Dune Messiah Author: Frank Herbert "Empires do not suffer emptiness of purpose at the time of their creation. It is when they have become established thDune Messiah Author: Frank Herbert "Empires do not suffer emptiness of purpose at the time of their creation. It is when they have become established that aims are lost and replaced by vague ritual."
Dune was one of my favorite books of 2024. I was incredibly impressed with how the storyline was put together. The world building made Dune one of the best Science Fiction books I have ever read.
My enthusiasm made me eager to read the other books in the desert world.
Dune Messiah is a novel where everything revolves around political games. The world building played no role in this book.
Little to nothing happened and I often felt incredibly bored.
Only the last chapter became interesting. A huge disappointment...
Trigger warnings: Death, violence and grief...more
"Even a minute of dying is better than an eternity of nothingness. But in life we don't usually get to choose the tSons of Destiny Author: Darren Shan
"Even a minute of dying is better than an eternity of nothingness. But in life we don't usually get to choose the time of our defining moments. We just have to stand and face them when they come, no matter what sort of a state we're in."
The denouement of the war between the vampanese and vampires has already claimed many victims, and it seems that more and more are being added every day.
Darren Shan has already experienced a lot of misery, but despite the fact that the end is near, the misery only seems to pile up.
How will the war end? Who will be the winners or losers? Will the past forever influence the future or can certain events still be reversed?
I found the ending very impressive, but the author failed to answer some of my questions according to the plot.
The world building along with the original characters made it an unforgettable reading experience for me. Good to mention that the name of the series is a bit misleading. In total, only 2 books are about the circus itself.
There are a number of elements in the storyline that can be experienced as shocking by young children. I read online that the books can be read from 9/11 years and older, but I do not completely agree with that. Some of the books contain many violent scenes with lots of blood and gore.
Trigger warnings: Death, violence, murder, grief, blood, problematic family ties...more
"Confidence has brought them out into the light, but they seem to have forgotten - light's no good for creatureLord of the Shadows Author: Darren Shan
"Confidence has brought them out into the light, but they seem to have forgotten - light's no good for creatures of the night."
Darren returns to his former home where he grew up. Suddenly he realizes how the world around him has changed while he was mainly busy saving the future of the vampire clan. He is reunited with his sister who had a son during his absence.
His nephew turns out to have a connection to the rival clan, making it impossible for Darren to simply defeat the Vampanese lord without consequences...
This part is incredibly nerve wracking there were so many unexpected twists that I didn't see coming. Every character that has appeared in the storyline so far turns out to play an essential role in the plot.
"Yes, he was," Mr Crepsley disagreed. "He just had not grown into his trueKillers of the Dawn Author: Darren Shan
"He wasn't like this when I knew him."
"Yes, he was," Mr Crepsley disagreed. "He just had not grown into his true evil self yet. He was born bad, as certain people are. Humans will tell you that everybody can be helped, that everyone has a choice. In my experience, that is not so. Good people can sometimes choose badness, but bad people cannot choose good."
"I don't believe that," Harkat said softly. "I think good and evil exist...in all of us. We might be born leaning more towards...one than the other, but the choice is there. It has to be. Otherwise, we're mere...puppets of fate."
The police believe that Darren is behind all the murders. This causes a large-scale chase, forcing Darren to flee. When he is finally captured together with his companions, they have to come up with an escape plan.
Because of all this, they have lost a lot of valuable time and more and more innocent human victims are being killed.
Meanwhile, the rulers of the Vampanese have outwitted them and the end seems nowhere in sight....
Like "Allies of the Night" this book was also very repetitive. The plot ended very abruptly, as in the other parts of the series.
"Nightmares. The world on fire. Running. Burning. Screaming. Calling for help. Everybody else on fire too. Jolt awakTrials of Death Author: Darren Shan
"Nightmares. The world on fire. Running. Burning. Screaming. Calling for help. Everybody else on fire too. Jolt awake. Vampires around me. Nightmare still playing at the back of my mind. Convinced the cell’s on fire. I try to break free. They hold me down. I curse them. Struggle. Pain gushes through me. Wince. Relax. Return to fire-plagued dreams."
This installment focuses on the Trails of Death in which Darren must participate, because Mr. Crepsley has turned him into a half-vampire.
Every new vampire must complete the trials to prove that he or she is a valuable addition to the vampire world.
Darren's survival instincts are tested to the limit as he is exposed to fire, water and other life-threatening ordeals.
Will Darren, as the youngest half-vampire, ever succeed in winning the respect of the clan?
The author knows how to build up the tension very well, which makes you incredibly curious about the further course of the storyline.
Until he ends the plot very abruptly out of nowhere....
"When he faced me again, he looked ashamed of himself. "I have gravely underestimated you, Darren," he said. "I willTunnels of Blood Author: Daren Shan
"When he faced me again, he looked ashamed of himself. "I have gravely underestimated you, Darren," he said. "I will not do so again. I made a wiser choice than I realized when I chose you to serve as my assistant. I feel honoured to have you by my side."
Daren and the vampire Mr. Crepsley travel with the snake boy Evra to Mr. Crepsley's hometown after news reaches them that a series of unexplained murders have been taking place in the town.
Together they face many unexpected adventures that test their trust in each other. The situation becomes even more complicated than it already is when Darren, as a half vampire, falls in love with a human girl named Debby....
Will they succeed in tracking down the murderer?
This book is a valuable addition to the Cirque du Freak series. The author adds many new twists to the already very extensive storyline.
This is the first part in which a romance begins to develop between two characters. In my opinion, the mystery surrounding the Vampanese clan is further developed in this book, which makes you curious about their history and way of thinking. New friendships are formed and the bond of trust between the characters becomes stronger.
There are a number of elements in the storyline that can be experienced as shocking by young children.
Trigger warnings: Murder, violence, kidnapping, blood, death and grief...more
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Author: Roald Dahl
"It was a very beautiful thing, this Golden Ticket, having been made, so it seemed, from a sheet oCharlie and the Chocolate Factory Author: Roald Dahl
"It was a very beautiful thing, this Golden Ticket, having been made, so it seemed, from a sheet of pure gold hammered out almost to the thinness of paper."
Charlie lives with his parents and grandparents in a tiny house. Charlie's family has many financial problems, which causes him to grow up in poverty.
Every year on his birthday he gets a Wonka chocolate bar that he looks forward to all year long.
Wonka's chocolate is a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone loves his delicious chocolate.
However, no one knows how Wonka makes his chocolate and other candy, or how many workers he employs.
One day, Wonka publicly announces that he is going to open the doors of his factory for one time only.
He hides 5 golden tickets that serve as entrance tickets in his chocolate bars that can be found all over the country. The lucky finders get a tour of his magical factory.
Everyone wants to get their hands on a golden ticket at all costs. When Charlie is one of the lucky finders, he can't believe his luck. Together with his grandfather, he travels to the infamous factory....
This is a great book to read with your kids or to give to a child as a gift. I think any candy lover would wish Wonka's factory was real.
In addition to the humorous elements in the story, the author makes his readers think by making them realize that having many possessions does not necessarily mean that you feel happier or more loved.
"Every house has a story. Ours is a ghost story. It’s also a lie. And now that yet another person has died within Home before Dark Author: Riley Sagar
"Every house has a story. Ours is a ghost story. It’s also a lie. And now that yet another person has died within these walls, it’s finally time to tell the truth."
Maggie's parents are in urgent need of a new home during her childhood. Their search leads them to Baneberry Hall.
The house has been on sale for some time now. It is striking that the estate is incredibly large, but the realtor apparently doesn't want to tell them anything about the history of the house.
Ultimately, Maggie's parents decide to buy Baneberry Hall, partly because of the low asking price.
The family starts a new life together on their estate, but their joy soon fades when inexplicable things start to happen.
Baneberry Hall has a dark history that the realtor has not honestly confessed to them...
The family lives in the house for only 3 weeks when they flee to safety after a shocking event.
Years later, Maggie's father wrote a book about their stay at Baneberry Hall. Maggie, however, has little recollection of her time in the infamous haunted house, and she often wonders whether her parents have not told a big lie to get into the spotlight.
When Maggie's father dies and she unexpectedly inherits their former famous home, her life is turned upside down...
Will Maggie succeed in uncovering the truth?
The storyline contains many spectacular elements and is incredibly creepy. Every time I thought I could predict the plot, the writer surprised me with unexpected twists.
All the characters and details are very well developed, allowing you to imagine the atmosphere of the haunted house.
One thing is for sure, after reading this book you will never leave your bedroom closets open again...
Trigger warnings: Child death, death&grief, violence, murder cancer (mentioned), problematic family ties, snakes, suicide, mental ilness, terminal illness...more
"He who controls the spice controls the universe."
I had never read the books of the Dune universe before, when I deciDune book: 1 Author: Frank Herbert
"He who controls the spice controls the universe."
I had never read the books of the Dune universe before, when I decided to watch both Dune movies. I loved the movies and wanted to know more about the storyline of Dune.
We meet the noble Atreides family who grew up in Caladan. Their lives change abruptly when their Duke Leito accepts leadership of the planet Arrakis.
Arrakis is a dangerous desert planet also known as Dune. In order to survive, the family must adapt to their new living conditions and make the right political decisions....
When the family is betrayed by an unexpected ally, Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leito, takes over his father's leadership.
His fate leads him to unprecedented major events and presents him with many dilemmas that could make the difference between life and death.
Reading Dune felt like a true spectacle. The characters are incredibly well developed. I have read many Science Fiction books, but in my opinion Dune really wins in terms of world building.
The book goes into much more detail about Paul's life. Many details are discussed that unfortunately were not included in the films.
If you, like me, had some difficulty following the storyline of the movies, I recommend reading the first book in the Dune series.
I plan to review all the other Dune books next year so stay tuned!...more
The Fragile Threads of Power Author: Victoria Schwab
"Caring could drown you, if you let it. But it could also help you float."
Kell and Leila Bard have The Fragile Threads of Power Author: Victoria Schwab
"Caring could drown you, if you let it. But it could also help you float."
Kell and Leila Bard have been living a turbulent life for years. When they experience a quiet period, it is usually only temporary.
For many years, the city of London has been associated with four different worlds: White London, Red London, Grey London and the dreaded Black London.
The worlds were separated for security reasons. Only three rare Antari mages possess the gift to travel through the closed worlds. Seven years later, a new Antari appears. The girl is very young and unintentionally becomes the new heir to the throne of White London.
In Red London, magic is dying. The people blame King Rhy Maresh for this, because the king has no magical powers.
A rebel army poses a major threat to the throne and Kell and Leila face the great challenge of calming political tensions and eliminating the rebels.
A young mage named Tess possesses a very rare gift. She can see magical threads of people and objects, allowing her to estimate their powers.
Unintentionally she becomes intertwined in the fate of the four different worlds... An incredibly exciting sequel in The Shade of Magic Universe. The storyline contains many original elements and unexpected twists. The characters are well developed and their mutual bonds provide reconciliations, conflicts and friendship.
If you are a fan of the fantasy genre and are looking for a fantasy world in which you can completely get lost, then I can highly recommend this series.
Trigger warnings: Blood& gore, violence, problematic family ties...more
"Myths do not happen all at once.They do not spring forth whole into the world. They form slowly, rolled bA Conjuring of Light Author: Victoria Schwab
"Myths do not happen all at once.They do not spring forth whole into the world. They form slowly, rolled between the hands of time until their edges smooth, until the saying of the story gives enough weight to the words—to the memories—to keep them rolling on their own. But all stories start somewhere, and that night, as Rhy Maresh walked through the streets of London, a new myth was taking shape"
The denouement in which the fate of the four Londons will become clear.
The Maresh family kingdom continues to suffer from evil intentions from outside.
Kell the Antari Prince is under immense pressure to overcome the dark shadows that haunt him.
Leila Bard learns more about her own life history that will change her and Kell's future forever.
An old former feared enemy proves to be an unexpected valuable reinforcement...
How do you face the future when the past influences your present?
I really enjoyed reading this series. The storyline is super original. The relationships between the characters contain a lot of dynamics that make you empathize with their way of thinking.
If you are a fan of books with: pirates, dark forces, magicians, powerful villains, unexpected twists, an original world building and romances, then you will enjoy these books immensely....more
" I am Delilah Bard, she thought, as the ropes cut into her skin. I am a thief and a pirate and a travelA gathering of Shadows Author: Victoria Schwab
" I am Delilah Bard, she thought, as the ropes cut into her skin. I am a thief and a pirate and a traveler. I have set foot in three different worlds, and lived. I have shed the blood of royals and held magic in my hands."
Kell must rebuild his life after experiencing drastic events 4 months ago. His life and that of his brother Prince Ray have become intertwined after the prince was seriously injured, meaning Kell and Rai can now feel each other's pain.
This has many consequences and every step the duo takes now must be considered in advance. Meanwhile, Kell wonders what Delilah Bard's life is like now after everything they've been through. Her unusual personality has turned his world upside down and he can't stop thinking about her appearance.
Lila has found refuge on a pirate ship where she can do what she has always been good at: stealing, fighting and enjoying a life without obligations.
A very notorious magic tournament organized by the royal family attracts a lot of attention. Magicians who have one or more magical elements can sign up to compete in the tourney. Lila and Kell meet again, but adventure and looming danger always seem to come their way...
The storyline is incredible with so many unexpected twists. The plot is so powerful. I was constantly on the edge of my seat. Victoria Schwab has succeeded in creating an original series that would surprise even fantasy lovers who have already read many fantasy books. Readers can expect to come across: dark forces, an interesting magical system, a unique world building and romances between appearing characters.
"Don't you see?" said Calla. "He wasn't coming to pay your debt. He was coming to see if you'd returned to pay it yourself." Lila felt her face go hot. "I do not know why you two are circling each other like stars. It is not my cosmic dance. But I do know that you come asking after one another, when only a few strides and a handful of stars divide you"
Gollum: How We Made Movie Magic Author: Andy Serkis
“Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don’t know where he caGollum: How We Made Movie Magic Author: Andy Serkis
“Deep down here by the dark water lived old Gollum, a small slimy creature. I don’t know where he came from, nor who or what he was. He was Gollum.”
Have you always wondered how the filmmakers managed to make Gollum seem real?
This book, written by Andy Serkis, the actor who played Gollum himself, covers it all.
Andy describes how his casting process went and how the filmmakers allowed him to add his own creative ideas to make Gollum a character the film industry would never forget.
The book contains the very first sketches that Gollum's design team made and many behind-the-scenes photos of the other actors.
When I read this book, I felt like Andy was taking me on his and Gollum's personal journey through New Zealand.
I think all Lord of the Rings fans will find this book a valuable addition to their collection.
“Curse the Baggins! It’s gone! What has it got in its pocketses? Oh we guess, we guess, my precious. He’s found it, yes he must have.”...more
Dumbledore: The Life and Lies of Hogwart's Renowned Headmaster: An Unofficial Exploration Author: Irvin Khaytman
Dumbledore is one of the most popular HDumbledore: The Life and Lies of Hogwart's Renowned Headmaster: An Unofficial Exploration Author: Irvin Khaytman
Dumbledore is one of the most popular Harry Potter characters who is praised by many fans for his way of acting during the Harry Potter storyline.
In this book, the author completely unravels his actions to analyze what Dumbledore's drive was while making important choices.
Is he a warm hearted man with a genius brain? Or was he preparing Harry for Lord Voldemort his slaughter?
Especially the last years of Dumbledore his life are analysed. Good to mention is that this book is a character study and not a character biography. I could notice that the author did a lot of research and that he is a big HP fan. It was interesting to read how he substantiated his opinion, while giving a lot of references based on other writers/fans their essays.
Highly recommended for all Harry Potter fans or those who want to know figure out more about Dumbledore's actions....more
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