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Showing posts from February, 2015

A stunning debut

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Church of Marvels -  Leslie Parry ebook, 320 pages, e xpected publication: May 5th 2015 It is New York 1895 and four characters are drawn together by a series of events that is nothing what you expect. The book is touted as a cross between Night Circus and Water for Elephants it is none of these it so much better. It is darker, more vibrant and utterly compelling to read. Each chapter is told from a different characters point of view, usually this has can be jarring but Parry makes it flow and you are immersed in this wonderful story. It is about family secrets, guilt and growing up. The story hangs on Odile’s journey as she tries to find her twin sister, Belle. All Odile has to find Belle is one clue and she follows the trail. She meets Sylvan who works cleaning out the shit houses, he hopes to find a small fortune in the faeces and if that does not happen he fights for cash. Yet for a man who really is at the bottom of society he has the kindest of hearts when he finds a bab

A captured rush

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The Captive Prince C.S Pacat Paperback, 268 pages,  Expected publication: April 7th 2015 by Viking: Penguin, f irst published February 4th 2012 Akielos and Vere are two warring countries who have come to an uneasy truce. Akielos’s legitimate heir to the throne Damianos is betrayed after the current Kings death and he is sold into slavery to his enemy Prince Laurent. His name is changed from Damianos to Daman and he is sent off to Vere to become a male pleasure slave. When I started reading this novel I was completely unaware that it had come into being as a series of chapters gradually released online. So I come to the story with fresh eyes and reading it complete. The novel starts off quickly with Prince Damianos in the first three chapters stripped of power and position and sold into slavery. To be honest it was a bit too quick and could have done with a bit more world building. Pacat has created an interesting world but you do not get an opportunity to appreciate the

A Loser's tale wonderfully told

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Useful Debra Oswald Paperback, 320 pages Published January 28th 2015 by Viking: Pengui n  The central character is Sullivan Moss who has traversed through his 30’s by being a genial drunk and avoiding all responsibilities in life. The death of a childhood friend and Sullivan’s failure to deal with it makes him decide that suicide is the best option. Yet Sullivan cannot even succeed in killing himself. While recovering in hospital he has an epiphany of sorts and decides to donate a kidney so that he can be considered useful. Circling around Sullivan is a group of people who care and have the shits with him at the same time.  It is this group of friends who provide Sullivan with the means to move forward. Though to donate a kidney, Sullivan has to clean up his act, get healthy and, get a job he cannot do it without help. That help comes from his ex-wife Astrid who connects him with Natalie who is looking for a house and dog sitter. The supporting characters in Sullivan’s journey

Fairy Tales brought to life

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The Sleeper and the Spindle Neil Gaiman Hardcover, 68 pages Published October 23rd 2014 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's work and will be very biased in this review. I really loved this re-telling, I loved the artwork and I loved everything about it. What I loved is you have a Queen who does not want the 'so-called happy ever after'of marriage, children and a kingdom to rule. So when the Dwarves come to tell her of a danger in the land she is only too happy to go on an adventure. There is a rhythm to the text that keeps you engaged but it almost feels heavy. It is almost as if Gaiman has captured on page the sleep curse that has captured an entire city. You feel each step is difficult to take, each movement forward harder to make and I loved that. The presentation of the book is superb, the drawings are stunning and the splash of gold here and there is delightful. A really wonderful twist on a fairy tale. H

Is it Castle or Heat?

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Deadly Heat Richard Castle Kindle Edition , 294 pages, Published September 17th 2013 by Hyperion This is the fifth book in the series and while enjoyable it was a bit disappointing. Heat and Rook are trying to solve a serial killer, a bioterror plot and tie up the loose ends of her mother's murder. There is a lot going on and the writer is able to keep us entertained and keeps the novel moving forward and a good pace. This is a good solid crime thriller and does not disappoint in that respect. What disappoints for me is the melding between the TV show Castle and the books means that the characters are almost indistinguishable of each other. The earlier books you really did feel like you were getting a bonus with Heat and Rook being similar but still different. In this book if you substituted Heat for Beckett and Rook for Castle it would not matter. They are way too similar and for me that was the disappointment. I liked the original concept, I like the crimes

Aussie Politics with a wicked twist

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The Mandarin Code Steve Lewis and Chris Uhlmann Harper Collins, August 2014, 327 pages A body is pulled from Lake Burley Griffin and what would appear to be a suicide turns into an international conspiracy that could result in war between China and the United States of America with Australia trying to find a safe middle ground.  Harry Dunkley a veteran news reporter is given some juicy leaks that lead him on the story of a life time and possibly uncovering his best friend’s killer.   The Australian Government is in turmoil and seems to be heading from one disaster to another.  The Mandarin Code is the second book in the Harry Dunkley series and I can honestly say I did not know there was a first book. This book can be read as a standalone without any knowledge of the first book.  There are layers upon layers of conspiracy, dodgy political deals, backstabbing and numerous grabs for power.  While Dunkley is the character that the story hangs off there are several other pl