Very disappointed with this. Written in three time periods,( which I never have a problem with) parts of it were excellent with really good descriptioVery disappointed with this. Written in three time periods,( which I never have a problem with) parts of it were excellent with really good descriptions, but creepy, spooky it was NOT. Too many ghosts, too many songs, too many historically well known characters. For me less is more and I found it unsubtle and by the end boring. The stars are for the descriptions in the diary and of London in the sixties....more
Wonderful finish to a great series, full of the good the bad and the magic...lots of. It took a while to get into, because there are so many characterWonderful finish to a great series, full of the good the bad and the magic...lots of. It took a while to get into, because there are so many characters with difficult names and because of the time lapse after the previous book , it was not easy to remember. A list of characters would have helped. I felt the last chapter was superfluous, although it did tidy everything up nicely. Despite these things it was still worth five for me. A great tale of good versus evil, with the two warring factions, the desert people and the greenlanders having to join forces in order to defeat a greater evil....more
Although I`m not a lover of short stories, these two were gripping and filled in some gaps in the series about Arlen Bales fight with the (corlings) dAlthough I`m not a lover of short stories, these two were gripping and filled in some gaps in the series about Arlen Bales fight with the (corlings) demons that materialise at night and plague his world. I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the latest and I suspect the last in the series. Peter Brett has an easy and captivating style which really makes the narrative live. ...more
A charming piece of escapism. A good murder mystery with too elderly female cats as the detectives. All the characters are cats and it works well. TheA charming piece of escapism. A good murder mystery with too elderly female cats as the detectives. All the characters are cats and it works well. There is a constant lay on words and names which is amusing....more
I am enjoying following the story of Ayla and Jondalar in the imaginative depiction of life in the Stone Age. It is interesting and well researched anI am enjoying following the story of Ayla and Jondalar in the imaginative depiction of life in the Stone Age. It is interesting and well researched and there is no question that the author enjoys food, her descriptions of the feasts is amazing. I could manage without so much repetition and sometimes lecturing though....more
The saga continues and it is such an interesting story I am prepared to overlook the endless repetitions and lessons in geology and botany. it is so iThe saga continues and it is such an interesting story I am prepared to overlook the endless repetitions and lessons in geology and botany. it is so imaginative....more
The saga continues and is a jolly good relaxing read. Still inclined to give lectures about plant, animals etc. but as I have read it before I can skiThe saga continues and is a jolly good relaxing read. Still inclined to give lectures about plant, animals etc. but as I have read it before I can skip those and some of this one has been very emotional....more
I love this story and have read it more than once. There are two stories here, one the prehistoric woman, Ayla is exiled and finally finds a cave in aI love this story and have read it more than once. There are two stories here, one the prehistoric woman, Ayla is exiled and finally finds a cave in a sheltered valley where she lives for three years, that part was very interesting as we follow her through her difficulties of hunting and existing. The other sees Jondalar and his brother on a journey from the far West following what would now be the Danube. This and what they do and the people they meet is also interesting and the story flows well. Sometimes I found the flow slowed and we seemed to be being given a lecture with a lot of detail and instruction. Sometimes I found the syntax a bit strange too....more
Love this series. On a repeat reading of this the first book I have found the writing rather stilted in parts, but the story carries you along and is Love this series. On a repeat reading of this the first book I have found the writing rather stilted in parts, but the story carries you along and is very imaginative. The characterisation is also very well defined and believable....more
Southern England, 1361. The plague is back and life in the small Somerset fishing village will never be the same again. This is a historical fantasy, Southern England, 1361. The plague is back and life in the small Somerset fishing village will never be the same again. This is a historical fantasy, very dark in parts. The history is well researched and as right as it ever can be. The fantasy, in many ways could be explained, but not quite all. Superstition is rife and ignorance abounds. A strange woman, sea witch, arrives and allegedly brings the plague because there is something she wants from the village. A dwarf (not natural, but manipulated as a baby for profit, this apparently actually happened) who is really a very good character, but vilified by all and Sara a packhorse owner`s wife tell most of the story. The village hag/witch gossip/religious fanatic tells some from her point of view. The people at the manor keep away from the commoners, but there is an interesting link with one village member. Two young lads (Sara`s sons go missing when their family cottage is boarded up with their dying father inside. They are `captured` by a religious sect and kept in a cave underground. A real page turner, will the boys escape? Will the sea witch get what she wants? The tension keeps up right to the end. ...more
A powerful novel, Colson Whitehouse has written an imaginative and stunning book about slavery in general and runaways in particular. He makes the `RaA powerful novel, Colson Whitehouse has written an imaginative and stunning book about slavery in general and runaways in particular. He makes the `Railroad ` into a physical actuality, running underground in a rather random and unplanned way. We follow the journey of a slave girl, Cora from Georgia to the North and then setting out for California. There are many horrific passages about the treatment of slaves by the thuggish overseers and runaway catchers. Cora`s first stop leaves her in S. Carolina which seems to be pro free black people until she discovers the awful truth of the white people`s intentions.She ends up in one idealistic black community in Indiana, which had a wonderful ethic but was not to last. Although it is Cora`s story there are short vignettes of some of the other characters interspersed throughout the novel. An appalling indictment of man`s inhumanity to man. Brilliant....more
All it says on the cover, "Brilliant, dark, thrilling and utterly original". At first I found the style rather stilted, but then it is a teen book. ThAll it says on the cover, "Brilliant, dark, thrilling and utterly original". At first I found the style rather stilted, but then it is a teen book. The story is so good that it just carries you along at speed. The research into Victorian dress and behaviour, and attention to detail is considerable, although I would point out to Ms Hardinge that a bay horse will always only have a black mane, not a pale one! Pure nit picking...sorry! ...more
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Time travelling but in this time is like a coil and the Twentieth Century loops round. To say more would spoil it. It isThoroughly enjoyed this book. Time travelling but in this time is like a coil and the Twentieth Century loops round. To say more would spoil it. It is full of surprises. ...more
I struggled at first and almost abandoned it. Glad that I persevered as it became spell binding. sometimes difficult to remember that it was going bacI struggled at first and almost abandoned it. Glad that I persevered as it became spell binding. sometimes difficult to remember that it was going back in time. The phraseology was often stunning, brief to the point and very clear. The part about the holocaust and the treatment of the Jews in the Thirties was eloquent despite being written from the perspective of one of the perpetrators. ...more
An interesting and well written exploration of the effects of schizophrenia and its possible treatments. A sad tale of a marriage which suddenly and brAn interesting and well written exploration of the effects of schizophrenia and its possible treatments. A sad tale of a marriage which suddenly and briefly improved. I found the ending a bit far fetched..possibly meant to make one wonder what is the truth and what is in the mind....more
Four stars because the book is, as always, well researched and well written. Set in Lincoln at the time of the `Peasants` revolt`, it is a series of dFour stars because the book is, as always, well researched and well written. Set in Lincoln at the time of the `Peasants` revolt`, it is a series of disasters which befall a wealthy merchant and his family, all of which are attributed to witchcraft. Running alongside their story is the story of a boatman, Gunter, a riverman and his family. The only ones to care about were the servants, Gunter and his family. ...more
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