Another adventure for 12 year old Florian and his bestie Margaret, two wonderfully smart kids who help solve various cases for the FBI as consu4 Stars
Another adventure for 12 year old Florian and his bestie Margaret, two wonderfully smart kids who help solve various cases for the FBI as consultants for the Special Projects Team. When their mentor Marcus is accused of treason, these two are determined to do what’s necessary to exonerate him.
I’ve said it before. The strength of this series is the friendship between Florian and Margaret. They’re loyal, smart, resourceful, and of course imperfect. However, they epitomize what resilience and support is, never wavering when it comes to the other. Tie that all to battling Russian spies, avoiding CIA and NSA interference, and enlisting the help of a foreign mafia boss, and you have a great conclusion to a trilogy that’s all about found family and not judging others by their looks or age.
Obviously, I enjoyed my time with Florian and company, as any association or semblance of a Sherlock-ian story greatly appeals, and I look forward to exploring more of Ponti’s works in the future!
Special shoutout to Laura for bringing this charming series to my attention!
Though I haven’t seen every iteration of Star Trek out there, I’m still hard core Next Generation and more recently, Picard, Discovery, and S3.5 Stars
Though I haven’t seen every iteration of Star Trek out there, I’m still hard core Next Generation and more recently, Picard, Discovery, and Strange New Worlds.
Admittedly, I’m not as entrenched with these characters as there’s only 20 episodes to fall back on, but I love seeing the earlier renditions of Spock and Uhura, and Captain Pike is fast becoming a favorite character as his actions and beliefs truly deserve the loyalty he has from his crew.
I’m not going to go into all the details of the plot because it is quite extensively convoluted. What I will say is that I liked how this played on everyone’s strengths (though I wish we had way more La’an), how it made reference to Discovery’s angsty painful story arc, and I especially loved seeing Hemmer again.
Obviously, I enjoyed this “episode” for the Enterprise crew, hoping that subsequent books will bring more of an emotional oomph as seen in “A Quality of Mercy” or “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” or of course, the crazy scary cliffhanger that was “Hegemony”.
Overall, be reassured that this is typical Star Trek, morally conflicted, galaxy-in-peril high stakes with plenty of hard core science tossed with some good ole action that I’m confident most fans will enjoy!...more
Sworn enemies Mal and Boss Moon soon find out that they must work together in order to survive their crash on a hostile planet.
As all players c4 Stars
Sworn enemies Mal and Boss Moon soon find out that they must work together in order to survive their crash on a hostile planet.
As all players converge, the Alliance thinks this is the perfect time to squash any remaining rebels and the new Resistance thinks this is the most opportune time to show their force.
Technically and thankfully, Serenity saves the day for now… and the fearsome Ma Reynolds makes an appearance!...more
Was this an easy read? Uh, that is a big NO. However, Wang won me over with The Sword of Kaigen, and 4 Stars
Stunning in scope but heavy on all fronts.
Was this an easy read? Uh, that is a big NO. However, Wang won me over with The Sword of Kaigen, and though that story is an entirely different beast, this was no less impactful.
Here, Sciona is the lone woman to have ever achieved highmage status in a world that thinks very little of a female’s place in anything other than nurturing the home. She is ready to impress, and no one is going to stop her. When she “jokingly” gets saddled with a janitor for an assistant, what Sciona and Thomil discover in the search for bettering the city of Tiran will change not only themselves, but everyone else’s belief system and their place in the world.
Be prepared to encounter a bunch of hot topics - misogyny, racism, oppression, prejudice, bigotry, religion, overpopulation and dwindling resources are just to name a few.
It’s best not to discuss too many details so one can be equally affected as Sciona and Thomil were. You will be challenged. You will be struck by an ingeniously complex magic system that relies heavily on religious justification. You will be impressed with a totally original fantasy world and its varied peoples that inhabit it and how close it mirrors our own dark history.
Overall, I think if you are a fan of Wang, or if you want to take a chance on something different, this author doesn’t shy away from tough subject matter. Again, so very far from being an easy read, but like The Sword of Kaigen, the truth is devastating and tragic, and there are plenty who will fight with their whole being to maintain the status quo, who will hide behind a system that doesn't want to upset their divine given entitlement, but because of a select few, there is a chance for something better. This author won’t sugarcoat things nor give you a perfect HEA, and the result is a moving tale that will make you ponder one’s own humanity and question what is just, fair, and kind. There is triumph, there is the start of change, and most of all, there is hope.
Just like Sciona and Thomil can never unsee or unknow what they find, I too was affected the same way and won’t soon forget.
Thank you to the author and Del Rey via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review...more
For this 4th installment, Liev and his men grapple with their new reality and come face to face with even more unbelievable horror as the “bo3.5 Stars
For this 4th installment, Liev and his men grapple with their new reality and come face to face with even more unbelievable horror as the “boy” seems to hold power over those he’s killed.
This really delves into how emotions are a detriment to survival resulting in impulsive decisions or paralyzing inaction, both of which worsen the situation!
This latest entry expands upon the complicated devastating war between the planet Landfall and its moon Wreath and how it has encompassed many 4 Stars
This latest entry expands upon the complicated devastating war between the planet Landfall and its moon Wreath and how it has encompassed many other species looking for a cause or glory or an excuse, spreading insidiously across the galaxy and having horrible damning repercussions, both on a small and large scale.
Here, our protagonists continue to get caught in the crossfire of several players wanting to utilize the mixed genetics of their child Hazel, for their own cutthroat agenda, consequences be damned.
I remain impressed with the complex storytelling and how it is artistically brought to vivid, violent, and at times, shocking life....more
A highly enjoyable off-kilter story of revenge and mayhem, this presents an intriguing spin to the protagonists who are animal representations,4 Stars
A highly enjoyable off-kilter story of revenge and mayhem, this presents an intriguing spin to the protagonists who are animal representations, making their unique characteristics fit a human construct.
Reminiscent of The Magnificent Seven this is a no holds barred story of a reticent demanding mouse captain, recruiting his old gang of soldiers for one last hurrah to give a deadly response to a long ago betrayal.
Despite cute furries, this is obviously no bedtime story to tell the kids. With its fast pace and witty repartee, the characters are quite vivid, the violence impressive, the conclusion vindictively appropriate and equally tragic.
Mal is captured by the notorious Boss Moon, and Zoe makes the difficult decision to leave Wash and the others behind to go after him. She get3.5 Stars
Mal is captured by the notorious Boss Moon, and Zoe makes the difficult decision to leave Wash and the others behind to go after him. She gets a surprise assist from former Browncoats still looking for a cause and payback.
The Serenity crew however, refuses to be left behind, and they devise their own plans with mixed chaotic results....more
Seven highly trained and capable men survive an airplane crash only to be faced with even more danger.
When one man’s greed opens a mysterious 3 Stars
Seven highly trained and capable men survive an airplane crash only to be faced with even more danger.
When one man’s greed opens a mysterious locked and guarded box, no one thinks that a harmless looking “statue” could be something more. He should’ve known better and unfortunately, he never sees the consequences coming, setting off a chain of events that potentially spells everyone’s demise.
War makes you do desperate things to preserve one’s way of living or to enforce the laws you believe in. Each thinks they’re in the right and t4 Stars
War makes you do desperate things to preserve one’s way of living or to enforce the laws you believe in. Each thinks they’re in the right and the other is wrong. Mal and Zoe came out on the losing side, and their past is forever chasing after them and now there’s a big bounty on their head if caught.
This first volume sets the stage as the Serenity crew crashes on a planet, tries to fix their broken ship, attempts to make some money in the process, and ends up being recognized and tagged for capture.
Violent and steeped in moral ambiguity. Par for the course for this merry band of smugglers!...more
An interesting start to a serialized story, this first entry sets the stage for more.
Liev is in charge of a nebulous secret mission, and thi3.5 Stars
An interesting start to a serialized story, this first entry sets the stage for more.
Liev is in charge of a nebulous secret mission, and this off the books assignment does him and his mercenary crew no favors as they crash into the isolated mountains of China en route. Facing freezing temps, wild wolves, and grave injuries, their seemingly good fortune of a carved out shelter is anything but.
Graphic violence with hints of upcoming horror, I expect nothing less with the forthcoming installments.
* A Reader Obsessed *
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