Book reviewer for all Genres

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn: A Book Review

Blurb: In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince—while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable… but not too amiable.

Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen.

Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society—just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend’s sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar.

The plan works like a charm—at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London’s elite, there is only one certainty: love ignores every rule…

My thoughts: I read the Duke and I after I had watched the Bridgerton TV series and I still can’t decide which I should have done first. The TV series was great, so the book was very disappointing. If I had read the book first then I probably wouldn’t have bothered with the TV series.

It was a difficult book to get into, I think it took me over a month and a half to get past the first 150 pages or so. It felt like a task each time I opened the book and I would push myself to get to the end of a chapter – sometimes failing miserably.
I just couldn’t seem to get my head around the way in which the story was written. I don’t know the word for it but the ‘old way’ in which people used to speak is completely exaggerated not only in the speech of the Duke, Lady Bridgerton and the other characters but the book as a whole. I also found it difficult with how many tangents the characters seemed to go off on when having a conversation so much so I would forget what they were talking about originally.

It eventually picked up about two thirds of the way through and then I couldn’t put it down but for me, a good book should grip you within the first few chapters.

Solstice Child by Wendy L. Anderson: A Book Review

Blurb: A blood debt owed. Two enemies love the same woman. One of them must die. At the summer solstice festival passion and destiny collide.
Runa, a solstice child, is denied the love and protection of her family, pushing her to desperate lengths to escape their cruelty. Guided by the goddess Freya, she decides to weave her own destiny. When two men enter her life, she must choose between them and risk everything for love.
Brand vowed to collect a blood debt from the Viking raiders who slew his family. His hunt has led him to a village harboring his enemy. Bound by the sacred peace of the solstice festival he must wait to take his revenge. He never anticipated the captivating allure of Runa who threatens to disrupt his path to vengeance.
Eiland, on the verge of death after being hunted for years, must pay for the crimes of his youth. Then he finds hope and a reason to fight back in the arms of a mysterious girl. As fate closes in on him, he is faced with a crucial reclaim his hold on life or embrace the halls of Valhalla.
Passion, vengeance, and destiny intertwine as two bitter enemies contend for the love of one woman. Who will emerge triumphant in the battle between the two men Runa loves?
Solstice Child is a mesmerizing stand-alone adventure that will captivate readers from beginning to end. With its intoxicating blend of sensual historical fantasy romance and elements of Norse mythology, this tale weaves a spellbinding tapestry of love, passion, and sacrifice. Brace yourself for a riveting love-triangle romance that will leave an indelible mark on your heart.

My thoughts: Solstice Child is the latest book by Wendy L. Anderson and what a phenomenal book it is. This is a Viking Romance with a love triangle and is a standalone book.

Overall, I thought it was a great story! It came with some unexpected moments which I refuse to spoil for you all! I love the character development of Runa and Brand, especially Brand, as he grows so much throughout the story. I enjoyed the side character’s too and I am always in awe at how the author is able to create such nasty villains!

As always, I love the author’s writing style and of course her use of metaphors are just extraordinary *chef’s kiss*. I can’t wait for her next book. Wendy, if you are reading this… HURRY!

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder: A Book Review

Blurb: You know your life is complicated when you miss your days as a poison taster…

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be united with the family she’d been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But although she has gained her freedom, she once again finds herself alone – separated from her lover Valek and suspected as a spy for her reluctance to conform to Sitian ways.

Despite the turmoil, she’s eager to start her magic training – especially as she’s been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes embroiled in a plot to reclaim Ixia’s throne for a lost prince – and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn’t bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with her new enemies.

My thoughts: This is the second book of the Chronicles of Ixia. Yelena returns home to the jungles she was kidnapped from and meets her brother, Leif and the rest of her family. She doesn’t spend too much time there as she has to continue on tothe city s she can learn more about her powers. However, not all goes to plan especially when there’s a murderer on the loose.

I did enjoy this book but it just wasn’t as good as the first. I really missed the sexual tension / slow burn between Yelena and Valek from the 1st book, and there just wasn’t enough of the power twins either. I feel like Yelena is only a fun main character when Valek, Ari and Jenco are around. Again, a difficult read in parts due to triggers but overall a great book.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder: A Book Review

Blurb:

Choose: A quick death… or slow poison…

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She’ll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace—and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly’s Dust—and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can’t control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear…

My thoughts: I’ve been in a bit of a book rut lately so when my sister recommended I read this book, a book I read back in 2013 (approx.), I thought I’d give it another go.

I remember it being good but I don’t remember it being THAT good. The main characters Yelena and Valek are fantastically strong characters that you can’t help but love and feel for. The author also manages to create villains you can’t help but hate and side characters you end up loving just as much as the main characters.
I want to marry the power twins… just saying. Though Valek would do nicely too!

Some of this book is difficult to read due to certain triggers but would highly recommend it nonetheless!

Tristram the Demon by Wendy L. Anderson: A Book Review

Blurb: A demon searching for redemption. A lonely girl searching for love. Will love and forgiveness be enough to escape the clutches of hell and open the gates of heaven?

After years of serving the Underworld, Tristram the demon recants his choice for hell and leaves his demonic life behind. As a consequence, he is relentlessly hunted and mortally wounded by his former brothers who are intent on taking him back to the land of the dead.

Vinaya, shunned by humankind as a witch, finds Tristram dying in the forest. She heals his wounds and helps him discover there are dual sides to his nature.

While Vinaya struggles to understand Tristram’s true spirit, he grapples with the guilt and shame of his past life. As love binds them together, they journey to a mystical land called Everclearing that serves as the gateway to heaven. In a desperate appeal to the Ny-Failen of Everclearing, Tristram must prove that he has truly repented of his past sins. But is he worthy of redemption?

Unknown magic and new love are their only hope as Tristram and Vinaya struggle to stay together and save his soul. Will hell let him go and will heaven take him back?

As one of the Legends of Everclearing,Tristram the Demon is a standalone fantasy in this series. If you like a sweet love story, heart-stopping action, adventure, and a happily-ever-after ending, you’ll love Tristram the Demon. This is a swoon-worthy tale of sacrifice where love conquers all when redemption is a hope worth fighting for.

My thoughts: Tristram the Demon is the third book in the Legends of Everclearing series by Wendy L Anderson. I continue to enjoy the works of Wendy L. Anderson and continue to wait impatiently for her next release. The problem with that though, is that I devour it so quickly because I swear, every single one of her stories is just AMAZING.

From the get go, the main characters are introduced. It is interesting how Vinaya and Tristram meet and how this paves the way for what is to come. As always, the characters are described with such imagery that they may as well be sitting in the same room as me. I also love how the author makes every single one of her character unique, with their own personalities and intricate backstories.

It’s funny, if you read my past reviews, how I explain the villains of Wendy’s books. They are horrid, vile characters but it’s amazing that with every book she releases, the villains just keep getting worse (in a good way of course). She has this amazing talent of making villains that you can’t help but hate.

I don’t want to go into the storyline as once I start I wont’ be able to stop, and I just don’t want to ruin it for you all. You really just need to read it!

Don’t let it put you off that this is Book Three (though IMO you really need to read ALLLLLL of them to appreciate the amazingness that is this series) but you can read this book without reading Books one or two.

Arianne the Mistress by Wendy L. Anderson: A Book Review

Blurb: Arianne will stop at nothing to escape life as a prostitute, even committing murder.

She’s not just the Mistress of the Maiden’s Bower brothel, but a temptress and an alchemist. Arianne creates a euphoric and addictive elixir that she uses to give pleasure or bring death. Her seductive powers are legendary, and everyone wants a piece of the beautiful, Arianne.

Lord Elkan Torrent, her regular client at the brothel, has secrets of his own. Forced to reveal what is best left unknown, he has to leave her and travel his fated path. Arianne quickly learns not everything is revealed and the truth is not always as it seems.

Running from the life she hates; Arianne avoids prosecution for her crimes and travels far across the sea to seek forgiveness for breaking Lord Torrent’s trust and spurning his love. There were rules she broke, battles she lost, and triumph in surrender.

A woman scorned…or was she?

Blind hope drives Arianne to find out the truth as she faces the uncertainty of love while Lord Torrent battles for his life in a never-ending war. How far will she go to assuage a broken heart? As far as the legendary Land of Everclearing.

My thoughts: This book was gifted to me for an honest review. I’ve read every single book so far by Wendy L. Anderson and I just can’t get enough. Her talent continues to astound me.
Arianne the Mistress is the second book in the Legends of Everclearing series and can be read as a standalone book or as part of the series.

If you would like a book with a strong heroine, romance, adventure and more then this is for you!

This book, along with the other books I have read by Wendy L. Anderson, are genuinely some of the best work I have ever read and I look forward to reading more of her work hopefully for years to come. I am happy that the author continues to bring out stories that focus on the Ny-Failen – I really believe that the world that Anderson has built and the characters she has created are phenomenal.

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone: Chapter Five: Book and Movie Differences

Chapter Five, ‘Diagon Alley’ covers the scene when Hagrid and Harry go to the Leaky Cauldron and then Diagon Alley to buy school supplies.

The chapter starts off with Hagrid and Harry still in the hut. They’ve slept there over night and are awoken by an owl. Harry and Hagrid have a conversation about money and Hagrid talks about Gringotts. This differs from the movie as Hagrid waits till they are in Diagon Alley before telling him they are going to Gringotts. In the book, they take the train to London, while Hagrid knits, and they discuss the list of items Harry is going to need for Hogwarts.

When they get to Hogwarts they head to the Leaky Cauldron and the chapter and scene play out very similarly, as is the case for heading into Diagonal Alley and to Gringotts though in the movie Hagrid states he needs to ‘You know what in vault you know which’ but in the book he states vault 713.

Once they leave Gringotts, Hagrid goes for a ‘pick me up’ in the Leaky Cauldron and leaves Harry to it. He goes for his uniform first, which we don’t see in the movie and here is where he actually meets Draco for the first time though his name is never said at this point. Draco covers a lot of stuff in such a small time. He insults Hagrid, says he wants to be in Slytherin, and thinks that muggles shouldn’t be allowed to study at Hogwarts.

Hagrid and Harry also have conversations about Quidditch and the Hogwarts houses while shopping for school supplies in places not mentioned in the movie. In the movie, Hagrid buys Harry Hedwig while Harry is shopping for his wand, however, Harry and Hagrid shop for Hedwig together. At Ollivander’s, there is a deeper process for getting a wand than is shown in the movies, such as measurements, and Harry tried ALOT more wands in the books.

In the movie, Hagrid goes to the shack in the sea on Harry’s birthday and they go shopping the next day for Harry’s school supplies, THEN he gets taken to platform 9 and 3/4 to get on the train. However, there is a month between Harry’s birthday and the start of school. In the book, this is explained and Harry is actually put on a train back to the Dursley’s which is a big surprise.

What do you think of the differences?

Gee Liz Reads ❤

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone: Chapter Four: Book and Movie Differences

Chapter Four, ‘The Keeper of the Keys’ covers the scene in which Hagrid comes to the hut the Dursley’s and Harry are staying in, and tells Harry that he is a wizard.

In the book, Hagrid sits down on the sofa unlike in the movie were he keeps standing. In the book, he knows who Harry is straight away whereas in the movie, he thinks Dudley is Harry for a moment. The book has a funny moment when Hagrid pulls out a kettle, sausages, cups, amongst other things and starts to cook the sausages and drink tea in the hut.

The conversation about Hogwarts and Harry being a wizard goes down in a similar way but Hagrid is much angrier that Harry doesn’t know anything about his parents, Hogwarts, the wizarding world. There’s also extra conversations in there before and after Harry reads his letter. Aunt Petunia’s rant about Lily going to Hogwarts is pretty much word for word in the movie but I wish they had put in the part when Hagrid pulls a live owl out his pocket and writes a letter to Dumbledore for the owl to take. Uncle Vernon also has more to say too, mainly saying that James and Lily got what was coming to them.

The conversation about Voldemort that happens in the movie once Hagrid has taken Harry away to Diagon Alley happens in the hut with the Dursley’s there.

What do you think of these differences?

Gee Liz Reads ❤

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone: Chapter Three: Book and Movie Differences

Chapter three, ‘The Letters From No One’ covers the scenes in which the letters start arriving at the Dursley’s house, and when they go and stay in the cabin in the sea.

Ignoring the beginning when Dudley and Aunt Petunia go shopping for uniform, and Petunia dyes some old uniform for Harry, the chapter and scene are very similar to each other even with some lines being word for word. When Harry goes for the post and and notices the letter for him, he goes back to the table and starts opening it. The letter is taken from him and then in the movie, the Dursley’s stare in fright and the scene ends. In the book, Dudley and Harry are kicked out of the room but they continue to listen at the door. Vernon and Petunia panic about the letter and discuss that they don’t want ‘one of them’ in their house but leave it for the reader to continue to wonder exactly what is going on.

Harry ends up getting his own bedroom in the book, much to Dudley’s dismay has he had two bedrooms and now had to give one up! Book Dudley is much worse than movie Dudley. We don’t see him on the big screen throwing his pet tortoise through the greenhouse roof, or being sick on purpose because he didn’t get his own way.

The letters continue to come to the house and in the scene when all the letters start flying down the chimney, Harry doesn’t actually get his mits on a letter in the book, which is hard to believe because there are hundreds of them… how he became seeker on the quidditch team is beyond me, but this means that in the the fight between Harry and Vernon doesn’t happen.

From this, they go to a hotel on the edge of the ctiy but hundreds of letters get delivered there so they get in the car and move along. Dudley doesn’t actually say ‘Daddy’s gone mad, hasn’t he?’ until Vernon is driving around forests and fields looking for somewhere to stay, whereas this line is said when Harry and Vernon are fighting over the letter in the movie. They do end up at the shack in the middle of the sea like is seen in the movie.

What do you think of these differences?

Gee Liz Reads ❤

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone: Chapter Two: Book and Movie Differences

The movie “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, (alt.: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), directed by Chris Columbus, based on the novel by J.K. Rowling. Seen here, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter talking to a snake. Initial world premiere (London) November 4, 2001. Screen capture. © 2001 Warner Bros. Credit: © 2001 Warner Bros. / Flickr / Courtesy Pikturz. Image intended only for use to help promote the film, in an editorial, non-commercial context.

Chapter Two, ‘The Vanishing Glass’ covers the scenes in the movie in which it is Dudley’s birthday and they go to the zoo. In the movie, Aunt Petunia knocks on his door and tell’s Harry to get up then Dudley jumps on the stairs and tells him to wake up because they are going to the zoo. Actually, in the books, Harry is not going to the zoo because Mrs Figg’s, who isn’t introduced until the 5th film I believe, is going to look after him, which she has done every year for Dudley’s birthday. However, she has broken her leg and so is unable to look after him this year so they end up having to take him.

It’s not only Harry and Dudley that go to the zoo with Mr and Mrs Dursley in the books, they also take Dudley’s friend, Piers Polkiss. It is also Piers Polkiss that notices the Boa Constrictor that Harry is talking to, acting oddly. He shouts this out to the Dursley’s and then thats when Dudley pushes Harry out of the way. The glass vanishes but unlike in the movie, the glass does not reappear and Dudley doesn’t get stuck behind it.

Other things I noticed were that some of the lines in the book and the movie were either the same or similar. One difference was when Vernon was warning Harry ‘any funny business, any at all…’, the book states ‘you’ll be in that cupboard until Christmas’ whereas in the movie it’s ‘you won’t have any meals for a week.’ In the books, this is brought up because a lot of odd things have happened to Harry before that couldn’t be explained such as Aunt Petunia cutting his hair short and then the next day, it has all grown back. Again, none of this is covered in the movie.

Finally, seeing as spiders are such a huge part of the 2nd book/movie, Harry’s relationship with spiders because of living in the cupboard is emphasised in the books e.g. they are there all the time so he isn’t the least bit scared of them, however in the first movie, the spiders are not mentioned once. Even in the second movie, Ron mentions his phobia of spiders but Harry still doesn’t bring up that he doesn’t mind them due to living in the cupboard with them.

What do you think of these differences?

Gee Liz Reads ❤