Alex Norton

I heard such good things about this book that i'm almost a bit disappointed that i just did not love it as much as perhaps it deserved. Took three starts to get through it and although well crafted it did npt quite resonate.

This is an ugly book, and its genius is its ugliness. As a huge fan of Bosch and Breugel (it is embarrassing to admit to having worked on three of their paintings as puzzles in the last year- a left-over of Covid stay at home) i was destined to read this book when i heard about it. And the plot is thin - but the characters and descriptions are vivid, the weirdness of the painter's creatures come alive. This wont be for everyone.

Not bad first effort. I do love the period and the historical analysis (except for a few invented italian words) seem sound. I will dip into the next ones of the series.

Rare for a third book of a trilogy to be the worse but this one easily was. I enjoyed the first two, and because it is easy reading sped through this one but it never really clicked.

YA with snark.

If you loved the first one, the second one is possibly even better, tighter and more focused. A complete joy

This became available in my library queue the day I was finishing an Iain Banks Culture novel. Coincidence? There is a lot to like here if you like Banks. I think the next installment will really grow on me

Good sequel. I think the concept is ready for a Novel length story exploring the limits of what constitutes Murder and where the new phenomenon ends

I have been an Andy Hamilton fan for years for his work with the BBC, and it was an easy yes to help kickstart this book in UnBound. The book itself, written in longhand is easy to read but I jumped back and forth with the Spotify unabridged audio version when walking. The book is an extended love/goodbye letter to a partner that we never meet except through the pages. The writing is witty, heartfelt, interesting and not overbearing. Even the end that feels rushed is appropriate because rushed is what the protagonist is. A little jewel.

Good but lacked that little bit extra to get into the great category. I can't expect Umberto Eco every time but when you have as main protagonist of your book Giordano Bruno I was expecting a little more intellectual stimulation and not as much front and center “action”. I will probably chekck out the next ones of the series

I really enjoyed Between Two Fires but this is a different book - firmly rooted in the Fnatasy camp, with a tone that is less taut that the more horror filled BTF. The plot is noting revolutionary but the quality of phrases make in stand out. My only criticism is that Kinch is a bit too heavily painted as that “lovable Irish rogue” and it can be a bit old after a bit. Will now line up the prequal of the story of Galva

I liked it, the idea was original enough but there were just some plot drivers that seemed very forced, in particular the Father daughter bust up, and the forced “love interest” subplot that seemed totally dictated by the publisher and had no reason whatsoever to be there. Apart from that pretty light and enjoyable

Pros: Competently written, very much in the Christie Genre
Cons - One coincidence too many ruined it for me - you will easily know which one it is.

Another uncomfortable wonderful plot driven tale full of regrets, grime, wonderful analogies, and missed opportunities. Cosby is really a great author.

My second Bone Shard necromancer in a year ([b:Gideon the Ninth 42036538 Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #1) Tamsyn Muir https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546870952l/42036538.SY75.jpg 60943229] is darker and more enveloping) it does a fine job in its genre. The characters are well defined and I appreciate that they are not all what they seem initially. I enjoyed the book but hope that in the next installments some greater complexity comes into play

I really enjoyed this one, and like the Martian, could not wait to dive back in. I appreciated what wier tried to do with Artemis but in this one he goes back into his talent sweet spot - delivering a first person “science the hell out of it” narrative. On top of the excellent plot he ads a new layer of interspecies relationship that is refreshingly different from the usual. If you like the Martian you will love this one.

Did not quite click with me, but I cant quite put my finger on why. I never felt like DNFing it but at times it did feel like a chore

Wanted a shortish place holder while waiting for a library book to come through and this was it. It was perfectly fine as an airport book thriller, easy reading, but i bit overly trope rich. With her background was hoping for something a it more subtle

I think Galland drew the “Book 2 of a trilogy” short straw and it sort of shows. Story moves along just fine, some fun moments in Shakespearean London and sorties in Tuscany and Sicily but there just seems to be a sprint to set up the third and final book (presumably by Neal?)

A very nicely crafted two part book. The first part has the same rhythms of retelling of Norse Sagas (like Neil Gaiman's) but in the second part the writing elevates to a more lyrical introspection and Angrboda's plight becomes more personal.

Headphones on, sit back with a cold drink and simply enjoy this. Not since the original radio series of The Hitchhikers Guide have I enjoyed a full cast production as much, and Dirk Maggs has produced some other Gaiman ones like Neverwhere

This is no Pillars of the Earth, It is much better on many levels save one.PofE was a good page turner, but its nature was that of a thriller writer turning their hand at Historical Novel. Ben Hopkins, instead is less plot driven and more a collection of lives that revolve, but are not centered on the Cathedral. The most interesting aspect was the Jews and how they were viewed and treated in the 14c. I will definitely read his future books.

Short, very easy to comprehend, makes references to D'ream , petunias and sperm whales so what is there not to like

It wasn't a bad book, but i did not find it great either. Maybe I was not the intended audience, as I kept feeling it seemed to be written with more of YA crowd (no knock per se i love many YA fantasies) but it seemed that every thing was spelled out. There was a predictability about the plot that never surprised. It was a perfectly enjoyable and simple read, but it never elevated to beyond a 3* threshold.

Lovely multi-layered tale that i suspect would deserve multiple readings to uncover the historical, from the fantastical historical, from the pure fiction invented by Clark.. Now off to the prequels