This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on theActual rating 3.5/5 stars.
This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on their first days at university and, instead, belonged to different and more troublesome friendship groups, or none at all. This was a fun and short read, even if the conclusion to the girls' issues was a little predictable.
Once the main focus was over, the final few pages featured a short tale during Esther's Christmas at home with her family and seemed a random addition to what had previously featured. I liked this short anecdote rather less than the story delivered before it.
Merged review:
Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
This short issue largely focuses on a parallel timeline in which Susan, Daisy, and Esther did not befriend each other on their first days at university and, instead, belonged to different and more troublesome friendship groups, or none at all. This was a fun and short read, even if the conclusion to the girls' issues was a little predictable.
Once the main focus was over, the final few pages featured a short tale during Esther's Christmas at home with her family and seemed a random addition to what had previously featured. I liked this short anecdote rather less than the story delivered before it....more
This is a reworking of the life of the fictional and renowned Lydia Bennett, the youngest Bennett sister in Pride and Prejudice. The novel starts afteThis is a reworking of the life of the fictional and renowned Lydia Bennett, the youngest Bennett sister in Pride and Prejudice. The novel starts after her ill-fated match with a solider and we watch her rise and fall (many times over) from there.
I fully didn't expect to adore this as much as I did! It measures in at just over two hours long in its Audible narration and I adored every single second of it! Some parts were silly and witty and others dark and tragic. The author blended the two seamlessly to deliver a clever and unflinching portrayal of 18th century society as well as to provide a redemption arc for my girl, Lydia. I think its safe to say I will never read Pride and Prejudice in the same way again and if an author can make me rethink Jane Austen then she is fully deserving of five stars....more
The author states that this book's purpose was to get adults and children laughing together. I read this alone, so can't attest to how it would appealThe author states that this book's purpose was to get adults and children laughing together. I read this alone, so can't attest to how it would appeal to a younger audience, but I needed something quick, non-taxing, and to pull me out of my anxious mind, and it definitely achieved that.
The story inside was told in rhyming couplets and with a quirky humour. It followed the story of Jock the Crocodile as he navigated his young life with the very 'in' Scottish name his mother called him, much to his father's despair. It was a quick read but every one of the pages gave me a reason to smile and I thought this a charming story overall, which I will definitely return to.
The full page illustrations were just as adorable and I loved all of the natural and animal imagery. There was something of Quentin Blake, who illustrated the Roald Dahl books, in the style and so I felt nostalgic when viewing the contents and its easy yet fun format.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, S. M. Robert, the illustrator, Evgenia Malina, and the publisher, BooksGoSocial, for this opportunity....more
This is the thirteenth and final instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
I did it!
And what a journey it has been! The quiet humour andThis is the thirteenth and final instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
I did it!
And what a journey it has been! The quiet humour and the clever potting has made each instalment a joy to read, even if nothing actually joyful was revealed in the storyline. I think Snicket has crafted something truly extraordinary here, a timeless classic suitable for all age ranges and with a finale worthy of all the heartache and tragedy that has appeared before it....more
This is the twelfth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
My favourite thing about this series is how it mentions seemingly unrelateThis is the twelfth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
My favourite thing about this series is how it mentions seemingly unrelated and ridiculous items in its synopsis and somehow makes them work in the context of the storyline. This one involves "a harpoon gun, a rooftop sunbathing salon, two mysterious initials, three unidentified triplets, a notorious villain and an unsavoury curry".
As well as all that, every past friend and foe mingled here, blurring boundaries and crossing paths making this a fast-pace instalment and one in which I second-guessed every reveal and character intention. The stakes have never been lowered throughout the course of this series but as the final showdown fast approaches I fear for the siblings safety at every turn and long for a quiet future in their traumatic lives as surely as I know I will miss them desperately once this is delivered and my time with them has come to a close....more
This is the eleventh instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Underwater and the depths of despair are both plunged into, as the BeaudeThis is the eleventh instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Underwater and the depths of despair are both plunged into, as the Beaudelaire's continue to fight for their freedom and to escape the clutches of their many foes. This seems impossible in moments, especially when they become separated and are vying for a way to return to each other before they can guarantee their safety.
I've really loved my time with this series but as it has continued, the most exciting element for me has been piecing together subtly dropped clues and finding new mysteries to reveal themselves when I had long thought the path to this conclusion a transparent one. Facts are revealed as lies and what is real is never guaranteed to be so, leading this to be a more complex and thrilling story than the one I had anticipated reading when I first begun this lengthy series. I'm very eager for the siblings to find some happiness and to see where the final legs of this adventure will lead them to....more
This is the tenth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Sunny Baudelaire has been separated from her two elder siblings and is in CoThis is the tenth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Sunny Baudelaire has been separated from her two elder siblings and is in Count Olaf's clutches without any means for escape. Must she use her own wits, and sharp teeth, to defeat him, or will Violet and Klaus be able to concoct a scheme to enter his lair and return their not-so-baby sister to safety?
Just like in the previous series instalment, this featured a return of many former enemies, all colluding together to bring about the Baudelaire's destruction and gain their wealth as their own. I loved seeing how all that had previously transpired led up to the present moment and how new reveals were made as continuously as new mystery were presented. This series was a mixture of fun and tragic, before now, but I am truly seeing how cleverly twisted and well-plotted it is, for the first time. All is not as it had previously appeared and there is far more to the sinister Count Olaf, the Baudelaire fortune, and the disappearance of the sibling's parents than there previously appearred to be....more
This is the ninth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
The circus has arrived! The Baudelaire siblings disguise themselves to gain This is the ninth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
The circus has arrived! The Baudelaire siblings disguise themselves to gain entry and face off against the evil Count Olaf, attempting to use his own ruses against him.
This book felt like it differed from many of the previous series instalments, which followed a similar pattern in plot, and brought together many previous enemies into one fun setting. I found the clever prose to be as hilarious and enjoyable and this remained my favourite aspect about this novel, despite also loving the journey this took the siblings on and how new mysteries, concerning their circumstances, were also exposed.
I did worry that this book would perpetuate harmful stereotypes, with the early assignment of the word 'freak' to many of the circus performers, but soon found this not to be the case. It was only the evil characters who treated the performers with disdain and, I believe, the young target audience would not align their thoughts with these characters....more
This is the eighth instalment in the A Series Unfortunate of Events series.
Apparently I can't be pleased! I stated in my review for the previous serieThis is the eighth instalment in the A Series Unfortunate of Events series.
Apparently I can't be pleased! I stated in my review for the previous series instalment that I was beginning to find the formulaic outline - the siblings are housed with incompetent and disbelieving adults who fail to notice the presence of Count Olaf, despite repeated appeals by the Baudelaires, who are then forced to use their own wits to defeat him - present in each of the books to be a little wearisome. Here, things had altered and I still didn't find it as impressive as some earlier books in this series.
I still commend Snicket for his illogical logical (when the nonsensical still somehow makes sense) and his skilful comedy (that appeals to children with the more straightforward jokes and to adults with the clever wordplay) but found the bones of the actual storyline to be a little, dare I say it, boring!...more
This is the seventh instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
As the synopsis notes, this book contains "migrating crows, an angry mob, This is the seventh instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
As the synopsis notes, this book contains "migrating crows, an angry mob, a newspaper headline, the arrest of innocent people, the Deluxe Cell, and some very strange hats." So, it is as odd and bizarre, as tragic and as haunting, as rousing and hilarious, and as bittersweet and full of heart as the volumes that have come before it.
All bar the first series instalment have garnered a four-star rating from me. I still enjoyed this seventh instalment but did find my engagement waning a little, hence the one-star rating drop. Perhaps this is due to short time span I read them in and how, with the bones of each book being largely the same, with similar repeated themes featuring inside them, their contents have become to blur together a little, even if character and setting continually alter.
This is my third Snicket book in the span of 24 hours and I think I'll leave a few days waiting period before I continue on as I don't want to forget the clever magic of his writing or become burdened with the tragedies he pens....more
This is the sixth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Siblings, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, have escaped all previous tragedies mostThis is the sixth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Siblings, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, have escaped all previous tragedies mostly unharmed and have found a new home with a wealthy former friend of their mothers. He seems lovable, if not dependable, but the same can't be said for who else resides under his roof. Orphans are 'in' but they fear what will become of them when they lose their new, fashionable status or when the past once again catches up with them.
This is the first instalment to feature other reappearing characters, asides from the Baudelaire siblings, which was fitting since books five and six were the only two that I read back-to-back. I liked seeing already beloved characters return and to see some previous mysteries solved, although no happy ending was garnered from this. Instead a new series of unfortunate events were set in motion and new mysteries, involving the Baudelaire mansion were also exposed, which has heightened my intrigue for the rest of the series to come.
The adult characters were all entirely new here, asides from the forever returning Count Olaf, but they remained a source of dual hilarity and annoyance, as always. The siblings had nothing but their own wits to rely on and their bond proved as unbreakable as ever, because of this, at the sorrowful novel's close....more
This is the fourth instalment in A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
The three Baudelaire siblings find themselves housed in an academic institutionThis is the fourth instalment in A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
The three Baudelaire siblings find themselves housed in an academic institution for the first time. They are hesitant to be surrounded by so many of their peers but the horrid adults who run the place, and the series of new rules they must adhere to, soon proves to be something to fear even more.
I was highly anticipating this series instalment due to my love of reading about school settings. This was less gothic in theme than expected, but no less intriguing for this. The new rules and regulations the siblings were forced to learn were constructed with Snicket's special brand of warped sense and there were the many ludicrous inclusions here that I have quickly grown to love from this series. You really can never predict where these stories will head, despite the somewhat repetitive overall structure for each story....more
This is the fourth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny find themselves with a new mentor who proves as hopThis is the fourth instalment in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny find themselves with a new mentor who proves as hopeless as all the rest. They are put to work inside a factory with only coupons for payment and the threat of Count Olaf's arrival weighing heavily upon them. It is up to their sharp wits, as always, to free themselves from these new and disastrous circumstances.
This, more than the preceding three volumes seemed far sombre in theme. The siblings have been forced to endure repeated tragedies and it weighed very heavily upon them here. Snicket's special brand of humour provided some comic relief, however, and I remained as impressed as ever by the clever wordplay, making this a delightful read for all age ranges....more
My dinosaur obsession began at a young age with the Jurassic Park movie adaptations and my John Scalzi one a lot more recentActual rating 3.5/5 stars.
My dinosaur obsession began at a young age with the Jurassic Park movie adaptations and my John Scalzi one a lot more recently, when I became enamoured with his The Interdependency series. The synopsis promised the high thrills, scientific focus, and awe-inspiring creations of Crichton's much-beloved series, combined with Scalzi's strong narrative style and personal flair. I was more than excited!
However, what begun in a highly promising vein soon lessened in heightened emotions and stakes, leading this to be a thoroughly enjoyable but slightly tamer creation than the one I had anticipated.
I appreciated how the pandemic featured in this and I thought it depicted the individual fears of existing in a struggling economy, as well as the greed of the corporations still thriving in it, very well. When the focus shifted from the real world to the one of Scalzi's own creation, it was treated with the same detailed focus and level of authenticity.
I found the creatures that roamed this fictional world a little harder to imagine than their surroundings, due to their immense size and abilities. I loved learning more about them though, endlessly fascinating as they were, as well as the corporation who were monitoring and controlling them. There were some near misses that had me glued to the page and some strange discoveries that had me invested in learning the facts and gaining the truth.
My three-star rating is indicative of my thorough enjoyment in just witnessing all that Sclazi had so lovingly crafted but there did seem to be missing a little late-blooming spark to heighten my emotions towards the novel's conclusion.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, John Scalzi, and the publisher, Tor, for this opportunity....more
This is the third instalment in A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny find new enemies and returning old ones dogging their foThis is the third instalment in A Series of Unfortunate Events series.
Violet, Klaus and Sunny find new enemies and returning old ones dogging their footsteps and stealing every fleeting happiness from them. Can they ever catch a break!? I love the fearless trio and how their adventures in this world are written with both a sombre or snarky tone, as each scene requires. Their cleverness and their ingenuity is all they can rely on when every adult seems hopelessly incapable of caring for children or surviving any of the attacks directed at them. Despite the repetitive tone of each volume, Snicket's voice keeps instalment feeling fresh and my love for the siblings only continues to grow....more
Aliens, pirates, dinosaurs, and vampires travel on boats, hot air balloon, and space ships past volcanoes, gloomy castles, and through portals in thisAliens, pirates, dinosaurs, and vampires travel on boats, hot air balloon, and space ships past volcanoes, gloomy castles, and through portals in this hilarious and madcap adventure. But, despite all that, at the centre of the story is one very important carton of milk.
This was every bit as jovial and nonsensical as I wished it to be. Chris Riddell's illustrations were the perfect accompaniment for the funny, little tale and they really brought each character to life. I had a fun hour reading through the story, as I was entirely unaware of just what would occur next. Fortunately, the milk saw itself through to safety every time....more
Mort's life on Brutalia is a struggle. His gentle nature has blessed him with the nickname of Mort the Meek by his family. No-one outside the walls ofMort's life on Brutalia is a struggle. His gentle nature has blessed him with the nickname of Mort the Meek by his family. No-one outside the walls of his home must ever hear of this, however, as Brutalia is famed for its violent and blood-thirsty inhabitants. Mort feels he must learn to harness (and first find) his aggressive side but this goes against both his nature and the vows he took as a pacifist. When Mort is crowned as Royal Executioner and tasked with ending the life of his best friend, his choices are narrowed and it seems that violence, for once, must be Mort's only option.
I was so pleasantly surprised by this witty and fantastical tale. I gravitate towards middle grade stories for their whimsical vibes and very rarely, in both adult and children's fiction, for the humour. It stands to reason that humour in a book aimed at children would not also appeal to an adult. And yet, I found myself actually laughing out loud on more than one occasion. This book was the epitome of a fun time and I had an entertaining, if all too brief, time with it....more
Giant Days is over! I'm so sad that there are no more drama-filled scenarios with this trio of best friends to giggle over. Actual rating 3.5/5 stars.
Giant Days is over! I'm so sad that there are no more drama-filled scenarios with this trio of best friends to giggle over. This final volume saw the girls spend their last week together and graduate. The additional instalment included an insight to their year apart and the women they are becoming. I found the contents less emotional than I had anticipated, but as full of unguessable turns and crazy antics as ever....more
Aww, my favourite little trio are growing up and focusing on the future! This volume featured a lot of Esther content, which definitely made it one ofAww, my favourite little trio are growing up and focusing on the future! This volume featured a lot of Esther content, which definitely made it one of my favourites. The setting also shifted from Sheffield University to Esther's hometown, and then to London, and I loved seeing her get the chance to shine in these new environments. ...more
A wedding, a driving test, an adorable doggo, and many a hangover feature here. The Giant Days gang are learning to overcome the usual problems that hA wedding, a driving test, an adorable doggo, and many a hangover feature here. The Giant Days gang are learning to overcome the usual problems that haunt many during their early twenties and university days, and continue to do so with as much wit and drama as possible. I love that Ed and Graham shared much of the spotlight as I have grown to love them just as much as Esther, Daisy, and Susan....more
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