Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (Goodreads Author), Neil Smith (Translator)

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first I had trouble getting into it and was rather disappointed then wham the Backman magic took hold. Really hard to say what the book is about as it's about so many things forgiveness, stupid choices, growing old and love to name a few.

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To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini (Goodreads Author)

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book since I love Eragon Eldest Brisingr and Inheritance but alas I didn't Most of the book was deadly boring and a chore to plough through. And Kira was annoying and not very realistic. It starts out with Kira being the damsel in distress of every horror book ever written poor little Kira who just got engaged is sent out to check a microbe in a remote part of Adra. Not content to just do her job she insist on checking out a rock formation for her fiance and it turns out to be alien and the alien life form bonds with Kira. (cue the eerie music)

Since the "Soft Blade" (which is what Kira calls it) is ultimately suppose to be a seed for life and desires to do no harm I find it unrealistic that it's first act is to kill Kira's fiance and several of her shipmates. I find it even more unbelievable that she wouldn't want the Soft Blade removed or that the Soft Blade would bond with someone without their permission. The first part of the book is Kira/Soft Blade being the ultimate weapon. And of course Kira accidentally starts a war with the Jellies and creates the Corrupted who both want to wipe out humanity. Although fearing the Corrupted will wipe them out too a group of Jellies want to form an alliance with humans.

Then Kira discovers that she created the Corrupted by accident (I am still not sure why the Soft Blade attempted to heal a Jelly and a human who were strangers to Kira and not her fiance and shipmates. The Corrupted is a fusion of the Jelly and Human with a copy of the seed) and that the Soft Blade was meant to create life. With her new understanding she is even more determined to bring Peace to humanity and Jellies, while wiping out/healing The Corrupted.

He set up a possible sequel as The Corrupted made 7 copies of itself before she destroyed it and at the end of the book she bestowed "gifts" on her friends before she set off alone to track the 7 copies down as well as The Seeker that got away. I really hope he doesn't and that he will turn his pen to something else.

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Battle Ground (The Dresden Files, #17) Jim Butcher

Battle Ground by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't wait for the next one...

Battle Ground picks up where Peace Talks leaves off. The battle with Ethniu and Corb is commencing with a vengeance and everyone is there for the party.

I really really hate the way Murphy was killed by a trigger happy cop, Rudolph after she saved Harry's life by killing the giant Jotun. Since Odin claimed her body there is always the possibility we will see her again. Although as long as anyone lives who remembers her she isn't suppose to be made Einherjar.

There was a lot of fighting a lot of dying people and monsters worked together to bring Ethniu down. Marcone and Harry teamed up at the end to bring her down and Marcone was forced to reveal that he is a Knight of the Blackened Denarius. Harry made off with the Eye and gave it to Alfred for safe keeping after he bound Ethniu. When Alfred came to collect her he almost killed Harry and Marcone with a tidal wave (Marcone will probably hold that over Harry's head for awhile, talk about unexpected consequences). Even so Harry was able to talk Marcone out of his castle.

Mab orders Harry to take Justine to see Thomas, as a favor to Lara. On the way there Harry realizes Justine is possessed by Nemesis and dives off the Water Beetle. Mab eventually finds her knight and gets him the medical attention he needs.

Mab orders Lara and Harry to wed (didn't see that coming) Lara's quick thinking gets them a years reprieve.

Molly finally goes to visit her parents and tells them she is the Winter Lady (which they already knew)

So Harry now lives in a castle and he is engaged to Lara.

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Shadows in Death (In Death, #51)

Shadows in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When a contract killer from Roarke's past makes a hit in New York the chase is on. Made all the more intense because Cobbe is intent on killing Roarke, if he can.

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The Evening and the Morning (Kingsbridge #0)

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Edgar's Father is killed in a Viking raid the family of boat builders is forced to move inland to Deng's Ferry (eventually renamed King's Bridge) to a small farm. While his brother's become farmers and raise a family together Edgar returns to building things first a new ferry and later a bridge.

The first bridge he builds is burned by Deng, but when the King discovers the burnt bridge he commissions the building of a new bridge and places it under the King's protection. Edgar will eventually build a cathedral for King's Bridge and marry the woman he loves.

Duke Hubert (a Norman nobelman) will allow his daughter Ragna to marry the English Ealdorman Wilf believing he has King Ethelred's permission to wed her. Only after the wedding will Ragna discover that Wilf's first wife isn't dead he merely set her aside, and that Ethelred never gave his permission. After Wilf is injured in battle and mentally incompetent Ragna will take over, until Wilf is killed by his brothers and Ragna is kidnapped and raped until she becomes pregnant. She is then forced to marry Wigelm (Wilf's half-brother) in order to keep her youngest son (conceived when Wigelm raped her). Wigelm eventually tires of her and sets her aside but takes their son away and gives him into the care of his mistress. With nothing left to lose Ragna confides in Aldred that Wynstan (Wilf's eldest half brother and the brains behind Wigelm) is suffering from Whores Leprosy. Aldred is able to use Wynstan's medical condition to prevent him from becoming Archbishop. When a drunken Wigelm tries to rape Ragna again she murders him and disposes of the body in the canal. Everyone chooses to believe his death was an accident and Ragna is able to reclaim her son and marry the man she loves with the King's blessing.

Aldred becomes bishop of King's Bridge.



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