en-US Wed, 12 Jan 2022 02:08:18 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 29103028
Seeking allies and eluding Severn’s spies, Owen learns to survive in the court of Kingfountain. But when new evidence of his father’s betrayal threatens to seal his fate, Owen must win the vengeful king’s favor by proving his worth—through extraordinary means. And only one person can aid his desperate cause: a mysterious woman, dwelling in secrecy, who truly wields power over life, death, and destiny.]]> 336 Jeff Wheeler 150398298X Lucy 3 4.15 2016
author: Jeff Wheeler
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/12
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:

]]> 33830616 In this new series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily must continue to protect the realm of Valdemar while raising their children and preparing them to follow in their footsteps.
Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife, Amily, the King’s Own Herald, are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Peregrine, has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech—he can talk to animals and persuade them to act as he wishes. Perry's dream is to follow in his father's footsteps as a Herald Spy, but he has yet to be Chosen by a Companion.

Mags is more than happy to teach Perry all he knows. He regularly trains his children, including Perry, with tests and exercises, preparing them for the complicated and dangerous lives they will likely lead. Perry has already held positions in the Royal Palace as a runner and in the kitchen, useful places where he can learn to listen and collect information.

But there is growing rural unrest in a community on the border of Valdemar. A report filled with tales of strange disappearances and missing peddlers is sent to Haven by a Herald from the Pelagirs. To let Perry experience life away from home and out in the world, Mags proposes that his son accompany him on an expedition to discover what is really going on.

During their travels, Perry’s Animal Mindspeech allows him to communicate with the local wildlife of the Pelagirs, whose connection to the land aids in their investigation. But the details he gleans from the creatures only deepen the mystery. As Perry, Mags, and their animal companions draw closer to the heart of the danger, they must discover the truth behind the disappearances at the border—before those disappearances turn deadly]]> 336 Mercedes Lackey 0756413192 Lucy 4 4.01 2018
author: Mercedes Lackey
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/12
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:

]]> 1885 Pride and Prejudice has remained one of the most popular novels in the English language. Jane Austen called this brilliant work "her own darling child" and its vivacious heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print." The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and her proud beau, Mr. Darcy, is a splendid performance of civilized sparring. And Jane Austen's radiant wit sparkles as her characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, making this book the most superb comedy of manners of Regency England.

Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780679783268]]> 279 Jane Austen 1441341706 Lucy 5 4.28 1813
author: Jane Austen
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1813
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:

]]> 59726028 _CAN YOU BEAT THE NEON GOD'S ALGORITHM?

Five days before the end of the world, a mother and her baby struggle to beat the Neon God’s Algorithm in order to secure a seat on the last shuttle leaving the planet.

SYNOPSIS

From the bestselling author of the Vivian Amberville® series comes the NEON SCIENCE-FICTION survival story of a mother and her baby facing impossible odds midst a global apocalypse. Set in a mad world overseen by “The Neon God”, the deceitful and ubiquitous digital hive-mind A.I. controlling the metropolis of New Vega, five people are made to compete for “Gold Stars” in hope of escaping their impending doom.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Five days before the inevitable end of humanity, five unlikely heroes find themselves on an impossible quest to outlive the apocalypse.

Aurora, Stella, Rolf, Tümay and Sorano must challenge themselves to beat the Neon God’s Algorithm in a crumbling, totalitarian, surveillance state complicated by crime, technology and civil unrest. Under the ubiquitous eye of the Neon God, they set out to collect “Gold Stars” – an elusive, difficult to obtain, merit-based currency – and secure a seat on the last shuttle to Luna.

In a desperate attempt to save her baby daughter, Aurora must navigate the Dark and do her utmost to survive the last technological remnants of a dying civilization.

GENRE: neon science-fiction, survival thriller;
SUBJECT: nature and technology, digital totalitarianism, meta-reality, social commentary, the nature of reality;
THEMES: inner and outer self, ideology vs. identity, will to survive, darkness and light, escapism, motherhood, love, sacrifice and redemption;
WORLD: futuristic totalitarian dystopia, global apocalypse, crumbling civilization.


Want to uncover more stories from the mind of Louise Blackwick? Visit her on her website! louiseblackwick.com]]> 216 Louise Blackwick Lucy 5 is one of those "once-in-a-decade" type of stories that end up defining an era. It's also one of the most original science fiction novels I've read in my life.

Written in a new genre of science fiction called NEON SCIENCE-FICTION, "5 Stars" follows the story of 5 people who try to outlive the end of the world by securing a seat on the last shuttle to depart the planet. But to get on the shuttle, each one of them must beat the "Neon God's Algorithm", an omnipresent A.I. that has infiltrated into every technology that caries a microchip and is ruling over the metropolis on New Vega through orwellian, 1984-style Black Screen and their propaganda machine. In order to escape the planet, each character must secure 5 Gold Stars, which is a merit-based currency awarded by the Neon God only to those he deems "worthy", and since the A.I. is a psychopathic digital hive-mind with a penchant for Mind-Games, these Gold Starts become extremely tricky to procure.

My favourite character is Aurora, the mother of a prematurely-born baby with an amputated arm and our POV character. She is a starving, emaciated but resilient young woman who will do ANYTHING to protect her tiny baby.

The story is fast-paced, multi-layered and teeming with original, never-before-seen high concepts like:
- Virtual Visors that feed into your cognitive bias, distort reality and determine your world view
- Plasma katanas that need to be fueled via luminiscent fuel-cords (see artwork, it's awesome) and various weapons that turn you inside-out or teleport you at the edge of the observable universe
- the Dark - a living, caustic, dark fog-of-war that awakes your darker impulses (a Jungian concept). It encircles the city like an impenetrable darkness and turns the entire area into a battle-royale-style arena
- original, mind-blowing technologies like you've never seen nor read before in a science fiction novel, not once, not ever (and I have read most of them)

The story is original and a perfect blend of the Matrix, Blade Runner, Squid Games, Ready Player One and 1984.

The settings are grandiose and mind-bending. You will often feel overwhelmed by a sense of awe and wonder, even in such a decrepit, gritty, dying world as that of 5 Stars.

The characters are archetypal, highly complex and the soul of the novel. You will love to love/hate them at points. The main villain of the story (or is He?), the ubiquitous Neon God running the city is truly one of the most compelling villains I've read in a long time. He is a failed A.I. and therefore represents humanity at its worst.

The twists and turns in this story are staggering and yet organically flow into each other.

And now I got to talk about the ending. My god, the ending. I didn't see any of it coming. Just when I finished reading the novel after an edge-of-your-seat, satisfying ride through Neon and Dark, the author decides to turn everything on its head and throw what must be the biggest twists in fictional history. Not since "Pincer Martin", the "6th Sense" and "The Usual Suspects" did I experience a bigger twist than this one. Honestly, I saw a picture circulating on Reddit where a reader had included "5 Stars" on a list of "mindfuck books" and "biggest twists in literature" and I think it's entirely merited. I never, not once, saw that coming, but boy, does it explain everything to a T!

This review is already turning out to be longer than I anticipated. Honestly, just get "5 Stars" and experience it for yourself. It's probably one of those "once-in-a-decade" type of stories that end up defining an era.]]> 4.62
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2022/01/11
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves: altered-consciousness, authors-to-watch, authors-worth-my-attention, bestsellers, carl-jung, deserves-more-readers, deserves-more-reviews, jordan-peterson-should-read-this, more-original-than-the-matrix-or-av, needs-more-readers, philosophical-reads, psychological, science-fiction, should-be-a-movie, trendsetting-books, neon-science-fiction, a-i-books, mindfuck-stories, books-with-a-huge-twist, masterpiece-science-fiction, book-of-the-decade, books-like-1984, books-like-the-matrix, books-like-bladerunner, books-like-ready-player-one, books-in-a-new-genre-of-science-fic, survival-thrillers, sci-fi-survival-thriller, apocalyptic-science-fiction, cyberpunk, post-cyberpunk, dystopian-novel, breathtaking-new-books, must-read-science-fiction, female-lead-series, hero-archetype
review:
is one of those "once-in-a-decade" type of stories that end up defining an era. It's also one of the most original science fiction novels I've read in my life.

Written in a new genre of science fiction called NEON SCIENCE-FICTION, "5 Stars" follows the story of 5 people who try to outlive the end of the world by securing a seat on the last shuttle to depart the planet. But to get on the shuttle, each one of them must beat the "Neon God's Algorithm", an omnipresent A.I. that has infiltrated into every technology that caries a microchip and is ruling over the metropolis on New Vega through orwellian, 1984-style Black Screen and their propaganda machine. In order to escape the planet, each character must secure 5 Gold Stars, which is a merit-based currency awarded by the Neon God only to those he deems "worthy", and since the A.I. is a psychopathic digital hive-mind with a penchant for Mind-Games, these Gold Starts become extremely tricky to procure.

My favourite character is Aurora, the mother of a prematurely-born baby with an amputated arm and our POV character. She is a starving, emaciated but resilient young woman who will do ANYTHING to protect her tiny baby.

The story is fast-paced, multi-layered and teeming with original, never-before-seen high concepts like:
- Virtual Visors that feed into your cognitive bias, distort reality and determine your world view
- Plasma katanas that need to be fueled via luminiscent fuel-cords (see artwork, it's awesome) and various weapons that turn you inside-out or teleport you at the edge of the observable universe
- the Dark - a living, caustic, dark fog-of-war that awakes your darker impulses (a Jungian concept). It encircles the city like an impenetrable darkness and turns the entire area into a battle-royale-style arena
- original, mind-blowing technologies like you've never seen nor read before in a science fiction novel, not once, not ever (and I have read most of them)

The story is original and a perfect blend of the Matrix, Blade Runner, Squid Games, Ready Player One and 1984.

The settings are grandiose and mind-bending. You will often feel overwhelmed by a sense of awe and wonder, even in such a decrepit, gritty, dying world as that of 5 Stars.

The characters are archetypal, highly complex and the soul of the novel. You will love to love/hate them at points. The main villain of the story (or is He?), the ubiquitous Neon God running the city is truly one of the most compelling villains I've read in a long time. He is a failed A.I. and therefore represents humanity at its worst.

The twists and turns in this story are staggering and yet organically flow into each other.

And now I got to talk about the ending. My god, the ending. I didn't see any of it coming. Just when I finished reading the novel after an edge-of-your-seat, satisfying ride through Neon and Dark, the author decides to turn everything on its head and throw what must be the biggest twists in fictional history. Not since "Pincer Martin", the "6th Sense" and "The Usual Suspects" did I experience a bigger twist than this one. Honestly, I saw a picture circulating on Reddit where a reader had included "5 Stars" on a list of "mindfuck books" and "biggest twists in literature" and I think it's entirely merited. I never, not once, saw that coming, but boy, does it explain everything to a T!

This review is already turning out to be longer than I anticipated. Honestly, just get "5 Stars" and experience it for yourself. It's probably one of those "once-in-a-decade" type of stories that end up defining an era.
]]> 5470 328 George Orwell Lucy 5
The story was an absolute hit in the Netherlands and it was magnificently written, complex and layered, with a lot of references to Orwell's work, so I started re-reading it to understand our national author's sly references. Then I realized I never actually reviews 1984, even though I reviewed "5 Stars", and now, as I type, I realize I barely wrote anything about 1984 to begin with. Then again, everyone is pretty much familiar with Orwell's legendary book by now.

I guess I'll keep my review up anyway, for reference, and in case anyone stumbles upon my hastily-written words and wants to give our national treasure of an author a good try as well. Louise Blackwick really did the perfect modern re-telling of 1984.



]]> 4.15 1949
author: George Orwell
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1949
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves: bestsellers, classics, trendsetting-books
review:
I had to re-read this book because I recently read a modern science fiction novel by Dutch author Louise Blackwick (it's called "5 Stars" and it's available in English too, for anyone interested) and it absolutely blew me away. The author did an astonishing job with it and hid a lot of references to popular culture (Bladerunner, Matrix, Ready Player One) and, of course, the classic 1984. The story of "5 Stars" was also very similar to Orwell's, in that everything happens in a surveillance state dominated by one singular entity. In Blackwick's novel it was the ubiquitous digital hive-mind "The Neon God".

The story was an absolute hit in the Netherlands and it was magnificently written, complex and layered, with a lot of references to Orwell's work, so I started re-reading it to understand our national author's sly references. Then I realized I never actually reviews 1984, even though I reviewed "5 Stars", and now, as I type, I realize I barely wrote anything about 1984 to begin with. Then again, everyone is pretty much familiar with Orwell's legendary book by now.

I guess I'll keep my review up anyway, for reference, and in case anyone stumbles upon my hastily-written words and wants to give our national treasure of an author a good try as well. Louise Blackwick really did the perfect modern re-telling of 1984.




]]> 4671 The only edition of the beloved classic that is authorized by Fitzgerald’s family and from his lifelong publisher.

This edition is the enduring original text, updated with the author’s own revisions, a foreword by his granddaughter, and with a new introduction by National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s third book, stands as the supreme achievement of his career. First published by Scribner in 1925, this quintessential novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers. The story of the mysteriously wealthy Jay Gatsby and his love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan is an exquisitely crafted tale of America in the 1920s.]]> 180 F. Scott Fitzgerald 0743273567 Lucy 5 A timeless story 3.93 1925
author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.93
book published: 1925
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:
A timeless story
]]> 13497818 A BIG NOVEL ABOUT A SMALL TOWN…

When Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock. Pagford appears to be an English idyll—with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey—but behind its charming façade lies a town at war. The rich clash with the poor, teenagers battle their parents, wives contend with their husbands, and teachers struggle with their pupils. Pagford is far from what it seems.

The empty seat Barry leaves on the town council becomes the catalyst for the fiercest conflict the town has ever seen. The election to fill his seat is fraught with passion, duplicity, and unexpected revelations. Who will triumph in this battle of wills?

Blackly comic, thought-provoking, and constantly surprising, The Casual Vacancy is J.K. Rowling’s first novel for adults.]]> 503 J.K. Rowling 0316228532 Lucy 4 3.28 2012
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.28
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2022/01/08
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves:
review:
I was highly interested to see Rowling tackle a more "adult" story. This turned out to be a highly enjoyable read.
]]> 3950967
Additional notes for each story penned by Professor Albus Dumbledore will be enjoyed by Muggles and wizards alike, as the Professor muses on the morals illuminated by the tales, and reveals snippets of information about life at Hogwarts.

A uniquely magical volume, with illustrations by the author, J. K. Rowling, that will be treasured for years to come.]]> 105 J.K. Rowling 0747599874 Lucy 3 4.03 2008
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2022/01/12
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves: coming-of-age-fantasy-series, young-adult-novel
review:
The inclusion in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was an interesting bit of world-building segway, but I feel this collection was not altogether needed to exist as a separate book. Not the best, not the worst anthology
]]> 5 435 J.K. Rowling 043965548X Lucy 5 4.57 1999
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.57
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2022/01/12
shelves: bestsellers, coming-of-age-fantasy-series, huge-complex-fantasy-world, hero-archetype, young-adult-novel
review:
My favourite fantasy book from the franchise <3
]]> 43705034 "Follow the Dark and where it's leading you..."

Vivian Amberville® is a bestselling philosophical fantasy book series about a girl whose imagination can reshape reality.

This year, the universe that spanned millions of fans worldwide and captured readers imagination all around the world invites you on an epic journey beyond the fabric of reality.

Return to a world where reality can be altered and history can be rewritten, and discover what it really takes to reshape your destiny.

ABOUT THE BOOK

There is a hard limit to human imagination. This story will take you far beyond that limit, beyond the fabric of reality itself.

"Vivian Amberville - The Book of Chaos" is the second instalment in the Vivian Amberville fantasy series by international author, Louise Blackwick. It centers on Vivian’s attendance at the “Alarian School of Thought”, a place where students learn the noble and dangerous art of “Weaving subtle Threads of influence into the fabric of reality”. Joined by friends and challenged by foes, Vivian will have to master her ability to manipulate odds and circumstances, in a world now complicated by war, disease and political strife.

SHORT SYNOPSIS

Every crevice hides a shadow. Every shadow, a shape. And there are Darkthings sleeping beneath the folds of reality…

A book that won’t open. A grey and shadowless place. A mysterious Black Door, with a countdown from eight. And Things without Eyes that await in the Dark.

Vivian Amberville is about to unravel it all. Now that she is a student of Weavership at the “Alarian School of Thought”, she is to learn how to twist the fabric of reality to her will.

There are answers to be found in Subexistence, the hidden pocket dimension of discarded choices and paths not followed.

But the Abyss is a dark and dangerous place, built like a labyrinth. Can she find her way out?

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH.

With the help of a mysterious diary from her past, Vivian must uncover the secret behind her Chaos-Weaving abilities, and learn the truth about her dark and terrible destiny.

LONG SYNOPSIS

Vivian’s powers over reality have taken a dark turn.

Believed to be a Chaos Weaver – a Weaver’s dark twin – Vivian’s powers must be brought under control, lest they consume the substance of creation.

Under the looming threat of a mysterious dark presence, Vivian will once again travel beyond the fabric of reality and attend the “Alarian School of Thought”, a place where Weavers are made and Chaos Weavers are notoriously unmade.

When the war on Chaos Weavers becomes a war for her soul, Vivian must seek the Abyss to confront the origin of her powers. Aided by a mysterious book from her past, she must learn to navigate Subexistence, a place where history can be rewritten, and Time is both instant and infinite.

Is Vivian Amberville’s life a figure-8 loop? Is there such thing as free will?

The Dweller on the Threshold is bound to answer her questions. And what of the Dark Horror that sleeps in the Abyss of Reality?

Her choice is between Heart and Death. On one side, is herself; on the other, reality.

Will she make the right choice?



GENRE: epic dark fantasy;
CATEGORY: new adult, coming of age, adventure, Jungian allegory;
SETTING: double-dystopia: futuristic dystopia and fantasy world;
SUBJECTS: time travel, complex time loops, parallel universes, mind over matter, matter manipulation;
THEMES: free will vs. determinism, order vs. chaos, freedom and responsibility, embracing your shadow, family, friendship, sacrifice;
TAGS: post-apocalyptic, time loops, inter-dimensional travel, journey within;
]]> 633 Louise Blackwick Lucy 5 4.80
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.80
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves: deserves-more-readers, carl-jung, bestsellers, authors-worth-my-attention, altered-consciousness, authors-to-watch, coming-of-age-fantasy-series
review:
Love all your work! Congratulation on making Vivian Amberville a worldwide phenomenon! I'm looking forward to The Book of Chaos!
]]> 36186264
From the bestselling author of the "Vivian Amberville" saga, comes the humorous science fiction novel that will have you question your own humanity.

Set in a world where humans are long extinct, 4 unlikely robots will embark on a journey to answer: Why have the humans created us? An original post-apocalyptic story with an all-robot-cast, where the very meaning of "life" and "existence" is put to question.

Written in the light & humorous - yet no less meaningful - satirical style of George Orwell's "Animal Farm", "God is a Robot" explores themes such as "creation", "free will" and "purpose" in a crumbling world devoid of humanity, as we know it.

GENRE: science fiction, dystopian fiction;
CATEGORY: young adult, humorous satire;
SETTING: futuristic dystopia, post-apocalyptic humanless world;
SUBJECTS: moral decay, lack of faith, robot adventure;
THEMES: humanity, creation, friendship, free will;
]]> Louise Blackwick Lucy 5 4.71
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.71
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 30257963 What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson's answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting-edge scientific research.

Humorous, surprising, and informative, Dr. Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street.

What does the nervous system of the lowly lobster have to tell us about standing up straight (with our shoulders back) and about success in life? Why did ancient Egyptians worship the capacity to pay careful attention as the highest of gods? What dreadful paths do people tread when they become resentful, arrogant, and vengeful? Dr. Peterson journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure, and responsibility, distilling the world's wisdom into 12 practical and profound rules for life. 12 Rules for Life shatters the modern commonplaces of science, faith, and human nature while transforming and ennobling the mind and spirit of its listeners.]]> 409 Jordan B. Peterson 0345816021 Lucy 5 3.90 2018
author: Jordan B. Peterson
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves:
review:

]]> 853510
One of the passengers is none other than detective Hercule Poirot. On vacation.

Isolated and with a killer on board, Poirot must identify the murderer—in case he or she decides to strike again.]]> 274 Agatha Christie 0007119313 Lucy 5 4.22 1934
author: Agatha Christie
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1934
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves:
review:
Mystery. Cleveress. Suspense. Red Herrings and everything you expect from Agatha Christie. A classic you should not miss.
]]> 18254
The story of Oliver Twist - orphaned, and set upon by evil and adversity from his first breath - shocked readers when it was published. After running away from the workhouse and pompous beadle Mr Bumble, Oliver finds himself lured into a den of thieves peopled by vivid and memorable characters - the Artful Dodger, vicious burglar Bill Sikes, his dog Bull's Eye, and prostitute Nancy, all watched over by cunning master-thief Fagin. Combining elements of Gothic Romance, the Newgate Novel and popular melodrama, Dickens created an entirely new kind of fiction, scathing in its indictment of a cruel society, and pervaded by an unforgettable sense of threat and mystery.

This Penguin Classics edition of Oliver Twist is the first critical edition to faithfully reproduce the text as its earliest readers would have encountered it from its serialisation in Bentley's Miscellany, and includes an introduction by Philip Horne, a glossary of Victorian thieves' slang, a chronology of Dickens's life, a map of contemporary London and all of George Cruikshank's original illustrations.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.]]> 608 Charles Dickens Lucy 5 3.88 1838
author: Charles Dickens
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.88
book published: 1838
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves:
review:
A resounding classic and one of Dickens' most developped work . The level of characterization is on point.
]]> 34503933
The Krindarwee in Sector One, the ones hardest hit by the invaders, prayed for a deliverer. Twenty years ago, the Daughter was born, and trained into her purpose to share the stories and songs of her people, to release those held in slavery, and to eliminate the Faj from their planet.

No one expected for the Daughter to become infatuated with the Prince in the Faj, or for the Prince to have the ability to completely dominate a person’s mind.]]> 115 Patricia Renard Scholes Lucy 1
I was hoping Into Darkness to be Patricia Renard Scholes' redeeming work, but no, it failed spectacularly, along with pretty much everything she has written. Believe me, I have been reading and purchasing her work for years, trying to support her, wanting and wishing that the quality will get better.

But no. Sad as it is for me to say this, it never does get better, and I have reached the limit of my good will.

I don't usually write such bas reviews, but in this case, I hope to inform/warn other readers what they get if they invest time, and most importantly, money, in this author. Disappointed!]]> 1.00 2015
author: Patricia Renard Scholes
name: Lucy
average rating: 1.00
book published: 2015
rating: 1
read at:
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves:
review:
I read several thngs from this author - I even bought paperbacks - and narrowed down on the same feeling. Too many typos, grammar errors, trivialism and inconsistency of ideas. I've been picking up her work one by one and it never gets any better, not once. I even feel cheated on the money I invested.

I was hoping Into Darkness to be Patricia Renard Scholes' redeeming work, but no, it failed spectacularly, along with pretty much everything she has written. Believe me, I have been reading and purchasing her work for years, trying to support her, wanting and wishing that the quality will get better.

But no. Sad as it is for me to say this, it never does get better, and I have reached the limit of my good will.

I don't usually write such bas reviews, but in this case, I hope to inform/warn other readers what they get if they invest time, and most importantly, money, in this author. Disappointed!
]]> 14416379 118 Patricia Renard Scholes 1467968536 Lucy 1
I expected nothing and I was still disappointed! :(

To whoever it may concern: if you want to learn how to survive hard times, start so by NOT making this purchase.]]> 2.00 2011
author: Patricia Renard Scholes
name: Lucy
average rating: 2.00
book published: 2011
rating: 1
read at: 2017/01/28
date added: 2019/04/18
shelves: not-worth-the-read, terrible-authors, terrible-books
review:
I purchased this on paperback and let me just say it was not worth the paper it was printed on. Not only was the book riddled with numerous typos and grammatical errors, but the quality of the ideas exhibited in Surviving Hard Times was bordering on the trivial and the cliche'ed. Any random blog might ahve been infinitely more useful and helpful.

I expected nothing and I was still disappointed! :(

To whoever it may concern: if you want to learn how to survive hard times, start so by NOT making this purchase.
]]> 34
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkeness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, The Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell into the hands of Bilbo Baggins, as told in The Hobbit.

In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
--back cover]]> 398 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618346252 Lucy 5
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia associated with vast and original world-building. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Lord of the ings trilogy as a young adult, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the philosophical higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.36 1954
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
The one who started it all. Unmissable epic classic of the fantasy genre.

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia associated with vast and original world-building. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Lord of the ings trilogy as a young adult, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the philosophical higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 186074
The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.

A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.]]> 662 Patrick Rothfuss 075640407X Lucy 5
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia associated with vast and original world-building. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the The Name of the Wind as a young adult, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.52 2007
author: Patrick Rothfuss
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Unmissable contemporary series of pure epicness. A must-have!

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia associated with vast and original world-building. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the The Name of the Wind as a young adult, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 6186357 There are alternate cover editions for this ASIN here and here.

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.]]> 384 James Dashner 0385737947 Lucy 4
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed Divergent as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.05 2009
author: James Dashner
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Unmissable contemporary series of pure thrill. A must-have!

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed Divergent as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 13335037
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.]]> 487 Veronica Roth 0062024035 Lucy 4
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Divergent as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.13 2011
author: Veronica Roth
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Unmissable contemporary series A must-have!

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Divergent as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 34209372 "As the Weaver, so is the Thread"

Vivian Amberville® is a bestselling philosophical fantasy book series about a girl whose imagination can reshape reality.

THE BOOK

First in the Vivian Amberville fantasy series, "The Weaver of Odds" introduces 13-year old Vivian to her unique if hazardous power of altering odds, outcomes and the very substance of reality.

The main protagonist, Vivian is an orphaned child who uncovers her imagination can influence certain events, and even twist reality into impossible shapes - a mind-over-matter ability called “Weaving”

But Vivian’s powers prove hazardous to keeping the universal balance. Beyond the fabric of reality, she finds herself in the custody of the original Weavers, thrown head-first into the most dangerous competition the multiverse has ever known: The Weaver Trials.

The universe that spanned millions of fans worldwide and captured readers imagination all around the world invites you to journey alongside unforgettable heroes you would want to take home. Fantasy like never told before: a mythical fiction of friendship and acceptance; of fate and free will; of destiny and despair; of extraordinary ordinary heroes and their reality-changing journeys.

SYNOPSIS

Vivian lives in a cage, in Ala Spuria's Shelter for Strays and has never tasted real food. When one of the other orphans gives Vivian hope, she discovers a hidden power to reshape her circumstances completely.

From the English town of Milton Keynes, Vivian discovers a neighbouring universe, where Alarian Weavers - an ancient race of powerful beings - have perfected a way of altering reality. By weaving Threads into the fabric of the cosmos, the Weavers strive to imprison freewill, banish Chaos and bring balance to cosmic reality.

Faced with a sudden hole in the Pattern of Threads that threatens to consume the substance of everything, it is up to 13-year-old Vivian Amberville to repair the damage. Believed to be a formidable weaver of odds and circumstances, Vivian must now attend the Weaver Trials and master the mysterious art of "Weaving into reality" in hope of preventing the impending apocalypse.

Together with her friends, Patricia Kate, Lucian Blossom and Acciper Sparrowhawk, Vivian stumbles upon terrible insights into her identity as she explores what lies beyond the fabric of reality.


GENRE: epic philosophical fantasy, Jungian allegory;
CATEGORY: young adult, coming of age, adventure voyage, social satire;
SETTING: double-dystopia: futuristic dystopia and fantasy world;
SUBJECTS: responsibility over the act of Creation, time travel, parallel universes, mind over matter, matter manipulation;
THEMES: free will vs. determinism, freedom and responsibility, the burden of being, death, friendship and sacrifice;
TAGS: post-apocalyptic, multiple realities, inter-dimensional travel, journey within;
]]> 296 Louise Blackwick 9492064073 Lucy 5
Picked Vivian Amberville, the weaver of odds at the library in my town. It had the trippiest cover and I admit its blurb intrigued me, but nothing prepared me for the awesomeness I experienced while reading it. I actually had to return 4 times to the library to finish reading the book cos I'm a broke ass teen, don't ave no library card to borrow it either, but I really recommend anyone else who's a bit better off than me to invest in this book series. Totally worth the cash, it entertains, makes you laugh, and it makes you think. This author's work is a-mazing! You can actually read some of her stories for free on her website louiseblackwick.com or read the calendar stories which are also free and set in the Vivian Amberville universe.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an open mind and wants to lose themselves in a dark and twisted world where reality is everything you imagine it to be.

Read it and spread the word. Vivian Amberville is a new fantasy series worthy of its fame!]]> 4.37 2017
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2019/03/15
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves: authors-worth-my-attention, hero-archetype, jordan-peterson-should-read-this, philosophical-reads, trippy, psychological, carl-jung, harry-potter-fans-should-read-this, bestsellers, fantasy, philosophical-fantasy, science-fiction, coming-of-age-fantasy-series, power-of-imagination, matter-manipulations, series-like-harry-potter, series-like-lord-of-the-rings, series-like-the-hunger-games, female-lead-series, huge-complex-fantasy-world, dystopian-novel, young-adult-novel, mind-over-matter, reshape-reality, more-original-than-the-matrix-or-av, should-be-a-movie, deserves-more-reviews, deserves-more-readers, needs-more-readers, authors-to-watch, original-fantasy, trendsetting-books
review:
Vivian Amberville is what Harry Potter was to the 1990: a trendsetter. It's something completely unique altogether, being an epic philosophical fantasy with science fiction traces. You get this little girl whose imagination can reshape reality and everything that happens to her just sucks you right in.

Picked Vivian Amberville, the weaver of odds at the library in my town. It had the trippiest cover and I admit its blurb intrigued me, but nothing prepared me for the awesomeness I experienced while reading it. I actually had to return 4 times to the library to finish reading the book cos I'm a broke ass teen, don't ave no library card to borrow it either, but I really recommend anyone else who's a bit better off than me to invest in this book series. Totally worth the cash, it entertains, makes you laugh, and it makes you think. This author's work is a-mazing! You can actually read some of her stories for free on her website louiseblackwick.com or read the calendar stories which are also free and set in the Vivian Amberville universe.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an open mind and wants to lose themselves in a dark and twisted world where reality is everything you imagine it to be.

Read it and spread the word. Vivian Amberville is a new fantasy series worthy of its fame!
]]> 7624 182 William Golding 0140283331 Lucy 5 3.70 1954
author: William Golding
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.70
book published: 1954
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Haunting. Serves as a warning to what we would be in absence of rules and authority.
]]> 18289406 270 Harper Lee Lucy 5 4.25 1960
author: Harper Lee
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1960
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 43582331 From the bestselling author of the "Vivian Amberville" saga, comes the surreal novella of a man's journey through Limbo.

Freshly arrived at the Totermann Inn, Marc Whitehouse couldn’t have known he was dead. Sir, no sir. Not now that Chantal Dublanc had so mysteriously entered his life; his afterlife. In his quest for the truth behind his early demise, he finds himself on a journey where past memories intermingle with present actions. He is not yet ready to call it a life. 206 heartbeats to peace. The hour is late, but Marc is yet to renounce his hope for salvation...

A surreal novella of love, loss and the afterlife, written in the captivating, dreamlike style of André Breton. “Reprobates” is an exquisitely written narrative of Life after Life, centred on Marc’s journey through Limbo. Its style is heavy on allegory, at every step teeming with Underworld intrusions of the sacred into the profane.

Genre: Epic Surreal Fiction, Psychological Thriller
Date of publishing: October 12th, 2015
Category: Classic British novella
Subjects: Life after death, journey through purgatory
Themes: Love, loss, death, life and afterlife
]]> Louise Blackwick 9492064030 Lucy 4
Get yourself reading this story. It's completely free and you'll love it for sure!]]> 4.29 2015
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
This story is like Tween Peaks meets the "Lost", except the pay-off is a lot more dramatic (and yes, there is a huge plot-twist at thee end). Everything feels dream-like, including the character's motivations, and the next day fails to come. The characters are trapped in limbo, but that's not the biggest surprise of the story.

Get yourself reading this story. It's completely free and you'll love it for sure!
]]> 42421173
Under the influence of the powerful new psychedelic drug “ Rhapsody ”, Mario Fantoccio discovers the existence of an invisible reality overlaying our own. The rhapsody-altered state of consciousness brings Mario to close encounters with “ the Masters of Strings ”, a coven of hyperdimensional beings who appear to control the destiny of every human in existence .

Desperate to sever the strings tying him to the will of his Masters, Mario overdoses on Rhapsody and escapes into hell, hoping to regain control of his life and free will. Based on a modern interpretation of Jungian psychology, The Underworld Rhapsody is heavily themed on " subjective reality ", " altered states of consciousness ", and " individuation " as it follows one man's struggle to escape the chaos of his life and regain his free will.

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this book are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Although the story features various psychedelic substances, it should not be read as an endorsement of drug use.

surreal psychedelic voyage, psychological thriller;

Jungian psychology, visionary and metaphysical;

urban Leicester, alternate reality, beyond the fabric of reality;

altered state of consciousness, psychedelic drug abuse, the price of freedom, the torture of being;

collective unconscious, free will vs. determinism, order and chaos;]]> 113 Louise Blackwick 9492064138 Lucy 4
If you'd like a psychological thriller with some meat on it and some very trippy, drug-induced images, this is for you.

PS: The part where the character is in hell and gets out on a ladder built out of slain demons carcases is worthy of Dante's inferno.]]> 4.64
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves: authors-worth-my-attention, carl-jung, philosophical-reads, psychological, trippy, jordan-peterson-should-read-this, devouring-mother-archetype, tyrannical-father-archetype, hero-archetype, altered-consciousness
review:
This story is like the love-child of Carl Jung and the storyteller Edgar Allan Poe. Haven't read many novellas that tackle the Jungian archetype of the devouring mother and the tyrannical father quite as well as The Underworld Rhapsody.

If you'd like a psychological thriller with some meat on it and some very trippy, drug-induced images, this is for you.

PS: The part where the character is in hell and gets out on a ladder built out of slain demons carcases is worthy of Dante's inferno.
]]> 2767052
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.]]> 374 Suzanne Collins 0439023483 Lucy 4
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Hunger Games as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.34 2008
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Unmissable contemporary series A must-have!

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and grit. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, and enjoyed the Hunger Games as a teenager, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 136251
In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectacular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited.]]> 759 J.K. Rowling Lucy 5
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.]]> 4.61 2007
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.61
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
Unmissable classic fantasy series about love, friendship and good vs. evil. A must-have!

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit darker and on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for young audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.
]]> 3 309 J.K. Rowling 0439554934 Lucy 5
I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for yound audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.

]]> 4.47 1997
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.47
book published: 1997
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
An unmissable classic of the fantasy genre. I grew up with it and I will always love Harry Potter.

I recently discovered a fantasy universe (book series) that gave me the same warn feeling of awe and nostalgia. It's called "Vivian Amberville" by author L.Blackwick. If you loved Harry Potter as a kid, I think you'll love this as an adult, because it's a little bit on the higher fantasy side, if still fit for yound audiences. It features a little girl whose imagination can reshape reality.


]]> 36492785 WARNING LABEL: ANXIETY-INDUCING IMAGERY | POLARIZED MAIN CHARACTER | HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT

From the bestselling author of the "Vivian Amberville" saga, comes the unnerving horror short-story of an innocent man who gets buried alive over the festering remains of his late wife, Kassandra.

During his premature entombment, forty long nails are struck into Chase Chaperone's casket, plunging him deeper into Hell. This grim ritual is a dark operetta written in rhyming prose - an homage to Dante's Inferno - from which naught but the most vile of souls can escape.

The man is subsequently set free from the coffin by the grotesque dwarf Eldritch, who in a fit of revenge, climbs onto his back and refuses to climb down. Chase is thus doomed to carry the parasitic dwarf atop his back for the rest of his days, while searching for absolution.

This Halloween special explores themes such as "death and decay", "justice" and "morality", in a forlorn world set outside the reach of modern civilisation. Written in the grim and melodious style of Edgar Allan Poe, "Jump into the Abyss!" follows Chase Chaperone's descent into the far-reaching Abyss of his soul in a masterfully-written allegorical tale.

GENRE: horror fiction, surreal thriller;
CATEGORY: surreal short-story, allegorical horror;
SETTING: edge of civilisation; a coffin;
SUBJECTS: death as a process, descent into hell, karmic law;
THEMES: absolution, death and decay, injustice;
]]> 17 Louise Blackwick Lucy 5
“Step, step, step, I fall and they lift me, slip-slop, slip-slop, through the watery mud. Each step is a heartbeat on my way to the grave, and the longest walk I will ever take. Plip, plip, I slip and they gather me. How strong are these savages, and how tight is their grip! Plip, plip, plip patters the rain, and I fall, and I call, and I stall for more time.

But my time has run out.” ]]> 4.77
author: Louise Blackwick
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.77
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:
I discovered Blackwick through the library, where I borrowed and read Vivian Amberville, and so I picked up this short-story, which is perma-free btw. How to describe it? This story is like something cut out of Edgar Allan Poe universe. Moreover, it's a masterpiece of style, tho I warn you the writing can be quite dark. It's written in rhyming prose, which I found pretty quaint and cool at the same time. Just read this quote. It'll give you an idea how this story looks:

“Step, step, step, I fall and they lift me, slip-slop, slip-slop, through the watery mud. Each step is a heartbeat on my way to the grave, and the longest walk I will ever take. Plip, plip, I slip and they gather me. How strong are these savages, and how tight is their grip! Plip, plip, plip patters the rain, and I fall, and I call, and I stall for more time.

But my time has run out.”
]]> 13496
Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.]]> 835 George R.R. Martin 0553588486 Lucy 5 4.44 1996
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.44
book published: 1996
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 5326
Introduction and Afterword by Joe Wheeler
To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partner appears, warning Scrooge to change his ways before it's too late.

Part of the Focus on the Family Great Stories collection, this abridged edition features an in-depth introduction and discussion questions by Joe Wheeler to provide greater understanding for today's reader. "A Christmas Carol" captures the heart of the holidays like no other novel.]]> 184 Charles Dickens 1561797464 Lucy 5 4.06 1843
author: Charles Dickens
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.06
book published: 1843
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 345627 Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires—the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...]]> 332 Richelle Mead 159514174X Lucy 3 4.12 2007
author: Richelle Mead
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 17157681
Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves, Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon.]]> 230 J.R.R. Tolkien 0007926669 Lucy 5 4.31 1937
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.31
book published: 1937
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 36381037
She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.]]> 400 Marissa Meyer Lucy 3 4.11 2012
author: Marissa Meyer
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 33574273
"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract."

A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book. A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newberry Medal in 1963, is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.]]> 218 Madeleine L'Engle 1250153271 Lucy 4 3.91 1962
author: Madeleine L'Engle
name: Lucy
average rating: 3.91
book published: 1962
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 6919272
Als Gideon dann auch noch anfängt, sich völlig rätselhaft zu benehmen, wird Gwendolyn klar, dass sie schleunigst ihre Hormone in den Griff bekommen muss. Denn sonst wird das nichts mit der Liebe zwischen allen Zeiten!]]> 400 Kerstin Gier Lucy 5 4.25 2010
author: Kerstin Gier
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 170210 295 Charlaine Harris 0441013333 Lucy 3 4.01 2005
author: Charlaine Harris
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]> 11870085
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.]]> 313 John Green Lucy 4 4.13 2012
author: John Green
name: Lucy
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2019/03/15
shelves:
review:

]]>