Branden

Man, this one was certainly the most disgustingly disturbing book I’ve read this year. Totally not what I expected yet was fascinating. So good.

I'm conflicted with this book. It was brilliantly written, yet I don't think it hit home for me. I found myself thinking, as I read, that the Vampire being interviewed was much like a lost young adult who didn't know what their life was to become. I found him whiny and overly dramatic. Maybe that is the point, and perhaps I should have read this earlier in my own life, but I just felt like a book about an emotional vampire wasn't really what I was hoping for. Maybe I should have watched the movie first, and then I would have had a different mindset going in.

Would I recommend it? Yes, but with caveats.

Wow! When I started this book, I didn't think it would quite be this type of book. I'm not sure what exactly I expected, but I'm happy to find that it was a really fun and gripping read. At its core, it is a detective novel/ murder mystery, but it dives into tough topics like climate change and AI in a way that shows a keen understanding from the author. It may feel like it hits too close to home for some, but that might be a good thing. Overall, it is a compelling story and one I would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a new take on the murder mystery theme.

Not as good as the first in the series, but certainly saved by the ending. Also, quite a bit more talk of Spicy Themes than I typically read in other Star Wars books.

Wow! What a crazy and compelling story of survival that ACTUALLY happened. This book makes you understand how much fight the human mind has in the face of adversity and makes you reevaluate the everyday troubles presented to you.

"Ultimately, we all have to look after ourselves, whether on mountains or in day to day life. In my view that is not a license to be selfish, for only by taking good care of ourselves are we able to help others." - Simon Yates

A wonderful summer camp mystery. It keeps you hopeful throughout, while also keeping you guessing. The author also does a great job of making the characters real in your head, while also showing you the difference between the stations of life (wealthy and not wealthy). It may be a bit of a slow build-up, but the ride is totally worth it.

This book does a good job of depicting the Greek Gods as what I believe they are intended to be; imperfect. I don't think at any point you are really supposed to like any of the characters, not even the main one. Like many of the tellings of ancient Greek myths, this story conveys the notion that gods, like mortals, have faults and make bad choices. Those are the choices we learn from to be better. Or, I'm totally off. 🤷‍♂️

Another wonderful story from T. Kingfisher. This had great characters and a unique concept. Overall a lot of fun.

Yes! What a great follow up to the first. The story holds you, and the metaphysical nature of the first is in this one, but not as heavy. The additional characters are compelling and make you want to know more. Eager to see where it goes from here.

Wow! What an intriguing book. I was expecting to be entertained by it, but not in the way it actually delivered. This book reads easily and yet has a way to make you think deeply at times. It is an enjoyable account of an era that saw the changing landscape of women and men and the attitudes of sex and marriage.

Though the first book in this series may have been a big lead-up to this one, upon reading(listening) to this one, it was all worth it. I was engaged much more so in this one. The storylines are wonderfully tied up, and yet there is still room for a twist. This was very much like what I loved about the Saint of Steel books.

This was such a pleasure to read. Filled with remarkable tales of exploration and a study on man’s desire to find the mythical. I learned so much about Sir Walter Raleigh and am happy for it.

Well, I thought knew how it was going to end, and I was wrong. However, I feel like the ending I got wasn’t what the rest of the book was setting up. It’s not bad, just too much twist for a twist’s sake. Also, I felt the writing when it came to character interaction could have been better. Very surface level feeling to me. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it, however I don’t think it made me want to reach for another of her books again.

This was such a wonderful surprise of a book. It had me engaged until the very end. The characters were so well crafted I felt I could see them on the pages. Overall a great adventure story that includes great family and friendship dynamics.

A book that delivers an authentic spy experience but may lean heavily on the descriptions. I enjoyed reading it but it at times seemed disconnected. The ending does wrap everything up, but in a way that maybe hits too close to reality.

4.5* This was a fun read. Certainly lacking in description and not at all worried about the PC nature of the current era, but that is to be expected of a book published 100 years ago. If you are easily triggered this may not be the book for you, however if you enjoy a bit of fun, adventure, drinking, and razzing, then it will be your thing.

Oh my god! This book was so fun to read. Loved every moment of it. It’s funny. It’s emotional. It’s informative. It’s great! The story and characters were so well written and put together. It was easy to care about everything that was going on. Everyone should read this book.

I enjoyed this and found it very interesting to read about such a scandal that occurred over a hundred and forty years ago in America. The writing is down well, though reading through the original letters and writings was a trudge at times. I would recommend to anyone that enjoys learning about early American culture to give it a read.

Fun, self-deprecating, and completely a nineties vibe. Loved it. It does what it set out to do, and you enjoy the read as it does it.

Having read the Saint of Steel series first, I did enjoy getting more background on some of the stuff mentioned in those books, with more to come I'm sure.

This was a good listen, but really just a set-up for the next book I'm assuming. There is good character development and some action, and I hope it all leads to more in Book 2.

4.5* I enjoyed this book though it did take some time to truly get into it. It did a good job of telling Beth’s two storylines much like the author did in his other work “The Devil in the White City,” but at the start doesn’t really show how the two are connected. This is resolved though as the reader gets into the later stages of the book. A good book for those interested in the history of wireless communication, or an interesting true crime story.

Yes! This was such a wonderful follow up to Mr. Mercedes. Not the same story told differently, but it’s own story. Could be a stand alone, however the familiarity with the characters helps push the story along to the good parts. I might even say I enjoyed this one more than the first.

Such a fun read. A classic sci-fi book that is set in the future ( though actually the past as I read it). I enjoyed the time-travel aspect of it and the humor of the main character. It isn’t a story that will keep you guessing, but does keep you entertained.

An enjoyable read that dives into the prejudices of people and gives a glimpse of life on a small island. The murder case at the heart of this book takes a backseat at times to go deeper into understanding the characters involved. It touches on the effects of war on the men who fight in it, and their families as well. All while the writing of the case keeps you on the edge of your seat. Highly recommend.

Of the four (so far) in the series, this one started out as my least favorite. But I enjoyed it still as the characters were familiar and as it went on the story grew on me, and then the last 20% of the book really takes a interesting diversion and sets up what I hope is another book in the near future.