and a Prayer is Lieutenant Colonel Harry Crosby’s autobiographical account of the Second World War and the “Bloody 100th”’s role. If you are watching the TV series “Masters of the Air� then you will recognize the name Harry Crosby, as he is one of the main figures that the show follows and a lot of the events in this book are depicted on screen.

This was an interesting book, especially if you have watched the TV show and the author has a great way of writing, using self-deprecating humour. He does not shy away from telling the horror that the crew went through but does not go into gritty details about what happened when the flax hits the aircraft. As this is the author’s account of the war he doesn’t go into details about why things are happening so if you are unfamiliar with the Second World War in general you might need to read an overview to put things into context.

If you are interested in Second World War history or are looking for a companion book to the TV show then I would recommend this book.

]]> <![CDATA[Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (Enola Holmes, #9)]]> 65214588
Wolcott Balestier, the representative of an American book publisher, arrived in London on a singular mission―to contract with English authors for their latest works. When Balestier disappears on the streets of London one day, his great friend―Rudyard Kipling―bursts into Enola's office looking for help in finding him. Brash and unwilling to hire a young woman, instead he turns to Sherlock Holmes. Convinced that evil has befallen Balestier, at the hands of rival American publishers who pirate the works of English authors, he sets the elder Holmes on the trail.

But Enola is not one to accept defeat, especially not to her brother, and sets off on her own―determined to learn the truth behind the disappearance of the young American. Can book publishing truly be so ruthless and deadly or can the missing man be rescued from his apparent fate and returned to his friends and loved ones?

The redoubtable Enola is determined to do just that, even if it means working with her brother Sherlock!]]> 304 Nancy Springer 1250885736 Mark 4 historical-fiction 4.04 2023 Enola Holmes and the Mark of the Mongoose (Enola Holmes, #9)
author: Nancy Springer
name: Mark
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/12
date added: 2024/03/12
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
Another enjoyable entry in the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons (Enola Holmes, #6.5)]]> 58092761 Enola Holmes is on the case, when a young porter - the boy in buttons - disappears without a trace.

Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft, owns a building in the heart of 19th century London, a place she uses under pseudonyms to front for her investigative work. Employed there is a porter - Joddy, a young boy in a uniform festooned with buttons - whose even younger brother substitutes for him when he's sick. But Paddy disappears after one day at the job and Enola Holmes is alerted to this by the still ill Joddy.

Determined to find the missing porter, Enola travels to the rough part of London where the boys live and starts searching Aldgate Pump area for the missing boy. When she finds the missing buttons - but not the boy - she decides that drastic action is essential if she's to save the missing boy.]]> 21 Nancy Springer 1250838908 Mark 3 3.74 2021 Enola Holmes and the Boy in Buttons (Enola Holmes, #6.5)
author: Nancy Springer
name: Mark
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2024/03/11
date added: 2024/03/11
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen, #1)]]> 15750692
Young Corban watches enviously as boys become warriors under King Brenin’s rule, learning the art of war. He yearns to wield his sword and spear to protect his king’s realm. But that day will come all too soon. Only when he loses those he loves will he learn the true price of courage.

The Banished Lands has a violent past where armies of men and giants clashed shields in battle, the earth running dark with their heartsblood. Although the giant-clans were broken in ages past, their ruined fortresses still scar the land. But now giants stir anew, the very stones weep blood and there are sightings of giant wyrms. Those who can still read the signs see a threat far greater than the ancient wars. Sorrow will darken the world, as angels and demons make it their battlefield. Then there will be a war to end all wars.

High King Aquilus summons his fellow kings to council, seeking an alliance in this time of need. Some are skeptical, fighting their own border skirmishes against pirates and giants. But prophesy indicates darkness and light will demand two champions, the Black Sun and the Bright Star. They would be wise to seek out both, for if the Black Sun gains ascendancy, mankind’s hopes and dreams will fall to dust.]]> 672 John Gwynne 0230758452 Mark 4 fantasy
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.]]> 4.15 2012 Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen, #1)
author: John Gwynne
name: Mark
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2024/03/10
date added: 2024/03/10
shelves: fantasy
review:
This is the first book in The Faithful and the Fallen series. It does a good job of setting up the world and the characters.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
]]> The Covenant of Water 180357146 From the New York Times-bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret

Spanning the years 1900 to 1977, The Covenant of Water is set in Kerala, on India’s Malabar Coast, and follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning—and in Kerala, water is everywhere. At the turn of the century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala's Christian community, grieving the death of her father, is sent by boat to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old husband for the first time. From this unforgettable new beginning, the young girl—and future matriarch, Big Ammachi—will witness unthinkable changes over the span of her extraordinary life, full of joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, her faith and love the only constants.

A shimmering evocation of a bygone India and of the passage of time itself, The Covenant of Water is a hymn to progress in medicine and to human understanding, and a humbling testament to the hardships undergone by past generations for the sake of those alive today. Imbued with humor, deep emotion, and the essence of life, it is one of the most masterful literary novels published in recent years.]]> 715 Abraham Verghese 0802162177 Mark 2 historical-fiction
I did finish the book, but it was a struggle. I found it to be a long-winded saga with lots of unmemorable characters and full of events and scenes that don’t really add to the story, such as depictions of surgery that are over a page in length, just to confirm that the one character is in fact a doctor.

There are a few different stories in the novel, but it takes forever for them to connect with each other and when it does it just does not feel like it was worth the effort it took to get there. I like multi-generational stories, the works of Ken Follett are a good example, this book just did not interest me as much.

The book does give you a good insight into the culture of India and you may need to have a dictionary on standby to look up some phrases that you may not be familiar with but that doesn’t make up for a boring story. I would not recommend this book.
]]> 4.34 2023 The Covenant of Water
author: Abraham Verghese
name: Mark
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/03/01
date added: 2024/03/02
shelves: historical-fiction
review:
They say never judge a book by its cover well I will say this book confirmed my belief that if the book has the “Oprah Book Club� stamp on the cover I will not enjoy the book.

I did finish the book, but it was a struggle. I found it to be a long-winded saga with lots of unmemorable characters and full of events and scenes that don’t really add to the story, such as depictions of surgery that are over a page in length, just to confirm that the one character is in fact a doctor.

There are a few different stories in the novel, but it takes forever for them to connect with each other and when it does it just does not feel like it was worth the effort it took to get there. I like multi-generational stories, the works of Ken Follett are a good example, this book just did not interest me as much.

The book does give you a good insight into the culture of India and you may need to have a dictionary on standby to look up some phrases that you may not be familiar with but that doesn’t make up for a boring story. I would not recommend this book.

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