R17: Team #12 ~ We Who Must Not Be Named

[Dragana]

I like it. :)

[Cat]

Completion Post:

Shelf 1: Military
Read by: Cat
Date read: 16 Sep
Book: Hell & High Water
Author: Charlie Cochet
Pages: 296
Fits: on p3 of the Military shelf linked / 103 shelved
Rating: 3*

Review:
This was surprisingly a lot of fun! The premise is that a stable mutation happened during Vietnam, creating a new (sub)-species of human shifters (I'm not entirely sure if it's a separate species or not, as there wasn't any talk about cross-breeding and fertility). As a result: tensions occur - obvs, being as humans really aren't good with different people. In America there are at least two separate law-enforcement agencies ('cos THAT'S gonna end well) - one for human only issues and one for those regarding the Therians (i.e. shifters)
Our hero, Dex, is moved into the Therian law enforcement agency, "THIRDS", after he makes it impossible for himself to stay in the human agency because of being a man of ethics & backbone. We follow his experience being dropped into a super elite group, all of whom have issues, and see how he integrates himself, finds a "friend with benefits", and solves the case whilst almost dying...
The POV is generally from Dex, but occasionally shifts to the love interest, Sloane, and I really enjoyed seeing Dex from the outside: his presentation of himself is WAY calmer and more considered that Sloane and others see him, which is a talkative, hyper brat. It was an effective way to show how perspectives can be totally different.

As far as the case went, I totally got it really early on, so it's just as well I was enjoying the characters and action and wasn't in it for the mystery!

[Dragana]

This one does sound like fun Cat. I'm not much into MM romance, but I might give it a try next time we need military fiction LOL

[Cat]

Dragana wrote: "This one does sound like fun Cat. I'm not much into MM romance, but I might give it a try next time we need military fiction LOL"

there was't a huge amount of romance in this one - some tension & kissing and maybe five scenes where it went further. probably 15% of the content.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Completion Post

Shelf 1: Military
Read by: Nikk
Date read: 9/17/18
Book: Colorado Wild
Author: Sara York
Pages: 222
Fits: tagged Military 26 times
Rating: 3*


Review:
This was a relatively fast read and was okay. I liked the premise of art time cowboy/part time assassin but found the execution not so great. The storyline was flimsier than I would have liked and at times cheesy, over the top and somewhat far fetched. I didn't mind some of the characters but a lot of the interraction felt forced. I would have liked a little more resolution in the first book with some of the threads but it was not to be. As potential go to series for challenges, I may yet read on but i am not sure I would continue otherwise.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

We have a new shelf call:

Shelf #2 ~ 19/9/18: Favorites
DIRECT LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

How is everyone doing with their military shelf and free space shelf?

I will be reading for th8s week’s shelf as it is marked favourites 248 times :-)

I need to post my free space shelf review as well. I will get that done this weekend

[Cat]

I think I shall use

Furies of Calderon for favourites (is on first page of shelves) &
Academ's Fury (on the SOS bookshelf) for free space

hoping to press the others in the series into use as the weeks go on :)

[Dragana]

Hi. I have read both books over the weekend. My kid got sick so he’s home and not in kindergarten this week so I don’t have to write and post reviews. I will do it on Monday. Sorry.

As for favorites shelf i plan to read next Captive Prince vol 2. I am sure it fits just don’t have time to check right now. Will update this post with more info or different choice if it does not fit.

[Cat]

oh no, poor him :( I hope he's feeling better soon!

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Dragana wrote: "Hi. I have read both books over the weekend. My kid got sick so he’s home and not in kindergarten this week so I don’t have to write and post reviews. I will do it on Monday. Sorry.

As for favori..."


That's okay Dragana. I hope he is feeling better soon.

[Dragana]

Thank you all. He is already feeling better. Hence my lack of free time. :D

And I checked - Prince's Gambit is tagged 1,396 as 'favorites', so that will be my pick for Favorites shelf.

[Amy]

I remember those days of sick children...My youngest caught every virus that came through town. Glad he is better

[Amy]

Selection Post Shelf #2 - 9/19/18
Hollow City
by Ransom Riggs
Popular Favorites List page 12

[Cat]

Completion Post:

Shelf 2: Favourites
Read by: Cat
Date read: 23 Sep
Book: Furies of Calderon
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 600
Fits: 690 shelved (on first page of books shelves)
Rating: 4*

Review:
I've read most of Dresden, which I enjoy, and the steampunk Aeronaut one, which I didn't in the least. Happily this fell into the "enjoy" side :)
Classic high fantasy stuff, but done well: whilst there might have been some almost-trope characters, I liked them all and was really intrigued by the magic system: of "furies" - element-linked spirits that help their human do things with that element (earth / fire / wind / water / wood / metal) I particularly liked that at least two (fire and water) had emotional links - so water furies can help heal and are sensitive to emotions. The system isn't fully explained, and I'm not sure how sentient the furies are so reserve the right to retract my approval if it turns slave-y!
Anyway: good story (some nice action sequences); good world-building; fun characters - I'm looking forward to the next one!

[Cat]

just realised that I forgot to put a date read for my military book. I've updated my post; I finished it on 16 Sep

[Dragana]

Shelf: FREE SPACE
Book: Shadowfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Date read: 15 Sep
Pages: 688
Fits: was BOM long time ago and is on a group bookshelf.
Rating: 4 stars

LIKES:
✔ Addictive, with non-stop action.
✔ Unpredictable, you never know what is going to happen next.
✔ Chemistry between MCs is off-the-charts.
✔ Unputdownable. Kept me up at night way past my usual bedtime.
✔ Strong female lead character.

DISLIKES: (aka. WTH this book did not get 5 stars)
✘ I already said it's unpredictable, so how can it be a bad thing? Well, the author gives us clues all the times that point one way and when big reveal happens it's something completely unrelated. And you could not have guessed it, because you didn't have any clues or info about it at all.
✘ Disrespect about women and more. Statements like these from various characters:
- "Long as she doesn't try funky lezbo stuff on me, I don't mind sharing my spot."
- "It was like watching a man and woman fight, where the man was simply trying to keep the woman from hurting herself too much."
If it was one character, I could have dismissed it with he/she-is-a-jerk, but this happens regular trough the book. Plus, except from MC (and maybe Dani), there is no strong female character in sight, they are all weak or corrupt or sluts or... you get the picture.

So, while this I did devour this series, I would be very tentative with recommending it. Only for the people like me, who devour the fast food without thinking about what's in it. :D

[Dragana]

Shelf: MILITARY
Book: The Forever War
Author: Joe Haldeman
Date read: 17 Sep
Pages: 278
Fits: shelved 212 times as military
Rating: 4 stars

My decision to read more SFF classics at work. This time I did have more luck with my general enjoyment of Forever War, but I didn't feel like this book was a big deal. Maybe because I have already read military science fiction, some probably inspired by this book.
While the characterisation could have been deeper, I liked that author didn't overload us with scientific information and his vision of the future was quite intriguing. Plus, there is the underlying message about pointlessness of war.
So if you have not read this classics, catch up. ;)

[Amy]

Just finished my military selection. I actually enjoyed it... review to come

[Amy]

Completion Post:
Shelf 1: Military
Date read: 25 Sep
Book: As Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1)
Author: Laura Kaye
Pages: 368
Location: p1 of the Military shelf
Rating: 4 stars

I enjoyed this book much more than I anticipated. The story line was smooth and the main characters well developed. The interaction between the characters was believable and entertaining. There was an element of suspense as well. I may read the next in the series.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Completion Post

Shelf 2: Favourites
Read by: Nikk
Date read: 9/24/18
Book: Skinwalker
Author: Faith Hunter
Pages: 340
Fits: tagged Favourites 248 times
Rating: 4*

Review:
I picked this book up as I had had a number of book friends rave about and recommend this series to me. I did quite enjoy joy it and I will read on in the series but I wasn't as blown away by it as I hoped to be. I am hoping this might be partly to do with the fact this is a book 1 and I always have a love/hate relationship with book 's.

I liked the world that Ms Hunter has created and found Jane and her history incredibly intriguing. The story itself was a mostly entertaining read but i found there were parts where I struggled. In particular the parts where Jane would shift to Beast. While I kind of liked this dichotomy Jane had, I also found some of these parts confusing as the Beast (along with the story) and at times I wasn't always sure how they got from one to the other even when going back to reread.

That being said, I enjoyed it enough to want to continue on with the series and I am interested to read more about Vampires and Skinwalkers in New Orleans and see just what other supernaturals are going to come to play during this series.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

So I am please to announce i have requested our first stamp for the game as we have all now completed the military shelf.

How is everyone going with this week's shelf - Favourites?

I am looking forward to seeing what tomorrow's call is :-)

[Dragana]

That's great news. :) I finished reading the book for favorites shelf. Will post data & review tomorrow.

[Cat]

Nikk the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "So I am please to announce i have requested our first stamp for the game as we have all now completed the military shelf.

How is everyone going with this week's shelf - Favourites?

I am looking forward to seeing what tomorrow's call is :-) "

Woo-hoo! and we've got a name too :)

I'm done with Favourites :)
starting my Free Space today

would be super-exciting if tomorrow's call got us another on our diagonal!

[Amy]

I am almost done with the Favorites shelf. I should be on target including free shelf by next Tuesday.

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

New shelf call :-)

Shelf #3 ~ 26/9/18: Own It
DIRECT LINK -https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

I will be reading as it is tagged 66 times as own-it :-)

[Cat]

Completion Post

Shelf: Free Space
Read by: Cat
Date read: 27 Sep
Book: Academ's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 628
Fits: on SOS bookshelf
Rating: 4*

Review
This second book in the series expands our knowledge of Tavi's world to the capital city, and introduces a terrifying opponent in the Vord.
We dive into the final week of Tavi's time in the Academy, and follow as he tries to balance passing exams with saving his king and possibly the world.
Meanwhile, things are heating up back in Calderon, and there are some lovely comedy moments with the sidekick characters, including the incomparable Marat.
Good stuff, mixing politics & action well.

[Cat]

and for Shelf 3, I shall move on to the next in the series:
Cursor's Fury
10 people shelved as own-it :https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/users...

[Dragana]

Luckily, I can squeeze my next book in series into this shelf requirements. :) I will be reading Burned. 16 people shelved as own-it: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/users...

[Dragana]

Shelf: FAVORITES
Book: Prince's Gambit
Author: C.S. Pacat
Date read: 20 Sep
Pages: 376
Fits: tagged 1,396 as 'favorites'
Rating: 4 stars

This series was a pleasant surprise. I expected something kinky with a lot of sex like The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty and instead I got a lot of court intrigues. Something like Kushiel's Dart... The second book was good or maybe even better then Captive Prince.

[Cat]

I've seen a lot of people rate that series highly, but it's SOOOO expensive on kindle I just can't bring myself to buy it :( One of these days...

[Dragana]

Cat wrote: "I've seen a lot of people rate that series highly, but it's SOOOO expensive on kindle I just can't bring myself to buy it :( One of these days..."

I add alerts for price drops on Bookbub and then buy them when they drop. For example part #2 is currently just $2.39 right now.

[Cat]

not in the UK :(

[Dragana]

Hopefully some other time.

[Cat]

but Bookbub is an awesome service :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

CONGRATULATIONS, WWMNBN!
You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'military'. 

[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]

Good Job!! :D

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Congrats on the stamps Unnamed Ones!

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Thanks Sandra :-)

[Amy]

Completion Post:
Shelf#2 - 9/19/18
Hollow City by Ransom Riggs (#2 of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children)
Date Read September 27, 2018
Pages 428
Rating 4 stars

I enjoyed this story. The characters were interesting with their peculiarities and gifts. The storyline was unpredictable (for me anyway...I am always the one who is asking -What’s happening?). Time travel, enemies all around, can’t wait to read the next in series.

[Cat]

oooh! is that all the Favourites done then??

it is....!

Cat: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Nikk: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Dragana: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Amy: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Dragana]

Yay, another stamp. :)

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Coolies! I will request our stamp tomorrow

[Dragana]

Shelf: OWN IT
Book: Burned
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Date read: 29 Sep
Pages: 512
Fits: tagged 16 people shelved as own-it
Rating: 3 stars

Burned was the least action filled book in Fever series. I felt like all that happened is Mac following people around and re-telling us what they are doing. Or Mac whining how she is not doing nothing.
My mistake was reading Burned immediately after Iced I think that made the switch of narration back to Mac more painfully. I liked Dani as a main narrator much more.
Well, let's hope narration switches back to Dani in the next one...

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Shelf: OWN IT
Book: Origin in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Date read: 29 Sep
Pages: 339
Fits: tagged 12 people shelved as own-it
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
Another compelling read from the Master storyteller! In this instalment, the story took front and centre the whole way through. The prologue set the scene for what I knew would be an extremely compelling read and I was riveted through this whole book. I also loved loved the way this storyline tested some of the characters, particularly ones that have previously been almost unflappable. It really added a another dimension to some of these characters that we have become comfortable with as the series has gone on and took them to another level. This is probably one of my favourite instalments so far and I cannot wait to start on the next one!

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Completion Post

Shelf: Free Space
Read by: Nikk
Date read: 9/20/18
Book: Midnight's Kiss
Author: Thea Harrison
Pages: 290
Fits: number #31 on Best of Paranormal Romance List
Rating: 4*
Review
While I have really loved this series, I wasn't overly enthused about reading Julian and Melly's story.
Our previous glimpses of Julian had not been all that flattering and i knew next to nothing about Melly but i ended up enjoying it more than I expected to. Over all it was a pretty quick read. There was action a plenty and it was consistently placed all the way through. The romance worked as well. We had seen some interaction in the previous book so the tension and connection was already there when the book started and I enjoyed watching the journey.I ended up quite enjoying this book and am looking forward to picking up book 9

[Cat]

Completion Post

Shelf 3: Own It
Read by: Cat
Date read: 2 Oct
Book: Cursor's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 614
Fits: 10 shelved
Rating: 3*

Review:
We've hopped forward 2 years, and Tavi is now in the army, for some spurious reason that was instantly discarded in favour of Tavi rescuing the world - again!
Kitai was less funny in this installment - she'd better be brought back front & centre soon! But the Tavi & Max double act was fun, and I enjoyed the back story of Isana - though why she had to be sidelined just to reveal stuff I don't fully get.
Invidia was excellent value, as always - can't wait for the next time Amara gets a lesson in reality from her!

[Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon]

Favourites stamp has been requested :-)

Sorry I meant to do it last night but i accidentally fell asleep on my computer desk before I could... LOL

[Amy]

Completion Post
Free Space
Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
Date Read September 29
Rating 4 stars
I loved this story for the most part. The adventure was action packed with unexpected turns and twists. What I didn't like...Curran's plan he kept from Kate. One day I may read some of the ones from his POV.

[Amy]

Selection Post
Shelf #3 Own It 9/26/18
Book: Dark Lover by J. R. Ward
located page 8 of Own It