Josh
I fell in love with M.R Carey thanks to The Girl with All The Gifts.
This book is a must read for any horror fans especially fans of the slightly over saturated zombie/infection genre, that being said you cant compare this book to anything similar that's come before.
The setting (based in the UK) works perfectly with the story, it's nice to see a story based in the UK and UK horror of this style (i.e 28 days later) has its own style and feel vs Hollywood style zombie fiction.
Why does this work so well? Firstly, the characters, Melanie is a loveable lead character with believable motives, she loves Miss Justineau and will do anything to protect her, Miss Justineau is a well fleshed out character with a strong back story that means you understand her motives and reasoning when you might otherwise question what she does. Finally, and my favorite is Sargent Parks, Parks starts off as the “Bad guy” in the story keeping space between Melanie and Miss Justineau but again Parks is such a well fleshed out character that you understand his reasoning, he's scared yet everyone is looking to him for answers.
I won't say much more as I'll have to get into spoilers but let me just say this book is so underrated, The Girl with All The Gifts is a must read for any horror fans and one I will recommend to everyone who will listen!
“I mistook stars reflected in a pond at night for those in the sky.”
Another solid Witcher book, would have finished it much earlier if Christmas and New Year hadn't gotten in the way!
Onto the next one ☺
“Horror writers are specialists in the worst-case scenario.”
This book... man this book... I don't know what to say, it was interesting (in parts) but way to sexual for the sake of it. Any sense of suspense or horror was quickly lost to the boob talk, Laymon... I really enjoyed Midnight Lair, really struggled with Beware!
I need something light next, too much sexual violence for me, to much sexual talk for the sake of it... Just too much!
I'm giving it three stars but only just, if it had been any longer I would have probably DNF'd it.
“Life is a dream from which we all must wake before we can dream again.”
This WoT has torn me slightly, for three quarters of the book I found it slow and whilst it was never boring the focus on “the game of houses” isn't my favourite part of WoT. That said... What an ending! The final four or five chapters are SOLID!
It would have had a 3 star rating but I can't go any lower than a four now!
A fun, unique horror story!
I tend to enjoy Grady Hendrix novels and this was no different. It felt a little rushed as things "kicked off" but overall I enjoyed it!
3.5 Stars for The Women in Black.
We open the story with our main Character Artur Kipps and his family telling Ghost stories around the fire on Christmas eve, Arthur struggling with memories of his past quickly steps away before reliving his spooky experiences.
Arthur, a Junior lawyer is sent into the countryside to attend a funeral for one of his law firm's clients, he quickly realizes that all is not normal with the house he must explore.
The story is well written leaving most of the horror to your imagination with the final chapter ending well and genuinely leaving me with chills.
I would have liked more from the story but remembering this book is under 200 pages I feel like the story is well fleshed out with the main character of Arthur well fleshed out and believable, now I need to watch the stage show!
“There's nothing in the sea this fish would fear. Other fish run from bigger things. That's their instinct. But this fish doesn't run from anything. He doesn't fear.”
Great film, a good book, look forward to the second one!
Another strong book in the series, I don't personally think it's as strong as the show but that won't stop me reading more!
Onto book #4!
“Living by your wits is always knowing where the wasps are.”
3.5 stars to The Shining.
I expected to enjoy The Shining a lot more than I did, I didn't dislike it by any means but I'm not sure how much of it I really enjoyed either! The characters are interesting and well fleshed out (as King always does) and the slow build horror is creepy but I think that's the problem, it was too much of a slow burner for me!
“Monsters are real. Ghosts are too. They live inside of us, and sometimes, they win.”
Decent comic, the stories are interesting but to short to get invested in. Worthwhile buy for any King fans looking for something different!
“If such a thing had happened once, it must surely have happened many times in this galaxy of a hundred billion suns.”
Very enjoyable Novel and a unique take on ‘First Contact' with aliens. I enjoyed Arthur C. Clarke's writing style and will definitely read more by him in the future, the attention to scientific detail really helped set the scene and level of unknown.
The split POV was done well although I would have liked some of the smaller characters to have been more fleshed out, doesn't affect the story just personal preference.
If you've read Rendezvous with Rama and you enjoyed it I would highly recommend the Anomaly by Michael Rutger, I'll leave a link to my review below (I have it 5 stars).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2507734857
“We Mandalorians have a saying,” Canderous explained. “A warrior who doesn't hope for battle has no hope during battle.”
I really wanted to love Revan but truth be told, it was flat at best. Any book titled Revan should focus on Revan... instead over half of the book is spent with new characters KOTOR fans won't care about. Is it worth a read? yes, if you're a KOTOR fan and you don't have a backlog. Unfortunately, the draw of reading a book based on the KOTOR universe suggests characters from that universe will be the focus, and that wasn't the case.
“Now you know why I told HK-Forty-seven he couldn't come,” Revan told T3. “He'd probably try to clear a path through all these ‘meatbags' with a flamethrower.”
“Sometimes loving eyes don't see what they don't want to see.”
Holiday read for the plane to and from Malta and it was a great easy read! Unusual read because of the lack of closure, King explains it well in his afterword explaining his love of a good mystery meant he wanted us to keep questioning the Colorado Kid and you can't do that if he gives you all the answers...
If you need a quick and easy read give The Colorado Kid a go!
“It was that kind of story. The kind that's like a sneeze which threatens but never quite arrives.”
I didn't read any of the Narnia series as a kid, but what a ride it's been reading it to my daughter.
The story and world building is brilliant, but not as heavy as deep fantasy. The characters are layered even though you don't get a lot of time with them given how many are introduced.
The Magicians Nephew is a great start, but the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe takes it up a level!
Reading the Wheel of Time series (or as much as possible) is one of my 2019 reading goals and I have to say the Prequel a New Spring is a great place to start.
Much shorter than any other WoT book at roughly 330 pages you get a great into to the characters and world... 14 more books to go!
Probably my least favourite book in the series so far (and I love this series).
For me The Conference of The Birds felt flat, it was a filler novel that (in my mind) should have been twice the length to actually close off the story... There are two or three stories running at once, none of which really get any closure or solid explanation and I'm left feeling disappointed more than anything.
Don't get me wrong, my reading tastes have changed over the years, it might just be YA isn't for me anymore. Lowest score of the series so far!
So I would give Zoo 3.5 stars, the premise of Animals turning on man is fascinating and I think if it was more fleshed out it would have been an incredible book.
Oz is an interesting main character and the side characters although they don't get much page time are done well, this book highlights the stupidity of man and how often we are our own worst enemy but I wanted more from the book.
This was my first James Paterson book and probably wasn't the best place to start, I will read more by the author and although I did enjoy Zoo the main feeling I'm left with is a want of more.
Another amazing book in the Game of Thrones series, I will say, if it wasn't for the TV show I would be fuming with how this one ended knowing it came out in 2011 and we are STILL waiting for the next book!
Another 5 star read for me, cant wait for the Winds of Winter!
3.5 Stars for 1984 by George Orwell.
Well, how to do I feel about 1984?
Mixed I think is the way to describe it, this is a classic in Sci-fi and I really can see why, its powerful, well written and it has a strong (and believable plot).
I think the plot is equal parts the best and worst part of this book, amazing, scary and detailed but also slow and tedious in places.
I wont go over the plot, if you dont know the “Big Brother” style government plot from 1984 you are missing out, whilst its slow in places its scary how believable this felt for me. The government taking over every aspect of your life, controlling what you can and cant do even to the extent of “Thought Police” who arrest you for bad thoughts against “Big Brother”.
I'm very glad I finally read 1984 but the slower parts of the story mean I cant give it 4 stars, must read for classic sci-fi fans!
Such a beautiful short story and another great Indie record from Preston at Bull City reader.
Following a father who see's his daughter being born before leaving to traverse space the beautify of parental love really shines through in this story, one day there born, the next there two, then there eighteen and off on there own.
I don't have kids, but when I do i'm sure this amazing story will be even more powerful. The only reason I didn't give this story five stars is because I really, really wanted more! (hardly a negative I know.)
If you want to check out this book and support an amazing indie author here's the amazon link! - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Age-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00HZEBLKW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1549733132&sr=8-4&keywords=jason+gurley
The best compliment I can give this short story is that I genuinely felt disappointed when it ended!
I really enjoyed the mix of races (clones/robots) and how the world was portrayed in such a short novel (61 pages). The story flew by and I for one will be ordering the full novel when its completed.
This is a great example of why we should all try novels/short stories by lesser known authors. I picked up this book after a great recommendations video by Preston (Bull City reader) and i'll leave the link below if you want to check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saxymiLeFVs