kintara81's reviews
1696 reviews

The Tiger Curtain and Other Stories by Paul Marriner

5.0

One of my favourite author has came out with a short story/poem collection and I loved this. This is also the first time that I have read a short story collection which I have loved the full contents of the collection. Paul has a way of writing which captivates me, creating characters and settings which draw in the reader.

Death By Trauma by Abigail Keam

5.0

I loved this book and the characters in this series. Josiah is one of those people who attracts death and corpses around her homestead and she has an adorable pupper. The world which the author has created is fantastic and all of the characters are amazing. I need to read more in this series.

Beyond the Sea: Annie's Journey Into the Extraordinary by Nina Purtee

4.5

This was a new author to me which I devoured in just under 24 hours. I loved the back story to how this story came about and the inspiration that the author used. She was able to create a main character who enthralled me and also the other characters in the book. She travels and meets so many people who help her to find herself while she is trying to find out what has happened to her father. This is created in our world however she is able to put a spin on them to make them magical. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

The Bracelet by Diane Clarke, Diane Clarke

4.0

This was a very different type of novel where you can never really know what the characters are feeling due to the deceptions which have been deal over the years. Diane Clarke is a very good character writer and she knows how to build tension with the characters and the settings that she writes. I can not wait to read more by this author in the future.

The Babylonian Chronicles by Henry Sipes

3.75

This was a very fast and quick read for a fully built sci-fi story. I usually find that with a story under 200 pages you can not get any substantial story however in this case the story is definitely fully rounded and complete. It has everything that you need complex characters and a fully built and fleshed out world which is something that the author can be super proud of. I prefer a shorter sci-fi as this is not my preferred genre and I like to have everything compacted into a condense and concise way. I can not wait to read more from this author.

Remembering Demons by J. Cornelius

4.0

This was a really interesting book to read as it has aspects of fantasy and horror with a real element of Mental Health awareness. We follow our main character who has been institutionalised due to declining mental health and we watch through the pages as this seems to decline. The author has done an amazing job of bringing you into the main characters situation and also making the experiences feel very real. This is a realistic world which is based on ours and we find out that things are not as they seem and we need the main character to save the world ..... no pressure. I can not wait for the sequel to come out.

Coaching Through Burnout: A Burnout Prevention Toolkit for Busy Leaders and Their Teams by Hazel Anderson-Turner

4.0

This is one of those books which you are able to either read in one of two ways - 1) cover to cover or 2) dipping in and out of the sections that you need. I have read this the first way however I can see myself referring back to this when I need it and reading the sections that I need at that time. I loved the way this has been set out and also how the author has used her experiences and others to give real-world examples making things easier to understand. I also found that as I was reading this I could see myself in some of the examples which was also good as it meant that the subject matter was something which would have led to me picking this up in a bookstore if I needed guidance in this area. I look forward to re-visiting sections of this book when I need it in my life moving forward.

Because You Asked by A.E. Bennett

5.0

I love this world and the cast of characters which A.E. Bennett has created. This is the latest book which I have read and I love that we get more from some of the side characters who we have had in previous books. This time we have the sapphic installment which was very slow burn and this is something that I appreciated as it meant that we got the build up showing the angst that the characters go through. The author is one of my fave when it comes to the slow burn relationships and I love all of the couple that she has created ...... I need more from this world.

Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren

4.0

I really enjoyed this story, however it does cover some very hard hitting situations. We follow Julia as she grows up and is entered into arranged marriage and things go from bad to worse. This then takes a turn and we go through some stuff with the characters and go through the changes with them. This is a way for the author to build the world and then build the characters to allow her to set up for the 4 book series. She has built such a interesting world and characters who have both flaws and strengths which are complex. I can not wait to get into the next book in this series.

The Curlew's Scream by Annette Leigh

4.0

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I can see that she has some others which I will be able to check out. I loved that this was set in the real world and the characters are well-rounded - both with flaws and strengths. She has developed the characters and you can see how the relationships have developed and why people are loyal to others. This had me hook from page one and read this is approx 12 hours. Can not wait to see what comes next.