The Scandalous Lady Wright (Bad Husbands #1) by M. C. Beaton

The Scandalous Lady Wright
Bad Husbands #1
M. C. Beaton

Front cover

Date read: 26 - 30 October 2018
Length: 202 pages


Lady Wright has been accused of murdering her husband Sir Benjamin Wright. But Emma is innocent, and luckily the Comte Saint-Juste is her to provide evidence of that fact. Along the way they discover many secrets and unknown enemies.

Public faces and private vices...

The Scandalous Lady Wright is very easy to read, and had I time time I'm sure I could have finished it in less than a day. It's a good novel for just chilling out.

The characters were okay, although I did quite like the Comte. But for the period I would say they are believable however, it makes you realise how far things have come for women. They pretty much can't do anything without a mans permission.

This is a trilogy so I will be reading the rest in the series. I fear for the women!

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules (League of Pensioners #1) by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules
League of Pensioners #1
Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Front cover

Date read: 15 - 25 October 2018
Length: 435 pages


Martha and her gang of friends are fed up of the cuts happening at the Diamond House retirement home. They think life in prison would be much better, so they set themselves on a course of robberies, kidnappings and anything criminal they can think of. But is a life of crime everything they had anticipated?


I love the characters! The old gang are great together, and I particularly like Brains - he's a good thinker and is always coming up with things to help the group through their adventures.

This was such an easy book to read. I loved following their plans, from planning to carrying out their schemes. I just didn't want to put it down!

As much as this was an easy book to read and it looks on the lighter side, it does make you think about the way society treats older people - just because they're old doesn't mean they're not able!


Will definitely read the second one!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1
Douglas Adams

Front cover

Date read: 10 - 14 October 2018
Length: 184 pages


Arthur Dent is whisked away from Earth moments before its destruction by an alien spaceship. His friend (and alien) Ford Prefect helps him come to terms with things despite the fact they're not welcome on the ship that rescued them. The next aliens he meets aren't so bad though...

DON'T PANIC!

Too late...

I have been waiting to read this series for so long! I've head from multiple sources it's amazing, and I was not disappointed. I love the humour, it's just so sarcastic. The characters are varied and inventive, especially the Paranoid Android. 

It kind of reminds me of Doctor Who a little in that they can travel though space and time. I'm looking forward to all the adventures these books will bring, starting with visiting the restaurant at the end of the universe!

Bring it on!

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Half a War (Shattered Sea #3) by Joe Abercrombie

Half a War
Shattered Sea #3
Joe Abercrombie

Front cover

Date read: 28 September - 9 October 2018
Length: 497 pages


The countries around the Shattered Sea are at war. Princess Skara must rise up if she wants to reclaim her birthright. With her army she must face Grandmother Wexen and Bright Yilling before Father Peace can be sought. Can she do it?

YOU CAN ONLY CONQUER

YOUR FEARS BY FACING THEM.

HIDE FROM THEM, AND THEY

CONQUER YOU

I have liked a lot of characters in this series, and I also like Skara. She seems hard but fair to her people. This series is kind of unique in that each book doesn't really follow the same people, but they are all linked. For instance, in the beginning I didn't really like Grom-gil-Gorm because I was looking at the story from one set of characters views, but by the end I find I actually quite like him. It's the same with Queen Uthil.

There's also quite a few 'minor' characters that you can't help but like, such as Rin and Koll. They pop up every now and then, and you just feel drawn to them. I was sad about Brand and Grom-gil-Gorm, but probably more especially Brand. 

I wasn't as keen on Half a War as I was on the previous two. But nevertheless I have very much enjoyed this series!

Joe Abercrombie

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

Glass Sword
Red Queen #2
Victoria Aveyard

Front cover

Date read: 17 - 27 September 2018
Length: 440 pages


Mare Barrow is a Red with Silver abilities, something called "Newblood". She sets out on a mission to recruit others like her, hoping to reach them before her enemies do. Can she save them all in time?

I was born to kill a king,

to end a reign of terror

before it can truly begin.

In Glass Sword I feel that Mare has really grown up a lot. She's had to learn the way of the world very quickly and prepare for things she probably never imagined she'd ever be doing. Sometimes it's easy to forget she's only a young adult.

I'm still unsure about Cal. After the events of  Red Queen I'm finding it hard to trust anyone! I want to like him, I really do, but it's not easy because I liked Maven, and we all know how that turned out!

I'm really enjoying this series and I'm really looking forward to what's next. All the books I am reading right now seem to be about war, but luckily they're quite different.

Victoria Aveyard

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The Wee Librocubicularist

A Dance With Dragons 2: After the Feast (A Song of Ice and Fire #5 part 2) by George R. R. Martin

A Dance With Dragons 2: After the Feast
A Song of Ice and Fire #5 part 2
George R. R. Martin

Front cover

Date read: 3 - 16 September 2018
Length: 493 pages (557 with appendix)


In Kings Landing Queen Cersei is in jail awaiting trial. Tyrion has been sold as a slave in Yunkai along with another dwarf and a pig. Dany has married (!) a questionable man. Margaery and Tommen wed. Stannis travels to Winterfell to confront the Boltons, all the while the Wildlings are preparing for war.

The future of the Seven Kingdoms

hangs in the balance.

I still can't believe this is the last published book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series! I was naughty and started watching the TV series before I got around to reading the books. Usually I prefer to read the book first, and most the time I do. But at the time I got into the TV series, I was already reading a long running book series and wanted to wait until I finished that before starting this one. And now I'm sad it's over. 

As someone who watched the TV series, I was really surprised to read that Dany had married again. She's such a strong and independent character and I always got the impression she was never going to marry, after what happened to Khal Drogo. But there you have it.

It's good so see some justice being done in Kings Landing in regards to the royal family. Cersei got away with so much for so long it's about time she paid for her crimes!

I'm looking forward to The Winds of Winter coming out, whenever that may be. Goodreads say 2020 but George R. R. Martin is notorious for pushing back deadlines.

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Half the World (Shattered Sea #2) by Joe Abercrombie

Half the World
Shattered Sea #2
Joe Abercrombie

Front cover

Date read: 22 August - 2 September 2018
Length: 484 pages


Father Yarvi and his crew travel half the world in order to find allies for the impending war. Among his crew is Thorn Bathu, a warrior with a difference; she's a woman. Seeking vengeance on her fathers killer, she trains as hard as the best. And we also have Brand, a warrior who hates to kill. But will they return with allies? Will they return at all?


Half the World was a but slow to start, but definitely picked up and was hard to put down once it got going!

I like Thorn. She initially comes across as a total badass, but once you get to know her you realise she's actually quite shy and unsure in a lot of ways. She definitely has a sensitive side and it's good to see it once in a while.

Brand is a strange warrior, considering he doesn't actually like killing. He just wants to do good, and it's a conflict of morals when he has to kill. I like him and Thorn together.

I like the Empress of the South. I think she is kind and just and makes a good leader. Part of me wishes Thorn had accepted her offer to stay with her and be her guard. I hope to see more of her in the next book!

Joe Abercrombie

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The Wee Librocubicularist