Tag: 2021

Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey (Review)

Abaddon’s Gate by James S. A. Corey

Blurb

For generations, the solar system – Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt – was humanity’s great frontier. Until now. The alien artefact working through its program under the clouds of Venus has emerged to build a massive structure outside the orbit of Uranus: a gate that leads into a starless dark.

Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante are part of a vast flotilla of scientific and military ships going out to examine the artefact. But behind the scenes, a complex plot is unfolding, with the destruction of Holden at its core. As the emissaries of the human race try to find whether the gate is an opportunity or a threat, the greatest danger is the one they brought with them.

Review 

Another fantastic book in The Expanse series. I can’t believe how they just keep getting better and better with each book in the series. This one I could not put down.

As usual each chapter is from a certain character’s perspective. The four characters are Anna, Bull, Clarissa and of course Holden. Now my favourite character has always been Amos but Anna was a brilliant character and very different from Amos.

Anna

Anna is a pastor and has been chosen to go on an Earth ship with other religious leaders and important people to look at the alien artefact. Anna lives by the code act first, ask for forgiveness later and I must admit this does get her into some dangerous situations but if she believes something is right and just she fights for it and will do anything to protect her flock and others. 

Bull

Bull is an Earther but works for Fred Johnson. Bull knows how to run a ship and knows how to get a job done. I loved how Bull gained respect from the Belters and got those who didn’t respect him to at least obey him. He might be rough around the edges but he always does the right thing.

Clarissa

I don’t want to say much about Clarissa as I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say she is a very troubled woman who desperately needs help and somebody to love her. 

This book revolves around the alien artefact and shows the human race at its best and its worst. I wish there had been more of Alex and Amos but hopefully there will be more of them in the next book. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Book Depository | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

James S. A. Corey is the pen name of fantasy author Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, George R. R. Martin’s assistant. They both live Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Reviews in the series so far

Leviathan Wakes

Caliban’s War

WWW Wednesday: 24/03/2021

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. My week has been unusually busy with work and I must admit I am rather out of practice and found myself rather worn out today with a migraine.

So here is my reading uodate.

What I am Currently Reading

I’ve read 50 pages so far and I am throughly enjoying it. Any book which starts with “Old bean” always promises to be a good read.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I absolutely loved this book and will be reading the next in the series soon. Review to follow shortly.

What I think I will Read Next

There are so many books I want to read at the moment I never know what to read next but I think it will be one of these.

So there is another WWW Wednesday.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading.

Goodreads Monday: 22/03/2021

Goodreads Monday is hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners.  All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week so far.

The book I have chosen for Goodreads Monday is one that I have recently bought and and is now sat on my TBR pile.

So here is the book…

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie’s first Tommy & Tuppence book is a thrill-packed novel of international intrigue, murder and suspense.

Tommy and Tuppence, two young people short of money and restless for excitement, embark on a daring business scheme – Young Adventurers Ltd.

Their advertisement says they are ‘willing to do anything, go anywhere’. But their first assignment, for the sinister Mr Whittington, plunges them into more danger than they ever imagined…

I am trying to read all of the works of Agatha Christie in order of publication and this is the next one on the list. Hopefully, I will read it soon as I am rather excited to read my first Tommy and Tuppence book.

Please drop me a comment if you have taken part in Goodreads Monday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

The Weekly Brief

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the weekend so far.

So without further ado, here is what I have been up to this week in the blog world.

Posts this Week

Currently Reading

I have loved the previous two books in this series but I think this is the best yet. I only put it down because I have studying and work to do.

Another week in the blogging world complete. I hope everyone has also had a good blogging week.

Happy Reading

Friday Poetry: Robert Herrick

Happy Friday!

I hope you all have some good weekend plans. I have been doing lots of reading for my dissertation prep and I think I am beginning to get an idea on what to do.

My chosen poem today is by Robert Herrick who was a seventeenth-century ‘Cavalier Poet’. The Cavalier poets were named this because they supported King Charles during the English Civil War. Herrick wrote over 2000 poems during his lifetime.

To Daffodils

Fair daffodils, we weep to see
You haste away so soon;
As yet the early-rising sun
Has not attain'd his noon.
Stay, stay,
Until the hasting day
Has run
But to the evensong;
And, having prayed together, we
Will go with you along.

We have short time to stay, as you,
We have as short a spring;
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As you, or anything.
We die,
As your hours do, and dry
Away,
Like to the summer's rain;
Or as the pearls of morning's dew,
Ne'er to be found again.

Robert Herrick

Happy Reading

Mid Week Quote: C. S. Lewis

Happy Wednesday!

It is time for another quote. The quote today is by the author and lay theologian Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963). He is best known for his works The Screwtape Letters, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Space Trilogy.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

C. S. Lewis

Happy Reading.

WWW Wednesday: 17/03/2021

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

It is time for one of my favourite posts of the week again.

What I am Currently Reading

This is so good! Yesterday, I could barely put the book down, it was a struggle to put it down to teach and do some studying.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I enjoyed this book but it didn’t have the wow factor for me sadly. Review.

What I Plan to Read Next

Loads to choose from! I’m never sure what to read next but it usually depends on what mood I’m in.

So there is my WWW Wednesday. Please drop me a link with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit as I love to see what everyone is reading.

Happy Reading

Top 5 Tuesday: Books That Got Me Into Reading

Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, and now being hosted by Meeghan reads.

Hello!

The theme this week is brilliant because I will be honest when I was little I didn’t do much reading until my big sister introduced me to some fantastic books and then I soon became a book addict. So here are 5 of the books that helped get me into reading.

I remember reading this book when I was rather young. It took me a long time to get through it but I loved it. I have read it many times since then and now I realise it is quite a short book but when I was young it felt like a very long book.

My sister bought me for Christmas one year when I was little, a big pile of individually wrapped abridged classics. The first thing that amazed me was that my sister had wrapped all these books as she hates wrapping presents. Then the excitement of having all these wonderful books to read hit me. After Christmas we went to Scotland to celebrate New Year with my other sister and during the car journey I read some of these books and A Tale of Two Cities was one of them and I loved it. I then promptly got the full edition and read it all and have read it many times since. This book cemented my love of Dickens and reading.

I always have to include Jane Austen as one of my authors who cemented my love of reading. I have read all of her books more than once and love them all even the annoying Emma. Pride and Prejudice was the second Austen I ever read and it is a firm favourite.

This was the first ever Terry Pratchett book I read. I got my mom to join a book club to get a limited edition of The Lord of the Rings and three Terry Pratchett books. I remember being curled up in the armchair reading this book thinking I will just read one chapter then go and practice the flute and soon realised there were no chapters and just kept on reading. I then became a Pratchett addict and have been ever since.

Finally, I have gone for my favourite trilogy The Lord of the Rings. I usually read another edition that I own which contains all three books in the one, so I count it as one book in my mind. I love The Lord of the Rings and have read it so many times. This trilogy cemented my love of all things fantasy.

So there is my Top 5 Tuesday! Please drop me a comment with your Top 5 Tuesday and I will head over for a visit as I love to see everyone’s answers.

Happy Reading

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (Review)

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Blurb

Drawing on Maggie O’Farrell’s long-term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare’s most enigmatic play, HAMNET is a luminous portrait of a marriage, at its heart the loss of a beloved child. 

Warwickshire in the 1580s. Agnes is a woman as feared as she is sought after for her unusual gifts. She settles with her husband in Henley street, Stratford, and has three children: a daughter, Susanna, and then twins, Hamnet and Judith. The boy, Hamnet, dies in 1596, aged eleven. Four years or so later, the husband writes a play called Hamlet. 

Review

Always seduced by a pretty cover I got this book because of the special Waterstones edition that is very attractive.

I do love the work of Shakespeare and have been trying to read all of his works. Although I will be honest I always felt very sorry for his wife who was left behind all that time whilst he was in London.

Hamnet is based on Shakespeare’s son, Hamlet or Hamnet but really it is more to do with Shakespeare’s marriage. The story moves backwards and forwards to the present day and to the past based around Agnes and William as children and how they came about meeting and getting married.

Agnes or Anne as she is more commonly known, is described as a woman with peculiar talents. Agnes can see the dead and also see snippets into the future and she understands the properties of herbs and can heal people with them. This means that people both fear her and need her in equal measure.

William is introduced as the eldest son of a glove maker who does not get on with his father. His father sees him as a waste of space and does not understand why his eldest son does not want to take the family business on. William is acting as tutor to earn a living but is not enjoying it and is getting more and more depressed and frustrated until he makes the move to London.

The book shows us how Agnes and William cope as parents, living so far apart and having to deal with the death of a child. I found this section very emotional but I must admit I got very frustrated with William and Agnes at times and felt very sorry for their daughters.

I enjoyed the story and found that O’Farrell had taken an interesting take on the people we know so well from history and yet know so little. I will be honest I could have done without the chapter about a flea and just found it rather unnecessary. I also discovered there were a few sections that I found unnecessary and could have done without but overall I did enjoy this piece of historical fiction and give it 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Book Depository | Foyles | Waterstones | Wordery

(All purchases made using one of the above affiliate links gives a small percentage of money to myself with no extra cost to yourself. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of this blog. Thank you ever so much, your support is gratefully received.)

About the author

Maggie O’Farrell (born 1972, Coleraine Northern Ireland) is a British author of contemporary fiction, who features in Waterstones’ 25 Authors for the Future. It is possible to identify several common themes in her novels – the relationship between sisters is one, another is loss and the psychological impact of those losses on the lives of her characters.