Tag: legend

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Book Challenges Book Reviews Books Special Categories

Books about a plague or virus

Estimated Reading Time: 6min

Okay, with the pandemic that swept the world a few years ago, even though some of these books existed before everything went down, they seem a bit more real ever since. So, I have complied a list of books I have read (or are in the midst of reading) that have a plague or virus, oftentimes with very interesting consequences! These are my reviews of said books.

Legend – Marie Lu (5 Stars)

I LOVED Legend.
(The only reason it even took so long to get through was because I was moving, and super busy – otherwise I would have finished it in a day!)

First – the premise.
Loved it. Can’t wait to continue unraveling the mysteries and secrets in the next book.
Second – the world.
It was introduced to the reader in a seamless way. It felt natural, part of the story, no info dumps and was just beautifully done.
Third – the characters.
I found not only the main characters, but the secondary ones as well, so intriguing. I loved all of the interactions, the development, the exploration of each characters stories – just all of it.

The writing style flowed so well, and the story was filled with fascinating turns, dialogue and world building.

Overall, an amazing YA book, and I can’t wait to read more!

Grab the book Here

Airborne – DiAnn Mills

I enjoyed DiAnn’s writing style. The plot had such a relevant feel for the times, and yet was a story all on its own.

The characters were really good. There was a solid amount of Christian themes in this book without it being too overpowering – however I did find that SOME parts felt a little rushed.

The mystery was engaging all the way until the end, and the resolution was fantastic.

Overall, a great read!

Grab the book Here

Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard

I actually really liked this book.
I liked the “super power” element rather than magic, and the separation of Red and Silver is something we can relate to (with various divisions we have in our own world).
I did gloss over the world and surroundings descriptions, but the plot was good. Granted, it was similar to other YA dystopians but if you know what you’re getting into, I don’t see that as a problem.
I liked the characters, but admittedly looked up the spoilers before reading so I didn’t have any shock moments at the various twists and turns.
No graphic sexual content but pretty violent fights and scene depictions. Not really any cuss words either.

Grab the book Here

Fawkes – Nadine Brandes

Mmmmmm
Historical fiction isn’t my favourite genre, but the fantasy element had me interested. Unfortunately, it didn’t grab my attention at all. I skimmed and skipped a lot of this book. I got the big plot points this way, but most of it was pretty meh for me.
There was a lot of color power lore that I had to try and get through, but honestly it wasn’t really all that interesting and instead felt a bit much.
I appreciated the historical plot brought to life with the fantasy additions, and I know that would have taken a bunch of research and work.
Just not for me.

Grab the book Here

Steelheart – Brandon Sanderson

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I really enjoyed this one!

I liked the world that was created, and the POV of David was really great. I loved his funny character, and his interactions with the others. I really liked Brandon’s writing style too.

I found myself wanting to know more about Steelheart himself, and I look forward to the other books in the series to hopefully fill in more of the blanks about the world created – particularly the things that are still a question mark 😀

Grab the book Here

Powerless – Lauren Roberts

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Okay, this one I am in the midst of reading, so no official review yet. However, I have read enough to see the similarities with Red Queen, and differences as well. Of all the books I have chosen for this post, this one references a “plague” the most. They use it as a curse, as a frame of reference, and pretty much for anything and everything. It’s a catch all.

To be fair, I would probably use it the same way if it had such a large affect on the world I knew.

I’m excited to see where the story goes.

Grab the book Here

Well, those are the books that have a plague or virus of some kind that I have read, how about you? Any others I’ve missed that you liked?

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books Genre Reading Great Reads

A List of My Favourite Fantasy Books

Estimated Reading Time: 4min

Fantasy is becoming more and more popular, and I am not exempt from the craze! I LOVE a well written fantasy story, but I do have caveats… There are some fantasy stories that I just don’t read, and probably won’t.

If a story has too much magic, or almost any serious witchcraft I will NOT pick that book up. I try to be careful with what I put into my mind, and this is something I don’t mess around with. So for the most part, if there is a magic system, it is pretty tame and not really wizard-ess… BUT, there are plenty of fantasy stories that don’t have too much creepy or too much smutty, and those are the books I’m about to share with you now in my FAV Fantasy books!

The Hadley Academy For The Improbably Gifted (Conor Grennan)

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This is kind of like a Professor X Academy story, and is SO MUCH FUN! I loved this book, and desperately want it to have more, because let’s be real – a world where anyone could have powers at any time and use them to make the world a better place…. everyone wants to believe in that. High stakes, fun characters and twists that shake your view on what’s real, and what isn’t.

Grab the book Here

AD 30 (Ted Dekker)

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A woman in A.D. 30 is a princess in the middle of the Arabian desert, but when her family betrays her and she is cast out, she has one chance to survive. Meanwhile, she hears about a teacher not too far away who is claiming some incredible things that might just help her to reclaim her throne, and win the day – with some romance along the way. This story is part Arabian princess/adventure, and part discovering Jesus while he was walking on the earth from an outsiders perspective… yeah, it was mind blowing and incredible.

Grab the book Here

Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)

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Waking up in the middle of… well nowhere… with no memory of how you got in this spaceship with two corpses beside you. Yup, that’s pretty much most of this book. Figuring out why the heck our main character is there, and what he’s supposed to do. It was equal parts hilarious and life threatening… the flashbacks help explain, and quite honestly my fav character is just all about that music babe! (If you know, you know).

Grab the book Here

Steelheart (Brandon Sanderson)

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What would happen if only the BAD guys had super powers? This. This would happen. A world where the ones that were mysteriously given power beyond what you could imagine basically rule with terror and fear. The only potential way to get out from under them, are the Reckoners – humans without superpowers that are willing to try and take out the power! So good, like a superhero film but without any chance of winning… or is there?

Grab the book Here

Legend (Marie Lu)

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Dystopian world where an outlaw threatens the rule of current power, a mysterious plague stretches through the lands, and a teenager is basically in charge of fixing it all. Yup, that’s pretty much it. This one has it all, revenge and love, power and rebellion & corruption and comeuppance. The ultimate Young Adult fantasy… if you ask me.

Grab the book Here

That’s just a few, but let’s be honest there are SO MANY MORE! Pop your fav Fantasy book in the comments and we can compare notes…

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Book Reviews Books Great Reads Life Unfavourited Books

Best and Worst Rated Books of 2020/21

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I went over all the books I’ve read in the past year (July2020-August2021) and found the BEST and WORST rated ones! 

Check out the video below:

I hope you enjoyed the video. Let me know if you’ve read the books I mentioned, and if you agree with my rating or not…

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

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Books Goals and Wrap Ups

August Reading Wrap Up

I actually got through my August TBR list this month! 

Thanks, I’m sure, to the lockdown and my inability to work, I was able to actually get through the 5 videos I had on my list this month.

They included Sherlock Holmes and the Needles Eye, Airborne, Local Poet, Our Life in A Day, and Champion (Legend Series)… So, what were my final thoughts on those books? Check out the video to see:

I hope you enjoyed the video, and I can’t wait to get onto my next TBR for September. Something cool is coming for next month, so WATCH THIS SPACE for more!

See You in The Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

WHAT’S IN A NAME | Hannah Carmichael Chronicles (SIXTY-THREE)

Your Briefing:
Hannah Carmichael is a Super Spy, who was trying to take down CGT – the evil spy agency of which she used to be a part of. Her husband Zeke, was secretly working to take them down as well, and roped Hannah and her fellow agent (and best friend) Stephanie, into the fight. 
Hannah’s mother Evelyn was a known terrorist and CGT enemy, but now seems to have been on the same side all along. Her Father James, was believed to be dead and missing for over a decade, but has now shown up from his fight in the shadows to help take them down once and for all.
Hannah woke up without her memory, and is now relying on her family to help find her way back and stop CGT.
With a World War III event called ‘Cataclysm’ on the horizon, and Hannah trying to fight, and regain her memories, what will she and her team find out, and how will they stop CGT?

SIXTY-THREE

Even though she had been through a 24-hour cycle of re-training at the safe house, she still felt uneasy as they walked closer to the podium.
Hannah scanned the crowd. She was still uncertain of who, or what she was supposed to be looking for.

Zeke turned, and the sight of his face brought another flash of a memory fragment through her thoughts. Standing back to back, guns pointed at unknown, armed suspects. 

Hannah shook her head and Zeke quickly scanned the strangers which surrounded them. “Are you okay?” he asked, lifting her head to look into her eyes. Hannah shrugged, “another memory flash. It’s no biggie,” she said as she pulled backwards. Zeke frowned and straightened his shoulders, clearing his throat. “The press conference is the perfect place for CGT to put Cataclysm into effect.” He turned and started walking again, checking his surroundings as they moved through the crowd.

“Sending missiles which are supposedly from each country into the other, should do the trick to start a war.” Hannah sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, staring at it. They’d cut it shorter and died it a dark chocolate brown, but the face in the mirror looked just as foreign as before. The two women that she’d been rescued with were on different assignments, and Hannah groaned as a tall man in the crowd shoved past her. 

Zeke reached out his hand and pulled her towards the media check in desk. “Elliot and Maya from The Morning Gazette,” he said to the volunteer. She checked the list and nodded, ticking the names off. Hannah followed Zeke to a chair in the second row. “Elliot and Maya?” she asked, as he sat beside her. 

Zeke grinned. “You used to find it amusing to use names from films, TV or books when you went undercover.” 

Hannah chuckled softly and shook her head; A list of possible names flashing through her memory. “I guess so. Where are these names from?” 

Zeke glanced at her, then back to the crowd. “Just Shoot Me. A TV show about magazine workers. Ironic, as we’re supposed to be from a newspaper.” He smiled, then pointed at a small stage in the middle of the press chaos. “Check it out.” 

Hannah watched, as several men and one woman walked out onto the stage. 

The crowd stood, buzzing as the woman approached the podium. She tapped the microphone and feedback screeched. Looking around her, she cleared her throat. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. This press conference shows what diplomacy and communication can accomplish when countries put their differences aside, and work together.” 

Hannah zoned out the woman’s words, and looked from one leader to the other. Both seemed on edge, and her gut was telling her something was wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. 

She scanned the crowd then turned back to the stage, watching both leaders. They were facing each other, and shaking hands, smiling for cameras as they clicked and flashed. 

Hannah reached for Zeke’s arm to share her concern. 

As she made contact, loud shots echoed through the crowd.

Authors Note:
Thanks for reading the latest instalment of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles! Hannah will be back Soon for the next part of her adventure – we both look forward to seeing you there!
CHRISTY GRACE