Tag: book reviews

Review: The Emperor’s Soul

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The Emperor's SoulThe Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read The Emperor’s Soul back in February 2015, and re-read it as the first story introduced in Sanderson’s Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection.

The story follows Shai, a Forger that can copy and change items by rewriting their history. Imprisoned and about to be executed, the arbiters offer her a deal: Forge a new soul for the emperor in exchange for her freedom. During the months she has to complete this task she discovers the depths and deceits of those who surround the emperor.

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Review: To Redeem a Rake

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To Redeem a RakeTo Redeem a Rake by Christi Caldwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As children, they were the best of friends. Over time they grew apart. Smiles faded and they became jaded. Now he needs her help in more ways than he thinks.

To Redeem a Rake features Lord Daniel Winterbourne, the Earl of Montfort (who we first met in The Lure of a Rake) and Miss Daphne Smith, both broken people who grew up together in the country, but stopped associating with one another as teenagers.

…his bond with the marquess remained strong enough that they were friends even still. Whereas Daphne had been severed from his life like a thread dangling from his sleeve.

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Review: Do You Want to Start a Scandal

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Do You Want to Start a ScandalDo You Want to Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

My Goodreads Rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

Do You Want to Start a Scandal is a mashup of the Castles Ever After and Spindle Cove series. Piers Brandon, the jilted marquess from Say Yes to the Marquess and Charlotte Highwood, youngest sister to Minerva (A Week to Be Wicked) and Diana (Beauty and the Blacksmith) are quickly thrown together when they’re accused of ‘MURRRDDDEEERRRR!!!’ in the library during a house party.

On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.
•Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?
•Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?
•Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing.

Admittedly, this isn’t the best Tessa Dare book out there, but it’s a fast, enjoyable read. Continue reading “Review: Do You Want to Start a Scandal” →

Review: The Brands Who Came For Christmas

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The Brands Who Came For ChristmasThe Brands Who Came For Christmas by Maggie Shayne

My Goodreads Rating: 3 of 5 stars

My Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

The Brands Who Came For Christmas is a cutesy romance story without too much depth. Maya Brand comes from a family with a sordid history, while Caleb Montgomery III comes from a political powerhouse. Maya aspires to be respected around town and Caleb teeters between aspiring to appease his family’s expectations and finding out who he really is deep down. A one-night stand consisting of sloppy drunk sex (ugh) leads to Maya being knocked up and alone.

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Review: The Problem With Three-Body Problem

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The Three-Body ProblemThe Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I really did not like The Three-Body Problem, and I realize I’m in the minority opinion on that. Had this book not been assigned for my Science Fiction & Fantasy college course, it’d be a rare find on my “did not finish” shelf.

It had nothing to do with its setting, nor it being part of a trilogy, nor the fact that it was translated, nor the fact that it was hard science fiction. The translation was done well and the scientific research was accurate as far as I can determine.

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