en-US Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:49:36 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 228647
Or have the barbarians already arranged for that themselves? Their brutal attack on the villages of Ten-Towns seals their fate, and that of the youn barbarian Wulfgar. Left for dead, Wulfgar is rescued by the dwarf, Bruenor, in exchange for five years of service . . . and friendship. With the help of the dark elf, Drizzt, Bruenor reshapes Wulfgar into a warrior with both brawn and brains.

But is Wulfgar strong enough to reunite the barbarian tribes? Can an unorthodox dwarf and renegade dark elf persuade the people of Ten-Towns to put aside their petty differences in time to stave off the forces of the crystal shard?Akar Kessel, a weak-willed apprentice mage sets in motion events leading to the rediscovery of the magical device, the crystal shard. But is it merely an inanimate device . . . or is it capable of directing the defeat of Ten-Towns?

Or have the barbarians already arranged for that themselves? Their brutal attack on the villages of Ten-Towns seals their fate, and that of the youn barbarian Wulfgar. Left for dead, Wulfgar is rescued by the dwarf, Bruenor, in exchange for five years of service . . . and friendship. With the help of the dark elf, Drizzt, Bruenor reshapes Wulfgar into a warrior with both brawn and brains.

But is Wulfgar strong enough to reunite the barbarian tribes? Can an unorthodox dwarf and renegade dark elf persuade the people of Ten-Towns to put aside their petty differences in time to stave off the forces of the crystal shard?]]> 333 R.A. Salvatore 0880385359 Billie's Not So Secret Diary 2 by R.A. Salvatore

I read this book understanding that it is the 4th of the Legend of Drizzt series, but originally published first, plus I've had it on my TBR shelf for a few years.
In this world, there are Dwarves, humans, barbarians, giants, trolls, etc, who mostly fight each other, or barely get along in some cities around a lake, where the humans fight each other for the fish that live there.

The main plot of this book is about a whiny man who thinks himself the better wizard even though he has no great powers, who finds an object which makes him powerful, but he's greedy and seeks power, thus going after these cities to prove he is better and powerful, and to hurt those who told him he wasn’t that gifted.

And now after reading, I'm disappointed. While the story, even though typical, was ok, but it was lacking in descriptions. For me, it read more like an outline rather than a story. Everything felt as if it was summed up with a little explanation included. And I got a 'Lord of the Rings' vibe out of it also.

As this is the first book the author published, I am giving the series the benefit of the doubt, believing the hype that the series gets better, though I do not see myself reading any in the foreseeable future.

Even though I may still try another book in the series, I can only give this one 2 stars.]]> 3.82 1988
author: R.A. Salvatore
name: Billie's Not So Secret Diary
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1988
rating: 2
read at: 2021/12/16
date added: 2021/12/16
shelves: own, continuation-of-another-series, confusing-series-order, series-missing-books
review:
The Crystal Shard
by R.A. Salvatore

I read this book understanding that it is the 4th of the Legend of Drizzt series, but originally published first, plus I've had it on my TBR shelf for a few years.
In this world, there are Dwarves, humans, barbarians, giants, trolls, etc, who mostly fight each other, or barely get along in some cities around a lake, where the humans fight each other for the fish that live there.

The main plot of this book is about a whiny man who thinks himself the better wizard even though he has no great powers, who finds an object which makes him powerful, but he's greedy and seeks power, thus going after these cities to prove he is better and powerful, and to hurt those who told him he wasn’t that gifted.

And now after reading, I'm disappointed. While the story, even though typical, was ok, but it was lacking in descriptions. For me, it read more like an outline rather than a story. Everything felt as if it was summed up with a little explanation included. And I got a 'Lord of the Rings' vibe out of it also.

As this is the first book the author published, I am giving the series the benefit of the doubt, believing the hype that the series gets better, though I do not see myself reading any in the foreseeable future.

Even though I may still try another book in the series, I can only give this one 2 stars.
]]> 17855756 In a time when secrets and lies were the foundations of life, someone has discovered the truth. And they are going to tell.

Jules knows what her predecessors created. She knows they are the reason life has to be lived in this way.

And she won't stand for it.

But Jules no longer has supporters. And there is far more to fear than the toxic world beyond her walls.

A poison is growing from within Silo 18.

One that cannot be stopped.

Unless Silo 1 step in.]]> 458 Hugh Howey 1490904387 Billie's Not So Secret Diary 0 4.19 2013
author: Hugh Howey
name: Billie's Not So Secret Diary
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/09
shelves: kindle, to-read, confusing-series-order
review:

]]> 20509356 The new novel from the international bestselling author of the Wool trilogy.

The old world is buried. A new one has been forged atop the shifting dunes. Here in this land of howling wind and infernal sand, four siblings find themselves scattered and lost.

Palmer has never been the same since his father walked out twelve years ago. His elder sister, Vic, is trying to run away from the past; his younger brothers, Connor and Rob, are risking their lives to embrace it. His mother, left with nothing but anger, is just trying to forget.

Palmer wants to prove his worth, not only to his family, but to himself. And in the barren, dune-covered landscape of his home, there is only one way to earn respect: sand-diving. Plunging deep below the desert floor in search of relics and scraps of the old world. He is about to embark on the most dangerous dive of his young life, aiming to become the first to discover the rumoured city below.

Deep within the sand lies the key to bringing his family together � and tearing their world apart.]]> 336 Hugh Howey Billie's Not So Secret Diary 0 4.01 2014
author: Hugh Howey
name: Billie's Not So Secret Diary
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/09
shelves: to-read, kindle, confusing-series-order
review:

]]> 17306293 579 Hugh Howey Billie's Not So Secret Diary 0 4.12 2013
author: Hugh Howey
name: Billie's Not So Secret Diary
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/09
shelves: to-read, kindle, confusing-series-order
review:

]]> 18626815
The first Wool story was released as a standalone short in July of 2011. Due to reviewer demand, the rest of the story was released over the next six months. My thanks go out to those reviewers who clamored for more. Without you, none of this would exist. Your demand created this as much as I did.

This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.

An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.]]> 530 Hugh Howey Billie's Not So Secret Diary 0 4.30 2012
author: Hugh Howey
name: Billie's Not So Secret Diary
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2021/01/09
shelves: to-read, own, series, confusing-series-order
review:

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