tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81091050666038099112024-03-06T00:09:46.503+00:00Ritual of the StonesWelcome to my blog version 2. I originally began this blog way back in 2010 to ramble on about anything tenuously related to the first novel I wrote entitled the Ritual of the Stones. Eight years on I am just finishing my sixth and final novel in the series and am rejuvenating the blog. If you still feel inclined you can tune in and: read my progress, the problems I face and hopefully enjoy my book reviews.Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.comBlogger456125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-82596049181788057312021-04-02T03:00:00.005+01:002021-04-02T03:00:00.226+01:00Book Review - Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01;">Shadow and Bone - Leigh Bardugo</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ehy0KaBVYJb2PxI1asIaweIYa9HUSzwUGfpZZ5NyWHnqCQw2M4NKxAOcyTCQ4bM0i8fPsRsFRDsLFgYmD6OvmRJ0Td3CfIHBhvR9ZqWJtGFAli2Tviy4cwHUEeenbzg6Os50uyeOkvA/s500/Shadow+and+Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ehy0KaBVYJb2PxI1asIaweIYa9HUSzwUGfpZZ5NyWHnqCQw2M4NKxAOcyTCQ4bM0i8fPsRsFRDsLFgYmD6OvmRJ0Td3CfIHBhvR9ZqWJtGFAli2Tviy4cwHUEeenbzg6Os50uyeOkvA/s320/Shadow+and+Bone.jpg" /></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #fcff01;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #fcff01;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></div><p><span face="var(--font-family-text)"><span style="color: white;">Very often I find people apologising for the books they read. It seems to become the vogue for people to make excuses as to why the read Harry Potter for example as if reading YA fiction is something to be ashamed of. </span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">Personally, if the story is good and the characters are enjoyable than that is all that matters. One of my sons has devoured Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories series. Wanting to discuss it with him, I have read the first three as well and have to say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">I was only vaguely aware of the Shadow and Bone series and it wasn’t until I saw the advert on Netflix for the forthcoming TV series that I got interested. I immediately downloaded the first book:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-align: left; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">Here is the blurb:</span></h3><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><i><span style="color: white;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Soldier. Summoner. Saint.</span> Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the Shadow Fold-a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters. But when her regiment is attacked, Alina unleashes dormant magic not even she knew she possessed.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Now Alina will enter a lavish world of royalty and intrigue as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical military elite-and falls under the spell of their notorious leader, the Darkling. He believes Alina can summon a force capable of destroying the Shadow Fold and reuniting their war-ravaged country, but only if she can master her untamed gift.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />As the threat to the kingdom mounts and Alina unlocks the secrets of her past, she will make a dangerous discovery that could threaten all she loves and the very future of a nation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Welcome to <span class="pwa-mark decorator" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-id="GszmLLggMIYe" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" width=\"4\" height=\"4\"><path d=\"M 0 3 L 2 1 L 4 3\" stroke=\"%23FF0000\" fill=\"none\" stroke-linecap=\"square\"/></svg>"); background-origin: initial; background-position: -1px 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 1px;">Ravka</span> . . . a world of science and superstition where nothing is what it seems.</span></i></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">I enjoyed this novel but wouldn’t say I loved it. Alina is your classic protagonist that you will find in 90% of young adult fantasy novels (i.e. an orphan who is unaware of her powers) but that doesn’t matter as she is very likeable and it is a trope we all know and love. The problem I have with her is that she was a little passive. Things just seem to happen to Alina and well, she just lets them. She does undergo some personal growth as a character but there is no signs of this developing throughout the novel, it is more when she is forced into a corner that she stands up for herself.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">The two other male characters I have mixed feelings about. The Darkling was initially intriguing but suddenly changes mid-way through the novel and then becomes a little too <span class="pwa-mark decorator" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-id="wjlsIGtwGWGo" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" width=\"4\" height=\"4\"><path d=\"M 0 3 L 2 1 L 4 3\" stroke=\"%23FF0000\" fill=\"none\" stroke-linecap=\"square\"/></svg>"); background-origin: initial; background-position: -1px 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 1px;">cartoonish</span> as a villain. Mal on the other hand is a great character. The scenes he shares with Alina are well done and the dialogue between them is easy and feels natural. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">The setting is a little under explored but I really like it. The Grisha are intriguing as an elite fighting force and the Shadow Fold dominating the middle of the landscape with its grotesque monsters is a great idea. However, I very much got the sense that we were just given a taster of what is to come in the series, rather than having the world realised in great detail. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">The plot is simple. Alina is identified as having great power (Sun Summoner) and the Darkling wants it for himself whether for good or evil the reader is not sure about in the first half of the novel. Whilst the plot evolves around Alina and her attempts to control her power, I couldn’t help but think Mal’s offscreen journey was more interesting. In truth I would liked to have read about both. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">The majority of the story unfortunately involves the pettiness of other characters. There is the token mean girl in Zoya which really does highlight how this is intended to be a YA novel. I would have much preferred the attention to be on Alina being more proactive in exploring and discovering things for herself.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><span style="color: white;">As I said at the start, overall I enjoyed the novel rather than loved it. There were things I would have liked to have seen expanded on and characters fleshed out, but as an opening novel it is decent and I will be checking out the second novel.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">My rating 8.1</span></h4><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: "PT Serif", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-indent: 32px;" /></p>Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-85905162066003779122021-03-19T20:36:00.000+00:002021-03-19T20:36:00.526+00:00Book Review - Target: Alex Cross (RD)<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Target - Alex Cross by James Patterson</u></span></span></p><p placeholder="Once upon a time…" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0;">Of all the many, many authors I read there's one author I always return to for a nice, quick easy read that brings me comfort. That author is of course, James Patterson. Over the years James Patterson has assembled a stable of authors and has steadily increased the number of books he releases year upon year. He is currently averaging over a book a month. I know many casual readers that read his books exclusively. I am not one of these people obviously as I tend to find the quality of the books he co-authors with others are a bit of a mixed bag. I tend therefore, just a stick to his Alex Cross series which James writes exclusively by himself.</p><p placeholder="Once upon a time…" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0;"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);">Target: Alex Cross is the 26th novel in a series which has mostly been excellent. The books are very different from when they began with Alex cross as a detective hunting down the likes of Gary <span class="pwa-mark decorator" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-id="e0tBccd5Yf8r" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url("data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns=\"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg\" width=\"4\" height=\"4\"><path d=\"M 0 3 L 2 1 L 4 3\" stroke=\"%23FF0000\" fill=\"none\" stroke-linecap=\"square\"/></svg>"); background-origin: initial; background-position: -1px bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; padding-bottom: 1px;">Soneji</span> with his partner John Sampson. These changes have been organic but not always for the better.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);">At one point I thought James Patterson had written himself into a corner as Alex Cross solved more and more cases as a detective and got promotion after promotion. Consequently he was given more high-profile cases until he was dealing with terrorists and presidents. Thankfully, James Patterson readdressed this balance and the last few novels have concentrated on more intimate cases and have been all the better for it.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br /></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);">In this novel however he does indeed deal with an incident involving the President, here is the blurb.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--font-family-text); line-height: var(--paragraph-line-spacing); margin: var(--paragraph-margin) 0; text-indent: var(--paragraph-indent);"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaXV59BXZhtK3KDjqmSPpGj8yMlysHjfNQmh1u7bBgctP38kjMNYZ3c_CJm1wmDZH2RY5tePppoNnJovqOezNtgjbzZXtIOvnt2XYk9P1uk65KrE6ZOF9zRnH0dk1VEZ_VIvVMdDSSVQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="325" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaXV59BXZhtK3KDjqmSPpGj8yMlysHjfNQmh1u7bBgctP38kjMNYZ3c_CJm1wmDZH2RY5tePppoNnJovqOezNtgjbzZXtIOvnt2XYk9P1uk65KrE6ZOF9zRnH0dk1VEZ_VIvVMdDSSVQ/" width="156" /></a></div><p></p></blockquote><br /><br /><i><b>TARGET: HEAD OF STATE</b><br /><br />Alex Cross and his family join men and women from across the nation lining the streets of Washington, DC to mourn the unexpected death of the President.<br /><br /><b>TARGET: UNITED STATES CABINET<br /></b><br />With the country still in shock, the assassination of a prominent Senator strikes another devastating blow to the heart of the nation's capital. As Chief of Detectives, Alex's wife Bree Stone faces an ultimatum: solve the case, or lose her job.<br /><br /><b>TARGET: ALEX CROSS<br /></b><br />The new President calls on Cross to lead an unparalleled FBI investigation to help capture America's most wanted criminal. But what follows will plunge the country into chaos, and draw Cross into the most important case of his life.<br /></i><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b><u>The Review:</u></b></h3><br />I mentioned I wasn’t a fan of the books where they got too high profile because I always thought they were a little outlandish. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Alex Cross’s children have all grown up and have lives of their own. I find this fascinating because as a loyal reader I have seen them grow up and personally have grown up with them. <br /><br />The plot focuses on a series of assassinations to high ranking political figures including an attempted assassination of the President of the United States. Alex is drafted in to be a consultant on finding who is responsible for such heinous crimes, whilst his wife Bree is under extreme pressure from her boss as to why she has not done more in solving the murders. Running alongside this is a subplot where Alex has a patient in his role as a psychologist in dealing with a woman who cannot experience love.<br /><br />The three plot threads are fascinating. Whilst Alex uses his experience and genius to help solve clues, he is far more fallible than normal, he misses things because he tries to juggle too much and he makes mistakes because he's tired and cares too much, basically he is human and that is great to see.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the plot thread that I found the most interesting i.e. the one involving the patient is the one that is unexplored the most. Going forward, I would like to see Alex involved in a story where one of his patients is a criminal mastermind trying to outwit Alex Cross. I always think that he is at his best when he's up against the workings of a genius.<br /><br />Bree struggles in her role and it is struggle mainly because she is living in the shadow of her husband and his reputation. This is a fascinating element to their relationship and one I would like to see explored further. Unfortunately, being James Patterson, the resolution is a little trite. There is no resentment on Bree’s part as she struggles to compete with Alex’s legend which is a shame. It would be good to see the strain it puts on their marriage and how much the case affected their relationship.<br /><br />As usual we are always treated to the minds of the killer in short chapters. Some people love this element to the books whilst other people think that it makes the killers a little too cartoonish. I fall somewhere in between the two. I think sometimes we are shown the killer doing malicious and malevolent things purely to ramp up the tension but after a while I don't think they serve much purpose and it doesn't really add to the growth of the villain or make for an interesting arc. At the same time I see why such chapters are necessary.<br /><br />At 26 books in, I am more interested in the family life dramas. I liked reading about his eldest new girlfriend or how Jannie is doing in her track career. Little Alex is also progressing from an annoying kid to adding more to the story and then of course there is the evergreen Nana Mama who is the backbone to the Cross family life. <br /><br />It is difficult to say to much about the antagonists in the story without giving any of the plot away but I found the whole scenario fascinating; especially the repercussions of the crimes. The ending of the novel was also unexpected and refreshing. <br /><br />Overall, after such a long time out, I loved delving into the Alex Cross series again. It is always the perfect tonic when you finish reading an epic and fancy a quick read.<br /><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br />My rating: 8.3 </span>Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-45757809020257064302021-03-12T13:15:00.001+00:002021-03-12T13:15:41.033+00:00The Crystal Spear<h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;">The Crystal Spear</span></h1><p> <span style="color: white;">It's been a while! To be honest I was going to abandon this site, it is only because I have have recently also set up a sister site about working from home entitled the Working From Home Herald that I returned to this site. I was gobsmacked at the number of views the blog still got. Gobsmacked and completely humbled. </span></p><p><span style="color: white;">It also made me realise that I miss reviewing books. I can't promise that I will review as frequently as before but I will definitely be posting again in the future. </span></p><p><span style="color: white;">In the meantime what have I been up to?</span></p><p><span style="color: white;">Well I have started writing a brand new series called the Forbidden Weapon Saga. In October last year (2020) I realised the first novel in the series (The Crystal Spear). The early reviews were very favourable and I am well and truly engaged in drafting the sequel (40,000 words as of the time of writing which equates to roughly 175 pages)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP6Uq8RLzqNQcbSmJQZc2tF9qMCOTHh6vOBGEjqjKTMWaVrcrtlZz4ex8JX1K6786yOximH4zFspPvIiXHfEKq8r1NnKnOVTMNTiKPGhGf0Kay4ifZk2Dj8GRVMwR5lZHhzvYqQ9FJg4/s2048/The+Crystal+Spear+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP6Uq8RLzqNQcbSmJQZc2tF9qMCOTHh6vOBGEjqjKTMWaVrcrtlZz4ex8JX1K6786yOximH4zFspPvIiXHfEKq8r1NnKnOVTMNTiKPGhGf0Kay4ifZk2Dj8GRVMwR5lZHhzvYqQ9FJg4/s320/The+Crystal+Spear+jpg.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://Mybook.to/TheCrystalSpear"><span style="color: white;">Mybook.to/TheCrystalSpear</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">You can check it out in th</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">e link above:</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">Here is the blurb:</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #444444; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">The Crystal Spear is a weapon so powerful that legends tell of how any warrior that carried it could single-handedly demolish entire armies. It was a story sung by bards across Merindel but nobody truly believed it…until now.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">When Klayton is told by a mysterious stranger that the Crystal Spear is real and given instructions how to infiltrate the palace at Erisea to find it, he cannot resist the challenge. Naïve? Sure! Foolish? Completely. But Klayton could not have possibly known that his discovery would have deadly consequences and reveal an inexplicable bond to the weapon even the myths are unclear about.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">Prince Horan had given up trying to impress his father. He has been considered a failure and a disappointment from the moment he could walk. But when the King and Queen are on a diplomatic visit to a neighbouring island and Erisea comes under attack, Horan sees an opportunity to alter the perception of his father by saving the city, without a thought of the long-term consequences of his actions.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">Finally, there is the Black Shade. The most notorious pirate of the four Isles. The mere mention of his name causes men and women to anxiously glance over their shoulders. The Black Shade has heard rumours that the Crystal Spear is very real and has set his sights on obtaining it.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">Merindel is about to discover that not all legends are myths, but sometimes it is better if they were.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white;">New writing software:</span></h3><div><span style="color: white;">I've also switched writing software. I now use Dabble as opposed to Ywriter. I loved Ywriter but Dabble gives me more flexibility and reliabilty. I will happily post about the merits of both in a future post.</span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">What am I reading?</span></h3><div><span style="color: white;">James Patterson's Target Cross - look out for a review soon.</span></div><div><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">Finally - It's great to be back.</span></h3><div><br /></div><div style="color: #333333;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-63124818144106182982018-11-07T14:19:00.001+00:002018-11-07T14:19:18.292+00:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harness<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p>Review by Jacqui Slaney</o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK-sVrdR9T83DyxLq4RGoeBc-9m0-zPRxxwxI_CqbXRwvtk9K3_azoWMBg3hxM7OHdkFrlgcJW8IeKvNMPg5Wuy2UYJvo3rH7y4s3Fu8aXhbQ6Q2nQyyaxBFnjdCHcashQElCDOlg__Y/s1600/image003-794786.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6621122424585083570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK-sVrdR9T83DyxLq4RGoeBc-9m0-zPRxxwxI_CqbXRwvtk9K3_azoWMBg3hxM7OHdkFrlgcJW8IeKvNMPg5Wuy2UYJvo3rH7y4s3Fu8aXhbQ6Q2nQyyaxBFnjdCHcashQElCDOlg__Y/s320/image003-794786.jpg" /></a></span></u></b><b><u><span style="color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Have you ever seen a title of a film or TV series and think, ‘I know that story’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I was like that when I saw ‘Discovery of witches’ advertised, I saw a few trailers and kept saying to myself I must have read the book, this story seems so familiar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It turned out in the end, that I hadn’t read it at all, it was just one of those books that I had looked into, meant to get it, but never got round to actually buying the thing. After watching the first episode though it gave me the push to buy the book, and then I stopped watching the TV show as I wanted to read the book first before seeing the changes the TV had made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A world of witches, daemons and vampires. </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A manuscript which holds the secrets of their past and the key to their future. </span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Diana and Matthew - the forbidden love at the heart of it.</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When historian Diana Bishop opens an alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, it's an unwelcome intrusion of magic into her carefully ordered life. Though Diana is a witch of impeccable lineage, the violent death of her parents while she was still a child convinced her that human fear is more potent than any witchcraft. Now Diana has unwittingly exposed herself to a world she's kept at bay for years; one of powerful witches, creative, destructive daemons and long-lived vampires. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sensing the significance of Diana's discovery, the creatures gather in Oxford, among them the enigmatic Matthew Clairmont, a vampire geneticist. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Diana is inexplicably drawn to Matthew and, in a shadowy world of half-truths and old enmities, ties herself to him without fully understanding the ancient line they are crossing. As they begin to unlock the secrets of the manuscript and their feelings for each other deepen, so the fragile balance of peace unravels...<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The story starts with a witch called Diana researching history in the Oxford university library, and who meets a vampire called Matthew who is interested in a book she has called up to read. Interesting you might say, but hardly riveting stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Just to give you a little more detail then, just to see if I can catch your interest- Diana is trying not to use her magic due to things that happened in her family. The vampire is a highly respected doctor, and the Oxford Library is suddenly full of daemons and not so friendly witches and vampires all of whom are interested in the book that Diana had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As the story rolls on, the relationship between Diana and Matthew grows and develops, don’t worry, this isn’t a grown up version of twilight, there are no sparkly vampires here, far from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This relationship is forbidden and breaks all the laws of their world, they are warned and so it ultimately leads to conflict, violence and danger for not only them but their families as well, they realise though that the conflict has been coming and it’s not just about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">All through the story though, the book that Diana called up for her research is the keystone, the mystery that has to be broken to help save them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The writing is good and it is easy to get caught up with the characters, all of them are well described, even the supporting cast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Reading other reviews, people complain about Diana swooning and fainting all over the place- to be honest- I must have missed that, as it didn’t register as a complaint with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If I was going to pick holes I could say that the regular references to cold skin against warm and the continued mention of how things smell- as all vampires have an incredible sense of smell can be a little trying, but when I got caught up in the story even they stopped annoying me. Diana started off annoying me, but as her character develops you understand what drives her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I liked the book a lot, it was easy to get lost in, certain scenes are well handled- Matthew hunting, the description of Diana’s house in Salem with all her family ghosts,- the scene with the Norwegian witch ( I will not go into detail about this bit, but when you get there, you will understand) Diana’s memories of her mother that helped her fly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I could go on, even writing about those few scenes I want to mention the yoga class and more but I must leave other readers to make their own mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I should warn perhaps there is some violence in places, after all this is a story about witches and vampires and they don’t get on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I hope I have tweaked your interest, I liked this book so much I went and bought the next two, and in my opinion it’s definitely worth a read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-8554842593528402392018-10-31T10:19:00.003+00:002018-11-07T14:18:14.380+00:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="color: #92d050; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 106%;">C J Sansom – Revelation</span></div>
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<span style="color: #92d050; font-family: "arial";"><span style="color: white;">Over the last decade Historical Fiction has rivalled Fantasy and Crime for my favourite genre. Bernard Cornwell has been the primary source of this love but Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett series has been the standout. C J Samson is fast joining those ranks however. This is the 4</span><sup><span style="color: white;">th</span></sup><span style="color: white;"> book in his Matthew Shardlark series set in Tudor times, which has been excellent to date.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdddLT70zg0q86eRjThADsgeRfYJ1f7ZPp4_sNWfwxuI0i6IzoSnJHpCQnheXSI9EsBizgb7pBGr7TEtJCJ18Cim5HOVTG5DkK2evlqOqbVfhksemWcrpXhCQEBtYTevjrMkfxkf9Hms/s1600/image001-755106.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6618080554462945874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdddLT70zg0q86eRjThADsgeRfYJ1f7ZPp4_sNWfwxuI0i6IzoSnJHpCQnheXSI9EsBizgb7pBGr7TEtJCJ18Cim5HOVTG5DkK2evlqOqbVfhksemWcrpXhCQEBtYTevjrMkfxkf9Hms/s200/image001-755106.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="color: #92d050; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The Blurb:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It is spring, 1543 and King Henry VIII is wooing Lady Catherine Parr, whom he wants for his sixth wife — but this time the object of his affections is resisting. Archbishop Cranmer and the embattled Protestant faction at court are watching keenly, for Lady Catherine is known to have reformist sympathies.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /> <br /> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Matthew Shardlake, meanwhile, is working on the case of a teenage boy, a religious maniac who has been placed by the King's council in the Bedlam hospital for the insane. Should he be released as his parents want, when his terrifying actions could lead to him being burned as a heretic?</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /> <br /> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Then, when an old friend is horrifically murdered, Shardlake promises his widow — for whom he has long had complicated feelings — to bring the killer to justice. His search leads him to connections not only with the boy in Bedlam, but with Archbishop Cranmer and Catherine Parr, and with the dark prophecies of the Book of Revelation.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"><br /> <br /> </span></i><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">As London's Bishop Bonner prepares a purge of Protestants, Shardlake, together with his assistant Jack Barak and his friend Guy Malton, follow the trail of a series of horrific murders that shake them to the core. Murders which are already bringing about frenzied talk of witchcraft and a demonic possession, for what else would the Tudor mind make of a serial killer?</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;"></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Opening line: The high chandeliers in the Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn were ablaze with candles, for it was late afternoon when the play began.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">I’ve said it many times before and I never grow tired of saying it. No matter how exciting a book is, no matter how many twists and turns the plot takes, it is always the characters which elevate a novel to greatness. In Matthew Shardlake and his supporting cast, Sansom has created a set of characters which engage the reader and makes you care for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Revelation starts a little slowly if I am honest. That is not to say it is not enjoyable, it just takes a little while for the plot to establish itself and its direction. Matthew dallies a little with the Adam, a teenage boy placed in Bedlam for his obsession over praying but at the same time one of his good friends is murder. Neither plot seems to go anyway for a little while before all of a sudden another murder occurs and a connection is made hinting at serial killer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">From this moment the story never looks back and whisks you along in a battle of minds between Matthew and the mysterious killer. I say “whisks” at 623 pages this is a hefty novel but the pace and the enjoyment level of the story means it flies by (yes, I know it took me a long time to read but that is because I now have three kids, a dog and no commute to read on).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Matthew is as righteous as ever, but there is also a steel to him where he is not afraid to speak out against injustice. His authoritative voice when dealing with the guards at Bedlam make it clear he is a respected lawyer that carries some weight to his actions. The best thing about Matthew is that his main weapon is his brain. Afflicted with a crookback he is severely limited to the more physical exertions of the job. Samson handles this disability expertly, he demonstrates the limitations Matthew has but never describes it as a hindrance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Aside from Matthew, the secondary characters all have interesting plots which are intriguing. Jack Barak struggles with his marriage to Tamasin as the pair attempt to overcome the loss of their baby, Barak also struggles with the nature of the killings which is refreshing as normally Matthew’s assistant is unflappable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">Guy also has a new assistant who Matthew immediately does not trust. This adds a sense of conflict between Matthew and Guy which we haven’t seen before. Both plots are great and serve to add pressure on Matthew as he is clearly affected by what is going on with both friendships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">It would be remiss not to mention the setting. Tudor London is brought to life complete with all it’s grime, disease and begging. The backdrop of King Henry’s proposal to Catherine Parr along with the conflict with the radicals serve as a fantastic backdrop whilst Bedlam is described as suitably horrific whilst at the same time possessing an element of light and goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">The killings are inventive and horrific and although I can’t say I was massively surprised by the reveal of the killer, I can’t say I was 100% confident in my suspicions. Add to that the comic element of Bealknap and the gravitas of Lord Hertford, this is one of the best entries into the series.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%;">My rating: 9.2 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-16919388806703968432018-10-23T14:42:00.000+01:002018-10-23T14:42:22.639+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk528061790"><span style="color: #2ef23c; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Strange Weather - Joe Hill<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: white;">I’ve read most of Joe Hill’s novels. Like the majority of people, I was intrigued by his full debut novel, </span><i><span style="color: white;">Heart Shaped Box </span></i><span style="color: white;">and liked it a lot. His follow-up novel </span><i><span style="color: white;">Horns </span></i><span style="color: white;">had a premise which sounded terrible but was actually really enjoyable. It was </span><i><span style="color: white;">NOS4R2 </span></i><span style="color: white;">which really made me sit up and take notice though. I thought that was an excellent book. The </span><i><span style="color: white;">Fireman </span></i><span style="color: white;">pro</span></span><span style="color: white; mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;">mised to be his magnus opus and whilst I enjoyed it, I was a little disappointed if truth be told. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: white;">I have never read his short story collection </span><i><span style="color: white;">20</span><sup><span style="color: white;">th</span></sup><span style="color: white;"> Century Ghosts</span></i><span style="color: white;"> but have heard a lot of good things about it. I have however read his collaboration with his father </span><i><span style="color: white;">In the tall grass</span></i><span style="color: white;"> which I loved and I also really enjoyed his comic </span><i><span style="color: white;">Locke and Key.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;">So it was with an open mind that I approached his new collection of novellas:</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;">The Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><i><span lang="EN" style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">One autumnal day in Boulder, Colorado, the clouds open up in a downpour of nails, splinters of bright crystal that tear apart anyone who isn't safely under cover. 'Rain' explores this escalating apocalyptic event, as clouds of nails spread out across the country and the world. Amidst the chaos, a girl studying law enforcement takes it upon herself to resolve a series of almost trivial mysteries . . . apparently harmless puzzles that turn out to have lethal answers.<br /> <br /> In 'Loaded' a mall security guard heroically stops a mass shooting and becomes a hero to the modern gun movement. Under the hot glare of the spotlights, though, his story begins to unravel, taking his sanity with it... <br /> <br /> 'Snapshot, 1988' tells the story of an kid in Silicon Valley who finds himself threatened by The Phoenician, a tattooed thug who possesses a Polaroid that can steal memories...<br /> <br /> And in 'Aloft' a young man takes to the skies to experience parachuting for the first time . . . and winds up a castaway on an impossibly solid cloud, a Prospero's island of roiling vapour that seems animated by a mind of its own.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Opening Sentence:</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="color: white;">N/A</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Days to read: 8</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">The collection opens with </span><i><span style="color: white;">Snapshot </span></i><span style="color: white;">which is a terrific example of exploring the classic writing trope of “what if there was…” in this case it is a camera which steals people’s memories. I liked this story a lot. The Phoenician is a sinister antagonist who Hill quickly makes the reader hate, but at the same time demonstrates how dangerous he is. It takes place over the course of a single day and has an protagonist to root for in Michael. </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">8</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><i><span style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Loaded</span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;"> is the longest novel and in my opinion by far the best. Hill does a fantastic job of exploring a man under pressure and the lengths he would go to protect his status and secret. It is the least fantastical of the four novels but the characters more than make up for it. </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">9</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><i><span style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Aloft </span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">is my least favourite although I can appreciate the idea. It tells the story of a man who parachutes out of a plane and lands on a solid cloud, which appears to manifest objects as he thinks of them. This is not a bad story, but I found it a little boring, despite having a good ending.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">6</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><i><span style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Rain </span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">is a post-apocalyptic novel based on the premise of lethal rain suddenly falling from the sky. It is the most horrific of all the four novels, with gruesome scenes. It loses something in the middle as the protagonist travels about, but the beginning and ending is very strong. </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">8</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">Overall, the novels work well as a collection, offering a nice variety both from each other and from what you’d expect to see in a traditional novel. Only </span><i><span style="color: white;">Aloft </span><span style="color: white;"> </span></i><span style="color: white;">is a novel I wouldn’t recommend to others.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk528061790;"><span style="color: red; line-height: 115%;">My rating: 8.4 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-32964613999724020292018-10-10T07:59:00.000+01:002018-10-10T07:59:11.139+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">So the wait is finally over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Only Stones Remain has been released!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Buy, buy, buy and enjoy the explosive conclusion to the Ballard of Frindoth!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Purchase by clicking the link below <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Stones-Remain-Ballad-Frindoth-ebook/dp/B07HN9G27X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539012835&sr=8-1&keywords=only+stones+remain">Only Stones Remain - UK</a><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Only-Stones-Remain-Ballad-Frindoth-ebook/dp/B07HN9G27X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539013445&sr=8-1&keywords=only+stones+remain">Only Stones Remain - US</a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zmjayjaTZVEhkIP47JGwKqh5NWsuDrPApsZ04OMnLZjkeppxuz5HQs3WCPn8iKZNC4652Oj2rD_uWrLL9Yi4KS_oV0RLeuUzTD9XF4pNvnCvLWFKijdJqXe84WKSZS3DYrN_G5zt_DU/s1600/image001-782553.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6610290890069017154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zmjayjaTZVEhkIP47JGwKqh5NWsuDrPApsZ04OMnLZjkeppxuz5HQs3WCPn8iKZNC4652Oj2rD_uWrLL9Yi4KS_oV0RLeuUzTD9XF4pNvnCvLWFKijdJqXe84WKSZS3DYrN_G5zt_DU/s320/image001-782553.jpg" /></a></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-75398027806516594732018-09-24T04:00:00.000+01:002018-09-24T04:00:08.670+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk522268562"><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Linda Green – The last thing she told me<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="color: white;">Around 75% of the books I read are down to reviews or recommendations, 20% are because of exciting covers enticing me and the remaining 5% is down to the title and blurb. The last thing she told me is an example of the latter. The title is intriguing enough for me to check out the blurb, it was that line in the blurb though that blew me away and made me download the book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span lang="EN"><span style="color: white;">Moments before she dies, Nicola's grandmother Betty whispers to her that there are babies at the bottom of the garden.</span> <br /> </span></i></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="color: white;">I mean, come on! Who doesn't want to read the book after reading that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATnR2boh1pm7HtaKC9UPgAbqR2EpjXfh4CIFtaLDz5t402ubUeODdII_rmVpoFHutTGJGj3MfBn6rw9QPsS4ASbbNZvP8YlcEB0e3_oe5EpALqMzL5hvj1-_am1zNdocExBoD8TO3udk/s1600/image003-797646.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6603211564379074706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATnR2boh1pm7HtaKC9UPgAbqR2EpjXfh4CIFtaLDz5t402ubUeODdII_rmVpoFHutTGJGj3MfBn6rw9QPsS4ASbbNZvP8YlcEB0e3_oe5EpALqMzL5hvj1-_am1zNdocExBoD8TO3udk/s320/image003-797646.jpg" /></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;">The Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">Even the deepest buried secrets can find their way to the surface....<br /> <br /> Moments before she dies, Nicola's grandmother Betty whispers to her that there are babies at the bottom of the garden.<br /> <br /> Nicola's mother claims she was talking nonsense. However, when Nicola's daughter finds a bone while playing in Betty's garden, it's clear that something sinister has taken place.<br /> <br /> But will unearthing painful family secrets end up tearing Nicola's family apart?</span><b></b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Opening Sentence:</span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">The house appeared to know that its owner was about to die, shrouded, as it was, in early-morning mist, the downstairs curtains closed in respect, the gate squeaking mournfully as I opened it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><b><span lang="EN" style="color: white; line-height: 115%;">Days to read:</span><span lang="EN" style="line-height: 115%;"> <span style="color: red;">25<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The question you're all wondering now is: Did the book live up to the blurb? The answer is: yes, no, maybe so, but on the whole yes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Why the confusing answer I hear you ask? Well it's a mixture of a very good story, good characters, a lot of implausibility and some slow places within the novel. For example, given the blurb we know full well there are going to be babies at the bottom of the garden otherwise what would be the point of the novel? However, it takes a little while for this point to be reached. The protagonist is told almost immediately the disturbing confession of her dying Grandmother but it takes quite a long time before she begins to believe her. This is a little frustrating although I can see why the authors done it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The book focuses on the main protagonist Nicola, who is a reasonable enough character. She's realistic in her actions and behaviour but there is nothing that really makes her stand out. Her husband James is a bit of a non-entity to be honest. He is incredibly supportive and goes along with anything Nicola says and doesn't add any real conflict to the plot. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The best characters are supporting cast. Nicola's eldest daughter Ruby, definitely steals the scenes she is part of. She has had enough angst over her past and wondering who her real father to make her interesting. This conflict carries the novel and propels it into a much more dramatic story, elevating it above your normal mystery. The struggle between mother and daughter and daughter and step-dad is well handled and quite moving in at times.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Linda Green keeps the tension high as she expertly reveals piece by agonizing piece of the puzzle. This is done through clever devices such as a great aunt with amnesia in a mental home and then a mysterious relative who comes in but seems reluctant to reveal the truth of the past. Couple this with a mother who also clams up tighter than a safe when the past is mentioned means the reader is only treated the odd snippet of information every now and then. Whilst a little frustrating, it never gets transforms in to annoyance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">The news of the babies soon becomes widespread, and this adds another dimension in how the community reacts to the shocking news. This results in various unpleasant actions against Nicola and her family, which whilst gruesome never ringed true to me – mainly because there was no reason for the community to behave that way to Nicola who was completely innocent of the events in the past. Her only fault was pursing the truth which suggests she was being warned away from enquiring any further. Nicola however, never makes a big song and dance about her investigation to ruffle any feathers and so this part of the novel didn’t work. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">What did and didn't work for me was inclusion to the mystery as a novel unfolds. There are actually three mysteries that run throughout the book: the main one is fantastic and really get me thinking about the past and the way people behaved. It is a satisfying conclusion to a great premise. The other two mysteries, whilst also good is where the aforementioned implausibility comes in to effect. The fact that the three incidents/mysteries happen to the same family I found a little bit hard to believe - and I'm a man that writes fantasy novels!</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;">Having said all that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Linda Green is an author that is very accomplished and I will definitely look out for more of her work in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">My rating: 8.8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-14422624248125606642018-09-17T04:00:00.000+01:002018-09-17T04:00:00.551+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk522268562"><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 14.0pt;">Tom Sharpe – Ancestral Vices<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;">I have to admit comedy books don’t overly do it for me. I’ve read Pratchett and enjoyed some of them, but I find I have to be in the mood. Other books where reviews have stated that the book is “hilarious” and “laugh out loud” funny, I have found mildly amusing. It is weird as I am a huge fan of comedy as a genre. When my brother-in-law pointed out that he reads all the books he recommends and I don’t reciprocate, I welcomed his endorsements and then groaned when he suggested a couple of Tom Sharpe books. As a man of my word though, I promised to give them ago. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VGXNsJ9ONBRHopvoHpfhs60YzBQSVar26qrZEkM1HL2-1XYwVLlI75MP79sCXfkD7Ux5O351xWX-KwokW7JODxao5FsPeQB96XnITwyBMZc3GHfD2DcYDIcp5cbGRYbhGAAWTY1cDRw/s1600/image003-776847.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6601067425566628018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VGXNsJ9ONBRHopvoHpfhs60YzBQSVar26qrZEkM1HL2-1XYwVLlI75MP79sCXfkD7Ux5O351xWX-KwokW7JODxao5FsPeQB96XnITwyBMZc3GHfD2DcYDIcp5cbGRYbhGAAWTY1cDRw/s320/image003-776847.jpg" /></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;">The Blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With his only friend a computer, Walden Yapp has lived a singular life. Professor of Demotic History at the University of Kloone, Yapp spends his days highlighting the corrupt capitalistic nature of the upper-classes, and his nights feeding Doris his computer the information he has gathered<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">So when capitalist Lord Petrefact hires him to write a damaging family history, Yapp seizes the chance to chronicle the corrupt life of the Petrefact family. Spurred on by his expectations of dishonesty and depravity Yapp heads of the town of Buscott, where nobody is what they at first appear to be.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Now a pawn in Lord Petrefact’s vindictive family game, Yapp’s presence is as welcome as the plague. From provoking dwarfish marital problems to uncovering an erotic toy factory Yapp’s presence sparks a chain of events that ends in death, destruction and a murder trial. <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Going through a car wash will never feel the same again</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence: <span style="color: red;">Lord Petrefact pressed the bell on the arm of his wheelchair and smiled</span></span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><b><span lang="EN">Days to read: <span style="color: red;">12<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">I’m just going to come out and say it, I have to put my words on a plate, smother them with humble sauce and devour them because I loved this book. Not only that, there were occasions when I was genuinely laughing out loud. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">Don’t get me wrong, I struggled with it at first. The language seemed a little too flowery and pompous for me without seemingly adding anything to the story. However, once the story gets going it, the laughs come thick and fast as the characters meander from one set piece to another. Some of these are brilliant conceived and the best thing about them is they are all weaved together expertly and never feel contrived.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">The story is littered with excellent characters, all satirically observed and extreme in their views. Sharpe exploits these but at the same time manages to make them all endearing. My personal favourite was Emmelia who experiences a bit of a journey of self-discovery as she finally wakes up to her archaic and prejudiced ways.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">It would be unfair to try and analyze the plot as there is only a very loose one. What I will say is that this is a story of characters finding themselves and loosing themselves in the most farcical way possible. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">There are incidents that stand out above all others, the bathroom scene for instance or the visit to the Buscott factory, but I found every scene containing something that amused me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span lang="EN">This is my first Tom Sharpe novel and won’t be my last. It has changed my opinion on comedy books and for that I can’t recommend it enough.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk522268562;"><span style="color: red;">My rating: 9.2</span></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-81096539620520951592018-09-11T08:02:00.000+01:002018-09-11T17:34:46.601+01:00<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: lime;">John Connolly - The Woman in the Woods</span></h2>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Well I could hardly do a review of all my favourite authors and not include John Connolly could I? John Connolly writes almost the perfect </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">type of </span><span style="color: white;"> novel for me</span><span style="color: white;">:</span><span style="color: white;"> a </span><span style="color: white;">gruesome, </span><span style="color: white;"> thriller</span><span style="color: white;"> with </span><span style="color: white;">an element of the supernatural. The </span><i><span style="color: white;">W</span><span style="color: white;">oman in the </span><span style="color: white;">w</span><span style="color: white;">oods</span></i><span style="color: white;"> marks his 1</span><span style="color: white;">6</span><span style="color: white;">th book in the Charlie Parker series; a series that has not seen a drop off in quality at any point.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a class="a-link-normal a-text-normal" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woman-Woods-Charlie-Thriller-Bestselling-ebook/dp/B073B62LHZ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536303216&sr=8-1&keywords=john+connolly+the+woman+in+the+woods" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Woman in the Woods: A Charlie Parker Thriller: 16. From the No. 1 Bestselling Author of A Game of Ghosts" class="s-access-image cfMarker" data-search-image-load="" height="218" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61OyUeGed7L._AC_US218_.jpg" width="218" /></a></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white;">The Blurb:</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It is spring, and the semi-preserved body of a young Jewish woman is discovered buried in the Maine woods. It is clear that she gave birth shortly before her death.<br /> <br /> But there is no sign of a baby.<br /> <br /> Private detective Charlie Parker is engaged by the lawyer Moxie Castin to shadow the police investigation and find the infant, but<i></i> Parker is not the only searcher. Someone else is following the trail left by the woman, someone with an interest in more than a missing child, someone prepared to leave bodies in his wake.<br /> <br /> And in a house by the woods, a toy telephone begins to ring.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">For a young boy is about to receive a call from a dead woman…</span> <br /> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Opening Sentence:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">The bar was one of the more recent additions to Portland's waterfront, although the term 'recent' was relative given the rapid pace of development in the city.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Days to Read:</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> <span style="color: red;">27 (😞)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What I like most about this series is Charlie Parker is a feared man but not </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">because </span><span style="color: white;"> of how excellent he is as a detective or how strong, brave and impervious to pain he is (because he is certainly not all of those things). He gains that reputation purely for surviving numerous attempts on his life</span><span style="color: white;">.</span><span style="color: white;"> </span><span style="color: white;">I</span><span style="color: white;">t gives him a legendary respect</span><span style="color: white;"> from his enemies</span><span style="color: white;">, one that he's not even aware of half the time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">W</span><span style="color: white;">oman in the woods</span></span></i><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Parker is a damaged man he is recovering from his injuries and he </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">i</span><span style="color: white;">s also trying to repair the relationship he has with the police force who no longer trust him and see him as a hindrance rather than a help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The book introduces </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Quayle</span><span style="color: white;"> and his mysterious and quite frankly weird female sidekick. Both are in search of the dead woman and missing child as they believe before she died, she had I'm her possession a book of great importance. </span><span style="color: white;">In terms of plot details it really is that simply, apart from when Louis picks a fight with a local racist Bobby Ocean. Of course with a Connolly novel there are several twists and turns along the way, one of which is Parker trying to tread carefully with the police and thus hindering his usual bullish approach to investigating.</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: white;">Quayle</span><span style="color: white;"> and his female sidekick are terrific characters they are strange yet at the same time menacingly dangerous</span><span style="color: white;">;</span><span style="color: white;"> both have the hint of the supernatural about them although it is never explicitly demonstrated.</span><span style="color: white;"> With Quayle you get the sense that he is not just another throw away villain and so it proves. </span><span style="color: white;">It is inevitable that their paths will cross with Charlie Parker although this does not happen for </span><span style="color: white;">a long time in </span><span style="color: white;">the novel and so the tension towards them finally meeting is a terrific undertone</span><span style="color: white;"> running throughout</span><span style="color: white;">.</span><span style="color: white;"> Quayle is also the only villain I can recall to actually step up and try and make Parker’s life hell. It makes for great reading I can tell you!</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Of course it would not be a Charlie Parker novel without his two best friends Angel and Louis.</span><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Angel features only fleetingly in this story as he too is seriously ill in hospital. This leads a more fragile and quite frankly lost Louis. He is missed as are the Fulci’s but it does allow Louis to fill more of the stage. We’ve seen glimpses into Louis’ psyche before, but never has he been laid so bare and vulnerable before us. His scenes with Parker are touching and it is refreshing to see this side of the cold blooded killer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">With each novel in the series you get the sense that more and more of the supernatural mystery is being unveiled – most notably who and what is the damn Buried God.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Overall this is a fantastic addition to the series. The ending is a little abrupt and it is clear that this novel more than any other is part of a largely story arc, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that as a standalone this is up there with Connolly’s best.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My rating: 9.3</span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-87388077350753351052018-09-06T15:09:00.004+01:002018-09-06T15:09:51.365+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u>Another Introduction from Me. (Jackie Slaney)<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay2HajHFf9i5QluMmMdSXuyOiUqg9eGIq0euGzORw7GwMWO7pj-SqgjbjnOdp1u1N7eTzGizOe140yWcB1HqWZ0PxwF9iGAZeAgABFDIt66je_ZIDrFTIycAT3qLxwC3tX1pJWPVLy2k/s1600/image001-769880.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6598112885705471186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjay2HajHFf9i5QluMmMdSXuyOiUqg9eGIq0euGzORw7GwMWO7pj-SqgjbjnOdp1u1N7eTzGizOe140yWcB1HqWZ0PxwF9iGAZeAgABFDIt66je_ZIDrFTIycAT3qLxwC3tX1pJWPVLy2k/s320/image001-769880.jpg" /></a><b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Rob, very kindly asked me to contribute again to his blog, which I am more than happy to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But in between thinking about what books I have read recently and what one to write about first, I suddenly found myself in a discussion in the office about books people read and explaining why I enjoy fantasy books so much.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a very bizarre conversation, as at the start one of the people was quite dismissive, personally its never bothered me what people read, and I would certainly never dream of saying that one genre is better than another.</div>
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Nowadays I read nearly anything, from Sci-Fi/fantasy to ancient Rome, from zombie books to murder mysteries, but I will admit that I became quite defensive over the whole “fantasy books are just fancy comics comments.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I will not go in to detail, but the person concerned quickly regretted his words!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The conversation though, (especially after the doubter was silenced) became quite in depth and when I was asked, ‘well why did you start reading sci-fi/fantasy then?’ has made me think. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why did I start reading that genre when most of my friends at the time were not reading much or reading very girly books?</div>
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I suppose I can say I was lucky in a way being the youngest in a household, which meant there were always books lying around that family members had read and just then left, the majority of which were casts off from my brother.</div>
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This meant that I came across Star Trek, Arthur C Clarke and Robert Heinlein at quite a young age, these books along with Tolkien caught my imagination and led me to our local library, where I was extremely lucky as the lady librarian in charge didn’t dismiss a small girls strange book requests, and even used to find books for me and put them to one side.</div>
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To this day, Antonia Barber, Susan Cooper and Alan Garner are just a few of the authors whose books I read that I still remember now.</div>
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I was also lucky as I grew older with various English teachers at school encouraging my reading and also starting my interest in writing as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYerbfEKYFDlF2ZHiSpxX2gdgNsGl_-kJ9altx_mBj6_prILbPdFrlZrmhlPPrAF8qpWCPqhpukLNFziUu6-G_0FWc07X3ZDuM9y_Pno2AXP8_O5kgCtzxDPUBC7z4PK3n0yXnbZtS_Z8/s1600/image002-772765.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6598112893990061874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYerbfEKYFDlF2ZHiSpxX2gdgNsGl_-kJ9altx_mBj6_prILbPdFrlZrmhlPPrAF8qpWCPqhpukLNFziUu6-G_0FWc07X3ZDuM9y_Pno2AXP8_O5kgCtzxDPUBC7z4PK3n0yXnbZtS_Z8/s320/image002-772765.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghosts-Pocket-Books-Archway/dp/0671707140/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536242707&sr=8-3&keywords=antonia+barber"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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So why did I start reading these? The honest answer is that they were so well written, and so imaginative how could anyone not like them? They were escapes from the humdrum and boring, and now with various hospital visits, I still find it the same.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though I read loads more different types of books now, I still find myself looking at the fantasy sections first in any bookshop.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So apologies to all, as this was supposed to be a review about a book that I had read, but turned in to something else all together, but I suppose in a way its a review of the fantasy books I have enjoyed over the years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That reminds me, I must really find that Antonia Barber book I had, I have a sudden need to reread it again. </div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-44253183857908446652018-08-17T11:37:00.000+01:002018-08-17T11:38:44.609+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 14.0pt;">Robert Galbraith – Career of Evil</span></u></b><br />
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I have to confess I hadn’t heard about Robert Galbraith until the revelation many years ago that it was a pseudonym for JK Rowling. Having loved the Harry Potter series (yes, I queued up to get the last two books at midnight and yes I was in my mid to late twenties).<br />
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Having heard mixed reviews about the Casual Vacancy (still haven’t got round to reading that), I approached the new series with a degree of trepidation. It turns out I had no cause for concern. I loved <i>the Cuckoo’s Calling</i> and enjoyed <i>the Silkworm</i> even more. I was very much looking forward to this third entry to the series then.<br />
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The Blurb:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman's severed leg.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible - and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them...</span></i><br />
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<b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence: <span style="color: red;"> He had not managed to scrub off all her blood.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 16 (Audible)</span></b><br />
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One of the main things Galbraith excels at is creating excellent characters. In Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott he has created one of the best partnerships in fiction today. They get on so well, that I actually can’t stand it when they do argue. I recall in the Harry Potter series anytime Harry and Ron bickered, I couldn’t wait until they reconciled. However, with those two characters, although I could see the reason for their polarised views, I knew it would only be a matter of time before they were on speaking terms again. With Strike and Robin however, when they argue I am genuinely fearful it will be the end of their friendship. <br />
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Galbraith has created such a strong and stubborn character in Strike that you know how he is going to react and you also anticipate how difficult it will be for him to change his opinion. With Robin, you have a character desperate to prove herself at all costs, failing to see the wood through the trees.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Both of these character traits come to the fore in Career of Evil as both characters are developed. In both Strike and Robin we learn more about their past which provides plausible explanations for their current situations and decision making.<br />
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It makes for tense, fascinating reading and in all honesty, I love both these characters so much I could read a whole book about these two characters making a cup of tea and then staring at a blank wall. We also get more insight into Strike’s love-life and are reminded that he is not the nicest and caring of people. <br />
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The secondary characters are also fleshed out more in this novel. Matthew – Robin’s fiancé appears more than just the caricature of the pompous ass he has seemed previously, whilst Robin’s mum also gets some screen time. The best character is Cormoran’s shady associate Shanker. He displays a dozen shades of grey tinged with a large dose of loyalty which is extremely endearing.<br />
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The plot is intriguing; when Robin receives a body part in the mail, Strike identifies a number of potential culprits who could be out to get him. Not only do these suspects add more layers to Strike’s character they are also interesting in their own right. What I liked most about this story, is that it also reveals Strike’s struggle to maintain his business. Despite a couple of high profile cases, the job offers have not exactly come flooding in and his relationship with the police force is tenuous. It all makes for a grounded, realistic story.<br />
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The ending is extremely satisfying both in the revelation of the criminal and the conclusion to the personal dramas going on in Strike’s and Robin’s lives. The next book in the series is released in September 2018 and I don’t think I can wait to read it.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">My rating: 9.2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-89437155903221770622018-08-10T16:06:00.001+01:002018-08-10T16:06:48.149+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: lime;">James Patterson – Cross the Line<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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As many of you know I find something inherently comforting about reading James Patterson’s Alex Cross series. Alex Cross was the first series I really invested in many moons ago. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the years the series has gone from excellent, to having a major dip as the character of Alex Cross seemed to become too unwieldly for Patterson to handle. As an author Patterson made the smart move of stripping the series down to the basics and letting his protagonist concentrate on more intimate threats. As a result, there has been a considerable increase in quality.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="color: white;">Shots ring out in the early morning hours in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. When the smoke clears, a high-ranking cop lies dead.<br /> <br /> Under pressure from the mayor, Alex Cross steps into the leadership vacuum to investigate the audacious killing. But before Cross can make any headway, a wave of murders erupts across the city. The victims have one thing in common – they are all criminals.<br /> <br /> And the only thing more dangerous than a murderer without a conscience is a killer who thinks he has justice on his side.</span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">He change identity like many warriors do before battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 13<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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I really enjoyed this latest entry in the series. I prefer the Alex Cross novels when the antagonists are less cartoonish and the threats are more personal. In Cross the Line however, the villains are neither. They are criminals with a conscience believing they are ridding the world of a nasty presence and thus making the world a better place. For once they don’t have a personal vendetta against Alex Cross and could not care less who he is. As a result, it reminded me of the earlier novels where Alex had to solve the crime like a normal detective without worrying about his family.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Why is this so refreshing I hear you ask? For the simple reason that it allowed the other members of his family to breathe and have their own story arcs: Janine continues to pursue her running career and faces more hurdles (excuse the pun), Little Alex has a bit more substance to him whilst Bree struggles in her new promotion. It serves to provide a more rounded picture of the Cross family and makes you more invested in the characters.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>The pace of the novel is as fast paced as usual. Cross and Sampson work well together but they appear more vulnerable in this novel. Their age is catching up with them a little and they survive encounters more by luck than ability. Again, this is nice to see.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>The end is extremely satisfying as we get a good old fashion chase and slugfest. I always say with James Patterson you know what you are getting. A nice, comfort read that ticks enough of the boxes for you to enjoy yourself a lot and come back for more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-63918834519749804772018-08-03T16:09:00.000+01:002018-08-03T16:09:37.426+01:00Cover reveal<div class="WordSection1">
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A few weeks ago I promised a cover reveal. Well today is the day I make good on that promise. Normally this is the point I would do a bit of a blurb, talk about the writing process and then post a picture of the cover. I always find that interesting when other authors do it, however, having discovered I can design pretty good maps with a little bit of effort (more on that in future – see I am such a tease), I decided to experiment with making a video reveal. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It is by no means a professional video, but it was quite fun making it. Apart from scaring myself witless filming in the woods at night, it was also interesting editing the video and learning about commercial licensing for the music etc. When I said interesting, you know I meant “frustrating” right?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So here it is, the cover of my final book in the Ballard of Frindoth series: Only Stones Remain. </div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-13999732322410456172018-07-27T14:38:00.001+01:002018-07-27T14:38:20.571+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk519260362"><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;">C J Tudor – The Chalk Man<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span style="color: white;">This title popped up on my audible app and I was immediately intrigued. It just goes to show what a good title and cover can do. It also helped that the book was endorsed by Stephen King apparently.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;">The blurb:</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><br /></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><i><span lang="EN">In 1986, Eddie and his friend are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy little English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for each other as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing will ever be the same. <br /> <br /> In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out his other friends got the same messages, they think it could be a prank...until one of them turns up dead. That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago. <br /> <br /> Expertly alternating between flashbacks and the present day, The Chalk Man is the very best kind of suspense novel, one where every character is wonderfully fleshed out and compelling, where every mystery has a satisfying payoff, and where the twists will shock even the savviest listener.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">The girl’s head rested on a small pile of orange-and-brown leaves.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 11 (Audible)</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">After being intrigued by the cover and title, the blurb well and truly sucked me in. This is a debut novel but you would not know it. Having said that the blurb highlights how Tudor expertly alternates between flashbacks and the present day – I would not necessarily agree with this. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">For the first third of the novel at least, the strength of the story in the flashbacks is far superior to the lack of action in the present day. Tudor captures the language, the feel and the wonderment of a child hood which, being a similar age, I could really enjoy and be nostalgic with. The banter between the gang of five children is great as are their fears and excitement. They might start off as caricatures as Tudor rushes a little to get their traits across rather than showing us their personalities naturally, but overall, despite the impending sense of doom which hangs over the gang, I couldn’t help but enjoy their escapades with a smile on my lips.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">Eddie the POV character, is the most level headed of the five and through him we experience his anxieties and insecurities of being a teenager and his little secret of stealing objects. I especially liked the group dynamic. Not everyone gets on with each other but there is an acceptance that their group is their group and they would stick up for each other regardless. Their reactions to events are consistent with their characters and the supporting characters are both mysterious and likeable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">The present day narrative is slow to begin with and the characters we see are more cynical, jaded and generally not as fun. There is nothing wrong with this realistic approach, it is just that Eddie has disappointedly drifted through his life and not amounted to much. However, when a certain event occurs, the tension is really ratchetted up a notch. From then the pace of the narrative increases and there are twists and turns galore. Every time you think you have the plot figured out, Tudor pulls the rug out from under your feet. In the final third, when the prose switched between the two time periods I generally groaned as I wanted the plot to continue, so I guess I don’t entirely disagree with the blurb.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">Overall then, the Chalk man is an accomplished and impressive debut. The ending was more than satisfactory with a great twist I never saw coming. I will not hesitate to purchase the next book from Tudor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span style="color: red;">My rating: 8.7</span></span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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**********************************************************************Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-64421612642070242852018-07-20T06:00:00.000+01:002018-07-20T17:56:16.323+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk519260362"><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;">Bernard Cornwell – Sharpe’s Trafalgar<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></a></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">Can you believe it has been over 7 years since I read my last Sharpe novel? 7 years! I’ve published 4 more books since then!! During that time, I’ve read several of Cornwell’s Last Kingdom series (excellent) and the first three of his Grail Quest (very good) but some time spent with everyone’s favourite lovable rogue was long overdue.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMesmWvC8gp_fKtVeaeVR3hH9JdPSGbIVuX9ATnvApi3OoqTIto9psNRaFUSUBTNDWT5qqc3cgMEcFwfPBzgKuBSxdECplO37AmRPBEcp9m5zCIT-Vf8g46jVXgQ-9841K0EdltqLMjD4/s1600/image001-711642.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6579901117481682834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMesmWvC8gp_fKtVeaeVR3hH9JdPSGbIVuX9ATnvApi3OoqTIto9psNRaFUSUBTNDWT5qqc3cgMEcFwfPBzgKuBSxdECplO37AmRPBEcp9m5zCIT-Vf8g46jVXgQ-9841K0EdltqLMjD4/s320/image001-711642.jpg" /></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN" style="color: white; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16.5pt;"> -</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;">The blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><i><span lang="EN">The year is 1805, and the Calliope, with Richard Sharpe aboard, is captured by a formidable French warship, the Revenant, which has been terrorizing British nautical traffic in the Indian Ocean. The French warship races toward the safety of its own fleet, carrying a stolen treaty that could provoke India into a new war against the British -- and render for naught all that Sharpe has bravely fought for till now. But help comes from an unexpected quarter. An old friend, a captain in the Royal Navy, is on the trail of the Revenant, and Sharpe comes aboard a 74-gun man-of-war called Pucelle in hot pursuit. What results is a breathtaking retelling of one of the most ferocious and one-sided sea battles in European history, in which Nelson -- and Sharpe -- vanquish the combined naval might of France and Spain at Trafalgar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">“A hundred and fifteen rupees,” Ensign Richard Sharpe said, counting the money onto the table.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 23<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">If there was one criticism I could level at the Sharpe novels it would be that the books are a little similar regarding the plot and the villains. The plot usually involves Sharpe performing some extraordinary exploits whilst the villains are cartoonish in their petty and malicious behaviour. Neither of these points bother me too much though as you go into the novel knowing exactly what you are getting and sometimes you just want your bad guys to be bad. Not every character has to have “grey areas” or be identifiable on some level. Life is not like that and I like my novels to not be like that as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">Sharpe’s Trafalgar as the title suggests, places Sharpe in a completely new environment, onboard a ship in the middle of the ocean. Sharpe is firmly a soldier and so it is nice to see him out of his comfort zone. It adds a new dimension to his character and limits his skills drastically. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">I mentioned the above formula being prevalent in the preceding novels, but in Sharpe’s Trafalgar the formula is well and truly ripped up. Sharpe is more of a bystander in this novel and his actions are defined only by the superior officers and captains around him. He does influence events but not to a significant degree. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">Instead, Sharpe’s Trafalgar is more of a love story as Sharpe becomes fixated on lady Grace Hale. Grace is of course out of Sharpe’s class and therefore out of his league. Sharpe is content to admire her from afar for this very reason but inevitably, we soon learn that his lust is not as unrequited as she thinks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">At first Grace seems a one-dimensional character. She is trapped by her marriage and longing to be rescued by an exciting, scoundrel. There was a danger that she would not develop beyond this and just become another damsel, fawning over the irresistible Sharpe. Cornwall avoids this trap by slowly unveiling a tragic backstory. It is not the most in depth past you will ever read, but at least it gives Grace a little more substance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">As for the villains, they are much more of a variety. Yes, there is the snide, jealous Braithwaite but the main villains are a trickster we have met in previous novels and Grace’s husband who is far savvier then we are led to believe. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">As I mentioned above, Sharpe does not have much influence over the events that unfold. Instead, this novel is more of an account of what it was like to be onboard a ship at sea. Details of the tedious lifestyle are superbly told as is the very real dangers of lack of supplies. Sharpe does demonstrate his dark side in this novel which proves he is less than perfect and is an interesting development in his character. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">The real crux of the story is the battle of Trafalgar itself. Cornwall has always been accurate and has always had a knack of recounting battles. I got the impression the whole reason for this novel was for Cornwall to have the opportunity to retell this historic battle with Nelson’s novel strategy. That is fine by me as Cornwall once again does a superb job. I confess I only vaguely knew the detail of the battle prior to reading this novel, but reading about the atrocities first hand and then sacrifices made by the British to implement their plan are both mind blowing and fascinating. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span lang="EN">Overall if you are expecting a traditional Sharpe novel you may be a little disappointed. After 7 years, I went in expecting one thing but was pleasantly surprised with what I got. Sharpe is still Sharpe, a character you just can’t help but love. Put him in space and I would still read the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk519260362;"><span style="color: red;">My rating: 8.6</span></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-33839984636844844012018-07-13T15:56:00.001+01:002018-07-13T17:06:10.205+01:00Stephen King - The Outsider<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;">Stephen King – The Outsider</span></u></b><br />
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I couldn’t have revisited my favourite authors without taking in a Stephen King novel. Over the last couple of years, King has moved away from the supernatural horror mould and gone for more crime related books with science fiction based elements. This has led to the excellent Jonas Hodges trilogy and the good but somewhat sluggish in parts, Sleeping Beauties. His latest novel sounded it like it would be pure crime and I for one couldn’t wait for its release. <br />
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The blurb:<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i><span lang="EN">When an eleven-year-old boy is found murdered in a town park, reliable eyewitnesses undeniably point to the town's popular Little League coach, Terry Maitland, as the culprit. DNA evidence and fingerprints confirm the crime was committed by this well-loved family man.<br /> <br /> Horrified by the brutal killing, Detective Ralph Anderson, whose own son was once coached by Maitland, orders the suspect to be arrested in a public spectacle. But Maitland has an alibi. And further research confirms he was indeed out of town that day.<br /> <br /> As Anderson and the District Attorney trace the clues, the investigation expands from Ohio to Texas. And as horrifying answers begin to emerge, so King's propulsive story of almost unbearable suspense kicks into high gear.<br /> <br /> Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy but there is one rock-hard fact, as unassailable as gravity: a man cannot be in two places at the same time. Can he?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i><br />
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<b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">It was an unmarked car, just some nondescript American sedan a few years old, but the blackwall tires and the three men inside gave it away for what it was.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 28 (audible)</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN">The premise in the blurb supplies the mystery for the first third of the novel. King does a great job of investigating the gruesome death of a local boy through supplying manuscripts of witness interviews and good old fashion police detective work. One second you are convinced Terry Maitland is guilty and then next you can’t see how he possibly could have done the crime. I loved this element of the story, as a reader you obviously want to root for Terry and hope there has been a terrible mistake, but this being a King novel, you get the sense of dread that maybe, Terry really is the vile man everyone thinks he is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">As usual King’s characterization is superb. You side with the protagonists and loathe the despicable characters. King does a great job of making you feel empathy towards Terry and his family, whilst also sowing enough seeds of doubt to make you question the character.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">With Ralph Anderson we have a protagonist who has strong morals but is not above admitting when he makes mistakes. His conviction in his actions is admirable, but I loved how he was humble enough to question his methods.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">One of my favourite films growing up was <i> From Dusk Til Dawn</i>. The twist in it blew my mind and although I loved it, I couldn’t help mourning the first half of the film and wished it had continued in the same direction prior to the twist. Whilst the Outsider doesn’t possess a twist quite so extreme, as soon as the supernatural element is introduced, I found myself experiencing the same feeling as when I was young. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN">The direction the novel heads in is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. It is very good in fact, but the first half was so finely poised and set up I couldn’t help but wish the supernatural element had not occurred. Any long-term readers of my reviews will know how hypocritical that sounds as I normally love a supernatural element. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN">Incidentally, the supernatural element in this novel is fantastic. It draws upon a myth I knew nothing about and have looked into a lot since. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil anything.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">The second half of the novel also sees the return of one of my favourite characters in a King novel. Again, I won’t say who they are, but they take a prominent role and it is nice to see them interact with a different set of characters this time around. I listened to the audio narration of the book by Will Patton (who as usual does a fantastic job). I will confess that initially I hated his interpretation of the returning character but by the end came to love it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">I’ve seen reviews where people have called the ending anti-climatic. I can see what they are saying but for me it was one of the more satisfying endings and liked that King did not drag the conclusion out unnecessarily. I thought it was also consistent with the villain’s character.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN">Overall, the Outsider is a terrific book. I think it is a testament to King’s writing that I wanted the novel to be something a little different due to how well it began but have no complaints as to how it turned out. Gruesome with great characters and a cool villain, what more could you ask for?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">My rating: 9.0</span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-21413396083045951632018-07-06T16:21:00.000+01:002018-07-06T16:21:02.820+01:00<div class="WordSection1">
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<span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;">The Executioner – Chris Carter</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGURgr6MrSZrd5mpj2QgVcwBH6gwHtGysWfk2U0vlLNt4T1z-_WHZy8nHX3lhy9De6jbtR4fHDdZk2-12m1iTsomCeQ3XqL71RKRA9oA2oFSggq4HnDfxeaL-VNCoE6JbwaH7k9xDAP4A/s1600/image001-772538.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6575123659916698274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGURgr6MrSZrd5mpj2QgVcwBH6gwHtGysWfk2U0vlLNt4T1z-_WHZy8nHX3lhy9De6jbtR4fHDdZk2-12m1iTsomCeQ3XqL71RKRA9oA2oFSggq4HnDfxeaL-VNCoE6JbwaH7k9xDAP4A/s320/image001-772538.jpg" /></a></div>
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Chris Carter is an author I discovered by chance. I saw the name and thought it was the guy that created the X-Files TV series so I brought the short story called “the Hunter”. I loved that story and then discovered the two Carters were not the same men. Since then I have read the first book in Carter’s <i>Robert Hunter</i> series and loved it. As part of my favourite author’s campaign, I squeezed this second book in, confident I would enjoy it.</div>
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The Blurb:</div>
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<i><span lang="EN">Inside a Los Angeles church, on the altar steps, lies the blood-soaked, decapitated body of a priest. Carefully positioned, legs stretched out, arms crossed over the chest, the most horrifying thing of all is that the priest's head has been replaced by that of a dog. Later, the forensic team discover that, on the victim's chest, the figure 3 has been scrawled in blood. At first, Detective Robert Hunter believes that this is a ritualistic killing. But as more bodies surface, he is forced to reassess. All the victims died in the way they feared the most. Their worst nightmares have literally come true. But how could the killer have known? And what links these apparently random victims? Hunter finds himself on the trail of an elusive and sadistic killer, someone who apparently has the power to read his victims' minds. Someone who can sense what scares his victims the most. Someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his twisted aim.</span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">“Ironic how the certainty in life is death, don’t you think?” The man’s voice was calm.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><span style="color: red;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 12 (fast for me these days)</span></b></div>
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As far as blurbs go, that one is pretty awesome right? Gruesome, intriguing and just so damn readable. If I had read this blurb a year ago I would have read this book sooner. </div>
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Carter has such an easy writing style. He writes in a clear, simple way that automatically engages the reader. He almost has the conversational tone which Stephen King and Robert Crais has, but without having it – if that makes sense? </div>
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I love his main character Robert Hunter. These days it is the fashion to deplore perfect characters with superior intellect and who are better than anyone else. Robert Hunter certainly falls into that category, but whilst Chris Carter has built his protagonist up and placed him onto a pedestal, he is now in a position to tear him down and examine his flaws. In two and a half books, I became so accustomed to Hunter being right that when he does make a wrong move it is a shock. </div>
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His partner Carlos Garcia is also well drawn. Loyal but with his own story arc he acts as a nice foil to Hunter’s incessant devotion to solving the crimes. Hunter is fully aware of the impact of his actions has on others, and his consideration to Garcia’s wellbeing is a nice obstacle to his cavalier attitude. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This novel also introduces Captain Barbara Blake, a hard-nosed, no nonsense voice of authority. Barbara is another nice foil to Hunter. Impressed with Hunter’s and Garcia’s results but far from enamoured with their methods, Barbara is the type of character that crops up in countless novels. However, Carter makes her believable rather than a stereotype.</div>
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As the blurb itself suggests, the plot centres around a series of despicable murders which focus on the victim’s worst nightmares. Carter does not shy away from the brutality of the murders and spares little in the way of detail. The deaths are vile, the imagination of the author disturbing and I for one loved it!</div>
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Finding the link between the murders is cleverly unveiled. Carter deftly peels away layer upon layer of the mystery introducing enough twists and turns to throw you off the scent. </div>
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The ending and resolution of the mystery is extremely satisfying. The reveal didn’t blow me away, but I can’t say for certainty that I expected it. 2.5 books in and the Hunter series is one I will be reading with far more frequency.</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt;">My rating: 9.2</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-74613551920342638742018-07-03T06:00:00.000+01:002018-07-03T06:00:00.603+01:00Sharon Bolton - The Craftsman<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;">Sharon Bolton – The Craftsman<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34bsZfoHvW48L8Cufc39iDU2IOJltnqrAOanDMKuw0d1c_zNtprns6x3wGqAa9Q4Z39xqgNY1Oax4BpNhhqTuIozyQ3vjdkNtiHE6vibJyKYd2w3-xA0dp6iBOQmZxhbtLLAL_iuQbrQ/s1600/image001-729066.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6572404756142081506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34bsZfoHvW48L8Cufc39iDU2IOJltnqrAOanDMKuw0d1c_zNtprns6x3wGqAa9Q4Z39xqgNY1Oax4BpNhhqTuIozyQ3vjdkNtiHE6vibJyKYd2w3-xA0dp6iBOQmZxhbtLLAL_iuQbrQ/s320/image001-729066.jpg" /></a><b><u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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There are favourite authors, there are authors I enjoy and there are authors who I always buy their books as soon as they are released. Sharon Bolton is not an author who I’d list if I was asked to name my top 5 authors and yet she is one of the few authors I buy as soon as she releases a new book. </div>
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The blurb:</div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN">Devoted father or merciless killer?</span></i></b><i><span lang="EN"><br /> <br /> <b>His secrets are buried with him.</b><br /> <br /> Florence Lovelady's career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago. Like something from our worst nightmares the victims were buried...ALIVE. </span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN">Larry confessed to the crimes; it was an open and shut case. But now he's dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. <br /> <br /> Did she get it wrong all those years ago? <br /> Or is there something much darker at play?</span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Opening Sentence:</span></b><span lang="EN"> <span style="color: red;">On the hottest day of the year, Larry Glassbrook has come home to his native Lancashire for the last time, and the townsfolk have turned out to say goodbye. </span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Days to read: 27 (audible)</span></b></div>
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There are not many people who’d disagree that being buried alive is one of the worst things you could imagine. A killer who gets his kicks out of knowing their victims are struggling for their lives and know they can’t do anything about it, is just about as heinous as they come.</div>
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The Craftsman focuses on the character of Florence Lovelady and switches between her present and her past. In the past, she is a new detective and being a woman is in the minority in a chauvinistic world where her fellow officers view her as a “glorified tea lady.” This is hardly a new concept and Bolton adds nothing new in describing the pathetic behaviour of Florence’s male colleagues and their treatment of her. What I did like though was that this was not the primary focus of the novel. </div>
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Florence is a strong, educated woman, who accepts the way of the world and doesn’t complain about it. She pushes back against the archaic ideals of her male colleagues but she doesn’t make it her mission. She is fully aware of the way of the world and despite running rings around the men in her department, tries not to make a big thing about it. Instead, she focuses on the case and nothing more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I found this particularly refreshing and it made Florence eminently more likeable. Especially as she makes mistakes in her overzealous nature and naivety. A flawed character is always more interesting than a perfect one and Florence is certainly that. </div>
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The secondary characters are well drawn and Bolton does a good job or maintaining the tension and providing a good cast of suspects whilst not providing obvious motivations for the crimes.</div>
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Her investigations lead her to uncover a coven of witches. This is Sharon Bolton’s 10<sup>th</sup> novel. Her Flea Marley series is gripping but I also love her early work which had a hint of the supernatural or at least raised questions of supernatural elements. A story that includes witches then is right up my street. In Bolton’s hands, you knew it would be a realistic portrayal with an outlandish element.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As with the aforementioned sexism, the introduction of the witches is down played and unfolds organically. They influence the story and maintain an element of mysticism but it is not rammed in your face. </div>
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The present day setting provides a nice contrast to the characters we have come to know and love. In the thirty years which have transpired some of the characters have changed whilst others have inevitably matured. Florence, for example, is no longer a confident, eager woman and now has a son to look out and care for. </div>
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Her doubts over the case and her incessant need to discover the truth, cause her to expose old wounds which were painful for many. All this leads to a conclusion which is gripping, if a little unsatisfying. In regards to the plot, the story is wrapped up nicely and I can honestly say I enjoyed it, however, there were several outstanding questions which I will not put in the review for risk of spoilers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All in all, the Craftsman is another fantastic novel from Sharon Bolton. I love my novels dark, gothic and suspenseful and this one ticks all of those boxes.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">My rating: 9.0</span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-5049220657750302832018-06-29T08:42:00.003+01:002018-06-29T08:42:59.592+01:00My writing - I'm back<div class="WordSection1">
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<u><span style="color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt;">My Writing – Final draft done</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt;"><img alt="Image result for i'm back" class="mimg vimgld" data-bm="50" data-thhnrepbd="1" height="207" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.s7ECuugzCmUxmxIcNci5cgHaHa&w=211&h=207&c=7&o=5&dpr=1.25&pid=1.7" style="color: #359296;" width="211" /></span></div>
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It has been a long time since I have written a blog post on my writing. Why have I decided to start blogging again now I hear you ask? Well I will tell you if you give me a chance! </div>
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I initially stopped blogging to focus on my writing. I had written four books and really wanted to write the final two books which would finish off the series. </div>
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It has often been said that the middle of the story is the hardest to write. I can’t say I found that to be the case. It is easy to carry on writing about the adventures of your characters and throwing more and more obstacles in their way. The more you explore them the more they surprise and delight you in how they react to certain circumstances. Characters you thought were going to be heroes turn out to be cowards, whilst others who were minor suddenly become major players. </div>
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It was concluding the series I found difficult. I have always struggled with the end of my books. Not in regards to the content but more because at a certain point you have to start plotting how the novel will end. Once I do that and know exactly what is going to happen the writing becomes somewhat of a chore to me. It feels like writing an essay at school – you do the research, you know what you want to say but then actually writing said content becomes almost mechanical. </div>
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There was also the point where the sprawling mass of characters spread over Frindoth had to start converging. Point of view characters who I had become so attached to, had to take a back seat and be seen through the eyes of others to avoid a monster of a novel. Initially I found letting go hard, but I soon realised it was quite fun seeing the characters I loved through the eyes of others.</div>
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2017 marked the first year in many where I didn’t release a novel. There were several reasons for this such as the aforementioned struggles, a new job, a new baby, deciding to manage my eldest son’s football team but the worst was the tragedy of losing our family dog. Some people are pet people others aren’t. I am definitely a dog person. </div>
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Losing our dog left a huge hole in the family but also stemmed my creativity somewhat. My early morning walks with the dog were often where I would contemplate my novel and come up with new ideas. It took a long time to get over that loss but I was determined to finish the final book in the series in early 2018. </div>
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Unfortunately, another enormous personal tragedy struck. My brother in law and best friend unexpectantly passed away in January. Dealing with that loss has been the hardest thing I have ever had to do and the hardest thing my family has ever been through. We are still struggling every day and finishing this novel is a bittersweet moment. Simon read Ritual of the Stones and Pewtory the Lesser Bard and loved them. He then maintained he didn’t want to read the other novels until the series was completed. Last Christmas he told me how excited he was that this year was going to be the year. </div>
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As <i>Only Stones Remain</i> is devoured by my beta readers, I sit here and feel immensely proud of what I have achieved in completing the series. When I began writing 9 years ago, I had no idea I would ever reach this moment. It is however tinged with sadness.</div>
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I don’t want to leave this blog post on a sombre note. So, I will inform you I am excited on what the future holds as I decide what to write next and looking forward to reviewing books once again. I hope you’ve missed me as much as I’ve missed you. Look out for more news for the release date on the final book in the Ballad of Frindoth series <i>Only Stones Remain</i> soon. But in the meantime, I will tease you by telling you the cover reveal will be happening very soon. </div>
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Yours</div>
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Rob D<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-29039911271719425322018-06-25T09:21:00.000+01:002018-06-25T09:47:41.307+01:00Robert McCammon - The Listener<div class="WordSection1">
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<u><span style="color: lime; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The Listener – Robert McCammon<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErcCY30eL96R4LpZWXOr-bK9IdFUDQyym1YygRL_X0zQ-N5Ga63m1lPJEn9UQRUEgLlAkGY5IgXus6RvNoy7w6nxwhMbhgeexSoAukPmgiPKxFCESUuZ4AgynVruPE4J8zDTr9DMRIp8/s1600/image001-728930.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6570934589222812018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErcCY30eL96R4LpZWXOr-bK9IdFUDQyym1YygRL_X0zQ-N5Ga63m1lPJEn9UQRUEgLlAkGY5IgXus6RvNoy7w6nxwhMbhgeexSoAukPmgiPKxFCESUuZ4AgynVruPE4J8zDTr9DMRIp8/s320/image001-728930.jpg" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">If you are going to do your first review in a couple of years, you might as well start with your favourite author. It doesn’t seem to matter what genre McCammon writes in, each of his novels are always high quality, enjoyable reads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1934. Businesses went under by the hundreds, debt and foreclosures boomed, and breadlines grew in many American cities. <br /> <br /> In the midst of this misery, some folks explored unscrupulous ways to make money. Angel-faced John Partlow and carnival huckster Ginger LaFrance are among the worst of this lot. Joining together they leave their small time confidence scams behind to attempt an elaborate kidnapping-for-ransom scheme in New Orleans.<br /> <br /> In a different part of town, Curtis Mayhew, a young black man who works as a redcap for the Union Railroad Station, has a reputation for mending quarrels and misunderstandings among his friends. What those friends don't know is that Curtis has a special talent for listening... and he can sometimes hear things that aren't spoken aloud.<br /> <br /> One day, Curtis Mayhew's special talent allows him to overhear a child's cry for help (THIS MAN IN THE CAR HE'S GOT A GUN), which draws him into the dangerous world of Partlow and LaFrance.<br /> <br /> This gritty depression-era crime thriller is a complex tale enriched by powerfully observed social commentary and hints of the supernatural, and it represents Robert McCammon writing at the very top of his game.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Opening sentence: <span style="color: red;">The Devil can be a man or a woman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The Listener has been a book I have been looking forward to for a while. I seem to love stories set in the “gritty depression” era and within the opening few chapters I knew this one would be no exception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The story focuses on three main characters, two of them eminently likeable and one who you despise initially and only start to half tolerate by the end of the novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Curtis Mayhew is a redcap for the Union Railroad station is level headed, a little naïve but an inherently good person. Others take advantage of him but his overall kindness means he is generally well regarded. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Nilla is bright and sensible, even in peril she looks out for her more reckless and outspoken younger brother. Yet she is not perfect and McCammon does a good job of exploring her vulnerability and limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">John Partlow is a con man with no moral compass. He will gladly swindle others out of their money and take advantage of their grief. McCammon does his utmost to ensure he is portrayed as a despicable man when he performs a heinous act early on in the novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Of the three characters, Curtis is perhaps the most rounded. He has not been dealt the best lot in life and suffers a great deal. Despite this however, we see him grow and his optimistic/realistic attitude makes it impossible not to route for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The premise of the story focuses on two main elements: a kidnapping and the supernatural. The kidnapping is as basic as they come but that it works as it does not need to be complicated. It also introduces two great secondary characters in the psychotic Ginger La France (she could have a novel all to herself) and the deranged and increasingly unhinged Donnie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The supernatural element is well done. It focuses on some of the characters being able to communicate telepathically. None of them understand it and it also something they struggle to sustain. This is clever and adds for some great tension when things start going wrong. Sometimes in McCammon’s novels the supernatural plot is hinted at but not entirely explored, leaving you wanting to know more. With the Listener, McCammon does not shy away from the supernatural and makes it a firm fixture in the novel which I prefer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I am no expert on the era, but McCammon paints an excellent picture of how grim the period was. Most of the characters struggle, the in your face racism in well- handled where the characters meet others through chance encounters and suffer as a result. The struggles to just exist are apparent from all the characters the exception being Nilla’s affluent father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In a fairly short novel, every page drips with vivid description of heat, oppression and mugginess of the Louisiana swamps. It astounds me how McCammon can say so much with so few words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I love Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett novels with a passion. I read somewhere that his publisher would only continue to publish them as long as he wrote other novels in between each one. When those “other” novels are as good as the Listener, it is hard to complain. This is a fast paced, dark but ultimately brilliant novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My rating: 9.2</span></div>
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Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-71460384364621279622015-12-28T09:55:00.000+00:002015-12-28T09:55:41.216+00:00New Fire – Philip Dickinson<div class="WordSection1">
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A colleague mentioned this book to me when I happened to mention I was going to read a Bernard Cornwell novel next. I confess I had never heard of Philip Dickinson but the idea of a book set in the Aztec reader appealed to me, so I purchased it on a whim. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If I am honest, after a great opening scene which follows a gang of street urchins roaming the streets to steal food, I found the opening 80 pages or so of the story a little overwhelming. The sheer volume and variety of characters is a tad confusing, especially giving the unfamiliarity of their names (which verge from the unpronounceable – Huitzilopochtli, to the more identifiable such as "Feathered Darkness" or ""Crocodile"). In fact the only character I could emphasise with is the main character "Jaguar."<o:p></o:p></div>
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Having said that, I admired the author's refusal to dumb down the narrative for the reader, I am no expert on this time period, but the story felt authentic. The setting oozes life as each scene is vividly created.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of a sudden, the book seems to click into place and what follows is an excellent, fast paced yarn, where I came to appreciate and enjoy all of the characters. As I mentioned Jaguar is the stand out protagonist as the young man struggling to find his way. He has potential in his agility on the sporting field but in regards to being a warrior very much lives in the shadow of his best friend Crocodile. It is refreshing that this is never a source of contention between the two friends and both are proud of each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cloud Face is a little less developed but manages to avoid the cartoonish villain tag by having suitable motivation behind his action, whereas characters like Two Sign are terrific in the supporting role, offering laconic one liners and a nobility to the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The action scenes are very well handled and for a first novel, Dickinson's prose is extremely accomplished, pacing scenes perfectly and building tension and plot twists that are impactful. The novel was also fairly dark in places, which is something I always enjoy if it fits in with the story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Whilst the ending is somewhat predictable in part of its outcome, with the writing o engrossing it really didn't matter. Overall, this debut novel surprised and impressed me and I have already purchased the sequel <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red;">My rating: 8 out of 10 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-39611561794912817652014-12-05T15:56:00.001+00:002014-12-05T15:56:17.187+00:00I've missed you.<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where have I been?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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It has been a very long time since I have posted and for that I am sorry. “Where are the book reviews?” “How is the writing going?” “You’ve done nothing since October 20<sup>th</sup>!!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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These are just some of the questions or accusations that I have received over the past month. The truth is I am talking a break from reviewing books for the time being. There are three main reasons for this:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>I have been doing a second job since the beginning of October. On top of full time job and my family and my writing, the whole reviewing of books thing has been the least of my priorities. It makes me sad but something had to give and unfortunately it was this blog. Hopefully thing will pick up for me soon financially and so I can ditch the second job and afford myself more time to dedicate to hobbies.</li>
<li>This one might sound a little arrogant and it is not meant to be, but now I have three books out there on the market, I don’t feel as comfortable reviewing books as regularly as I do. I know how difficult the process is and although that shouldn’t make me any more or less lenient when it comes to my reviews, I just don’t feel at ease reviewing on the scale I was. You don’t see other authors being so vigorous with their reviews.</li>
<li>After four years of doing this and well over two hundred reviews, I felt my reviews had got a bit stale. I am not enjoying it as much as I used to. Increasingly, I found myself saying the same thing over and over, especially when it came to reviewing the 20<sup>th</sup> book in a series! I thought a bit of a break is in order.</li>
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That is not to say I have not been reading. I have still read many books in the last month, some I have loved, and others not so much:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;">Witch Hunt – Syd Moore<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Witch-Hunt-Syd-Moore/dp/1847562698/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417425947&sr=8-3&keywords=Witch+Hunt"><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKlK3Lis2k6rV6I42bJl7XVKwEhCqbnGc5ztEgpjnwFnMgPFWXgFEiou3YLdc_gRDflVAeor4TcscMuMOFZ-W1q6Q9_50MnlLoz-WFtu9FQjjUFXLloq6Gui4SqKPtvxHQTwZDUBUhWE/s1600/image001-757738.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKlK3Lis2k6rV6I42bJl7XVKwEhCqbnGc5ztEgpjnwFnMgPFWXgFEiou3YLdc_gRDflVAeor4TcscMuMOFZ-W1q6Q9_50MnlLoz-WFtu9FQjjUFXLloq6Gui4SqKPtvxHQTwZDUBUhWE/s320/image001-757738.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087827772084756242" /></a></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Micro Review – Enjoyable novel. The flashback sequences and the real life facts about the past were fascinating. Tried too hard to be eerie in places. <b><span style="color: red;">My Rating: 8.2</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;">The Ship of Magic – Robin Hobb<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ship-Magic-Liveship-Traders-Book/dp/0007459726/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417432491&sr=1-1&keywords=the+liveship+traders"><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoHGIOYrhdwbVFuah3HoNn15Tgix8bOfYA9sGt9Y4Z2_W4BjF-DHsB9kS9NouIZY19N-mmi1L6vIQs_4PWjJAmh3NFsmnlYmYJclzJB832GtHHdZCmOovv-YLYDBBhU5jr7Urz1hZslM/s1600/image002-759836.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoHGIOYrhdwbVFuah3HoNn15Tgix8bOfYA9sGt9Y4Z2_W4BjF-DHsB9kS9NouIZY19N-mmi1L6vIQs_4PWjJAmh3NFsmnlYmYJclzJB832GtHHdZCmOovv-YLYDBBhU5jr7Urz1hZslM/s320/image002-759836.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087827780515807138" /></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Micro Review – Fantastic start to a new series. Reminded me why I love Robin Hobb. Was unsure about the Serpents and the talking ships to begin with but it worked brilliantly<b><span style="color: red;">. My Rating: 9.2<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;">Duma Key – Stephen King<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duma-key-Stephen-King/dp/2226190945/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417432540&sr=1-4&keywords=duma+key+stephen+king"><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWg2BFw5JMeUg_PBiPeZ5ywhjBj9-SMRNtDSxTQoeCqz-sUEu0Bvs3dMEL-MbzkwMoXRSfIqDNqjT5lLxZkhKH5QDq4lRT2ZpMxFw7WONnnI5DOHHYi-zqqBSpQbUOytNYP-5yVuxWn8/s1600/image003-761965.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWg2BFw5JMeUg_PBiPeZ5ywhjBj9-SMRNtDSxTQoeCqz-sUEu0Bvs3dMEL-MbzkwMoXRSfIqDNqjT5lLxZkhKH5QDq4lRT2ZpMxFw7WONnnI5DOHHYi-zqqBSpQbUOytNYP-5yVuxWn8/s320/image003-761965.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087827788480749586" /></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Micro Review – King doing what King does best. Nothing groundbreaking, but a great yarn. <b><span style="color: red;">My Rating: 8.7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;">Cross my Heart – James Patterson<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cross-My-Heart-Alex-21/dp/0099574063/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417432588&sr=1-1&keywords=cross+my+heart+james+patterson"><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjfQRbteReD0EgiEoNc273Rw9PVLo6fQkvqc-Ev5mUXWz2fer3o0TT4eCb5LhtRq1O_H8BESr1y9XxTaL5f_-Nzt8PBtRY64fYxu3SicEepXw6171MkF8B_gZZpG_CeCsfp04WBMZ_d4/s1600/image004-763822.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjfQRbteReD0EgiEoNc273Rw9PVLo6fQkvqc-Ev5mUXWz2fer3o0TT4eCb5LhtRq1O_H8BESr1y9XxTaL5f_-Nzt8PBtRY64fYxu3SicEepXw6171MkF8B_gZZpG_CeCsfp04WBMZ_d4/s320/image004-763822.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087827796238503906" /></a></span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Micro Review – Great addition to the series. James Patterson seems to have made an effort to the multiple cartoonish killer syndrome and is now trying to make things a little more gritty and grounded. <b><span style="color: red;">My Rating: 8.8<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;">Enchantress – James Maxwell<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Enchantress-Evermen-Saga-Book-1/dp/1477823522/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417432635&sr=1-1&keywords=james+maxwell+enchantress"><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><span style="color: #0066c0; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -3.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23qtrk8kh-U3dIhoIP8IA4Ehqzhv71fDkTBowE_Id03QRZRQrqFL5RCTVH0nPrApeSfQBRZnIg1KmZ6NsYR5htuuOZMgFZcfswyA2QWf0u-dAp31KzJVRseXSwTMqDK2iLOrMchEMl5M/s1600/image005-765777.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23qtrk8kh-U3dIhoIP8IA4Ehqzhv71fDkTBowE_Id03QRZRQrqFL5RCTVH0nPrApeSfQBRZnIg1KmZ6NsYR5htuuOZMgFZcfswyA2QWf0u-dAp31KzJVRseXSwTMqDK2iLOrMchEMl5M/s320/image005-765777.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6087827802238674306" /></a></span><b><u><span style="color: #548dd4;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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Good start to a series if a little by the numbers. The battle scenes come across as heavily influenced by a gaming background but this is definitely a promising start to a series. <b><span style="color: red;">My Rating: 8.4</span></b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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I will put up another post regarding how the writing is going in the next week or so ago. In brief it is going well, although I did fail miserably and surprisingly at NaNoWriMo this year. I was massively disappointed about that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-44252703524652587422014-10-20T04:00:00.000+01:002014-10-20T04:00:02.302+01:00On Writing - The Slump<div class="WordSection1">
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<b><u><span style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The slump after you have finished a book.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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I have read a lot of blogs and books about the process of writing. Mostly out of interest rather than thoughts of educating myself. I say that not because I am arrogant enough to believe I can’t be taught anything, but because I firmly believe writing is a personal process and the only way to learn is to actually write.<o:p></o:p></div>
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All of the books and blogs I have read offer great advice, none more so than Stephen King’s, “On Writing,” but what I have yet to read is someone talk about the experience of finishing a project and starting a new one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I finished Ritual of the Stones I was elated. It was surreal to see my book out there on Amazon and garnering favourable reviews. It spurred me on to want to write the sequel and the one after that and the one after that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I had the bug, I knew what it took now to get published and I had learnt a lot along the way. Even better, I could not wait to get back to the characters I loved and tell their story.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember sitting down at my laptop feeling invigorated and ready to take on the world. I sat there and I sat there and yep, you guessed it I sat there. “This is stupid,” I said to myself. I knew what I wanted to say, I knew the voices of my characters but I could not find them in my head. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I ground out a measly 300 words and put it down to a bad day and having a bit of rust. After all, with all the proofreading, formatting and cover designs it had been two months since I had written anything except blog posts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However, the next day was the same and the one after that. After a month, I had around 10,000 words. They were 10,000 words I knew weren’t very good and knew I would be rewriting at some stage. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I decided to adopt a different approach. Something a reviewer said stuck with me. They had read my work before and liked my humour. They wanted more humour in my books. To be honest after the grim and dark, Ritual of the Stones, I needed it too. I came up with the idea of Pewtory the Lesser Bard, a bard who would travel around Frindoth and sing about the characters in the Ritual of the Stones. It would be a great way to garner interest of my first book and introduce the characters to a wider audience as I could give the book away for free.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pewtory the Lesser Bard would be delivered in short snappy chapters of around 1,000 words. The formula worked, I committed to writing 1,000 words a week on Pewtory and writing book two for the remainder of week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Pretty soon, I found my rhythm again and my output was tremendous. Pewtory the Lesser Bard failed in his purpose as a short piece of fiction and morphed into a story of his own. One I am very proud of. The only headache I now had was I wanted to concentrate on just the one story. In February I made the decision to focus on Pewtory and ended up with a novel of 53,000 words. Not too shabby at all, for what was only intended to be a gimmick piece of writing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Meanwhile book two – The Stones of Sorrow, grew into a monster of a novel. Yes, I was worried at the size but I decided to just go with the flow and maintain the output I was producing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the time I had finished the book I had written more words then I had ever written in a single year. I had already sorted out the cover and knew where I was going in terms of the proofreading.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The whole process was a lot smoother then the first time as I was more familiar with it. Yes there were headaches but the sense of satisfaction was there. I was getting better at this. I was learning all the time and I was sure that the next book was even better.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I sent the Stones of Sorrow off to the proofreader allowed myself two weeks off and then sat down to begin work on book three. The aspiration was to publish it one year after book two. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I sat there, I sat there and I sat there. The same thing happened again. I could not find the words again. These were characters I had spent over 370,000 words with, yet I could not write more than 300 words on them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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No problem I thought. I will just write a short story like before. Only this time the formula hasn’t worked so well. It is not writer’s block as such. It is just that I have lost my rhythm. I know it will come back, I just need to get myself mentally prepared. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I type this, it has been two months since I penned the last word on The Stones of Sorrow. This morning, I wrote 900 words. Yesterday I managed a 1,000. This afternoon I fancy writing some more. I am not saying I have the rhythm back just yet, but it feels like it is getting there. Do you know what else I realised? The “slump” is not a slump at all. It is my recharging time. Having made the switch from writing to editing it is the time I need to flick the switch back again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I try not to focus too much on word counts, but I do have rough goals in mind. My aim is to write a decent amount of words on this new novella before November. I will then use NaNoWriMo again to deliver a large chunk of that book and maybe even finish it.. Only time will tell if I can achieve that goal. I think I might.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8109105066603809911.post-32156537337125297992014-10-18T20:47:00.000+01:002014-10-18T20:47:41.464+01:00BOOK RELEASE<div class="WordSection1">
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<u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;">The Stones of Sorrow is out!!</span></u></div>
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<u><span style="color: lime; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></u></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00O12R7HC/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link"><span style="color: #003399; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #003399; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMrWWP_ChnkZftb2u4Ij0sRg9rxJG0JuiJsRvpieUcIfte2KhxmDBYJ2jlnGJ8pg4jKnKFN08KqEoI3oaaehvLUGo8oNYSNzWTLnSNTDjv2djerMRPGJlxeLMSbmCe-IrzhWdytp5T9U/s1600/image001-713051.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMrWWP_ChnkZftb2u4Ij0sRg9rxJG0JuiJsRvpieUcIfte2KhxmDBYJ2jlnGJ8pg4jKnKFN08KqEoI3oaaehvLUGo8oNYSNzWTLnSNTDjv2djerMRPGJlxeLMSbmCe-IrzhWdytp5T9U/s320/image001-713051.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6071568979070564658" /></a></span></div>
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The title says it all really. My third book and the second in the Ballad of Frindoth trilogy has been released. I would be honoured if you checked it out. </div>
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Here is the blurb:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="line-height: 115%;">The whole of Frindoth is in turmoil. After the catastrophic events of the Ritual of the Stones, King Jacquard dispatches a company of his most skilled subjects into the Calipion range to seek out the Kingdom of the Glooms and so put an end to their invasion and destruction of his realm. However, as events spiral out of control King Jacquard's once firm grip on Frindoth weakens as does his grip on reality. <br /> <br /> Meanwhile having won a surprise victory against the usurper Vashna, Prince Althalos quickly finds that there is more to leading an army than winning a battle. Outmanoeuvred and outwitted, the prince must quickly learn how to rule if he is to retain the trust and the respect the warlords now have in him. <br /> <br /> As war engulfs Frindoth new dangers emerge from an increasingly popular religion, whose followers are fanatical in their belief and devotion to their gods. And then there is perhaps the most serious threat of all - the threat from the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br />Working From Home Heraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00537521492156131432noreply@blogger.com0