Review - The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison

 

The Grief of Stones is a sequel to The Witness for the Dead, and the third book set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor.

I don't think you need to read The Goblin Emperor to understand The Witness for the Dead (but you should read it anyway) as it largely stands alone.

Thara Celehar - who was a minor character in The Goblin Emperor - takes centre stage in these novels.

He's a Witness for the Dead in the city of  Amalo, which means basically people come to him when someone has recently died to try and solve particular mysteries.

In some cases, it's how they died, or if they were murdered. In others, it's to find out things like where the money is hidden - or the scone recipe. Celehar takes all the cases on their merits, and gives them the same care and consideration.

When a Marquise is found to have been poisoned, Celehar finds himself entangled with a school for orphaned girls - and a terrible, terrible cover-up. 

In Witness for the Dead, Celehar is largely insular and guarded, having come through the horrific trauma of watching the man he loved be executed for murder. While that still haunts him in The Grief of Stones, he also finds his circle widening with friends, colleagues - and possibly even a new romance. 

The series is called The Cemeteries of Amalo, and somehow they blend fantasy, a little bit of steampunk and mystery in a very compelling and readable way.

Also, there are cats, so I'm naturally biased.

Sunday Post 19; It's Monday, What are you reading?

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/07/sunday-post-586.html and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see .... how was my week?

Work was a thing I went to in order to get paid so I can then pay bills, so that happened.

We won at quiz on Wednesday night, which was nice (winning is always nice).

I had Thursday off, so parked up for most of the day to do some stitching and reading. I'm working on a small gift for a workmate, and I started The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison, which I finished today.

Spawn and I started Good Omens 2 on Friday night, and we'll probably finish that tonight.

Yesterday I went to my friend's as usual, and also did some reading. I'm not usually a listener of classical music, but the house was so quiet while I was reading (spawn was at a friend's and husband was sleeping), I searched for a classical music reading list on Spotify. And I didn't really know a lot of the music on the playlist, but it was nice to listen to while I was reading. 

Today I've been playing Mum's taxi, and doing some stitching and reading in-between. One of these days I'll do a post on what I'm working on, but I need to take some photos so today is not that day. 

I also went to the library and, even though I already have a pile of library books, I walked out with more. I'm not 100% on what I'll start next - probably Carpe Jugulum by Mr Sir Terry Pratchett. 

I ended up parking The Merlin Conspiracy for a bit - I like the premise, but it wasn't quite what I wanted. I also tried Murder She Knit but got bored about 50 pages in. It's the first in a cosy mystery series, and I was lured by the cat on the front, but found it repetitive, so I stopped. I'm too old to finish books I'm not enjoying.

The Grief of Stones is a direct sequel to Witness for the Dead, and both books are set in the same universe as The Goblin Emperor. Which is also great.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading? 

Reviews - The Seven Ancient Wonders; I Like Me Better

 

The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly is the first novel in the Jack West series. West is an Australian ex-military super-hero - er, soldier.

He's formed a team of elite specialists (including, as always in these teams, one Toke Woman) to locate the Capstone from the Great Pyramid in order to complete a ritual and avoid the end of the world.

Something, something .... stuff blows up.

I did enjoy reading The Seven Ancient Wonders. It has action! Found family! Lots of unnecessary exclamation points! Did I say action! 

I mean  - I was entertained. It's one of those books that you can read 100 pages without blinking because it's easier to just - keep reading.

I Like Me Better by Robby Weber is super-cute. It's an M/M YA and it's basically a romcom. 

Soccer is Zack Martin's life. He's lining up to become captain now that the previous captain is off to college after the summer. However, when Zack takes the fall for a REALLY stupid prank by the previous captain, his whole summer is thrown into a tailspin.

He ends up doing Community Service at the Marine centre, where he meets Chip, who is not only extremely cute, but also the previous captain's cousin. 

Many, many shenanigans ensue.

I Like Me Better was extremely enjoyable. Warm-hearted, fun and pure escapism.

Sunday Post 18; It's Monday! What are you reading? 18

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it was cold last week, I know that much! 

We came second at quiz on Wednesday night. It's always nice to place.

I went to the Barbie movie on Friday night with a group from work, and greatly enjoyed it. It was VERY entertaining.

Saturday I took my car for a warrant of fitness. Which it failed. I'm waiting for the invoice, but I know it's going to be bad. Also - waiting and people watching - customer service really is the same wherever you go.

One customer was told over the phone that the wrong part had arrived for his vehicle. Not that the mechanic had ORDERED the wrong part, but that the wrong part had been delivered. Then the receptionist told the mechanic that the customer was coming in and he wasn't happy about the part, and about something else that they'd told him, so he wanted to take photos.

Being Saturday morning, the workshop was - naturally - busy. As I was paying (just for the warrant, not for ALL OF THE THINGS wrong with my car) another woman asked why someone else's car was taken when hers was ahead in the line, as they were in a hurry and had to leave to travel. It was because - according to the receptionist - that the other car would be quicker. There were TWO LINES of cars!
If you're planning a trip on Saturday, don't warrant your car the same day!

Ahem.

I spent part of Saturday reading, and also playing Strange Horticulture: https://www.strangehorticulture.com/ which is fun, and also relaxing. I've played it before, and really enjoy it.

I went to my friend's on Saturday night as usual, and parked up today after doing some housework stuff and watched some House and a movie while doing some stitching. Now here I am. :)

I finished The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly, and also I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, which was very cute. 

I decided to read something from my own shelves, and picked up The Merlin Conspiracy by Dianne Wynne Jones, which I've never read. 

How's your week? What are you reading?

Sunday Post 17; It's Monday! What are you reading? 17

 

The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

Let's see ... it's winter here, and the weather certainly showed up for that this week - wind, rain, cold. I don't mind that kind of weather - as long as I'm not out in it.

Work was okay, and it was a public holiday here on Friday, to celebrate Matariki - the Maori New Year: https://teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-new-year It's a relatively recent addition to New Zealand's public holidays, but it's a nice one to celebrate, I think.

We won at quiz on Wednesday, after a string of seconds and one non-placement thanks to losing a tiebreaker. 

On Friday night, spawn, myself and a friend of mine went to a local production of Jersey Boys, a musical about the life of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It was great, and spawn discovered some new-to-him music.

Saturday I didn't do much. Went to the library, and to my friend's place. Did some reading and stitching, and lather-rinse-repeat for today. I also watched a movie today (Red Notice) and conquered Mt Washmore.

I finished Return of the King, and my bedtime reading currently is I Like Me Better by Robby Weber, an LGBT+ romcom. So far so good.

I'm also still reading The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly, which is still very entertaining.

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?

Reviews - Survive the Night by Riley Sager; The Sandman Volume 2

 

Survive the Night by Riley Sager. OR: Bad Decisions to Drive the Plot.

*Sigh* First, I do have to say, it's well-written, and it's a fast read, so I did finish it.

OTHER THAN THAT.

Survive the Night is based on a deeply flawed premise. Which is that a young woman would agree to rideshare across country with a man she has never met. 

At night. 

Anyway. Charlie - a film major who sees "movies in her mind" (hallucinations) is set to drop out of university two months after her best friend is murdered by a serial killer. Charlie's last interaction with her best friend - a Manic Pixie Dream Girl character - was an argument, and Charlie feels guilty.

So she puts  a sign up on the university's rideshare board, and ends up agreeing to share the ride with Josh - an older and slightly ~mysterious man. He then says they need to leave at 9pm and instead of saying ABSOLUTELY NOT, Charlie agrees.

And so. It begins. Josh gets caught out in certain lies, and messes with Charlie's perception of time, thanks to her telling him about her hallucinations. It's not long before Charlie begins to suspect that Josh is the Campus Killer - the serial killer that took the life of her best friend.

I just. The book is based on SUCH a flawed premise. Which is that a young woman would be WILLING TO GET INTO  A STRANGER'S CAR, then DRIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

Anyway. Like I said, I finished it because the writing style was decent, and the action kept the stupid plot moving along. 

I picked the first "twist" fairly early on, and as for the second one .... the payoff was not worth it.

The Sandman Volume 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman. 

It's been a while since I read Preludes and Nocturnes, but it didn't really matter. The Doll's House focuses in more on Rose - the Dream Vortex who has the ability to change the dreamscape.

(I may conflate this with the Sandman TV series which I watched first).

Rose and her mother travel to England to meet Unity Kincaid, who they find out is Rose's grandmother. Rose then travels to the United States to try and find her younger brother, Jed who is trapped in an abusive foster home, and is also being tormented in his dreams.

Meanwhile the serial killer and escaped nightmare The Corinthian happens upon a "Cereal Killer" convention.

I really enjoyed this one - moreso than Preludes. This feels more like escapism in its truest sense, as Dream navigates both the Endless and the mortal world and tries to work out what to do about Rose. It feels like the universe is building on itself with each book, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Sunday Post 16; It's Monday! What are you reading? 16

 
The Sunday Post - a chance for bloggers to have a chat and a catch-up - is hosted by Kimberly, here: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/ and It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Kathryn, here: https://thebookdate.wordpress.com/

I had last week off, so did a fair amount of reading and stitching. I also binged season 8 of CSI: NY. I've been bingeing my favourite procedurals for a while. I started with the original CSI and Criminal Minds, and now I just have one season of CSI: NY left. Whether I then move on to CSI: Miami or just re-watch Criminal Minds, who can say.

Anyway. It's school holidays currently - Spawn had last week off, and also has this week. I took last week off but I'm heading back to the salt mines tomorrow. He'd fallen behind on one of his classes, and the teacher was at the school last week to help students catch up. It wasn't a popular decision, but I made him go anyway, and he actually found it helpful. 

We didn't place at quiz on Wednesday for the first time in a really long time, which I always take hard because I'm extremely competitive. Ah, well. There's always next time.

Friday I took spawn to the dentist for the second of his 3 root canal procedures. It went well, but his face has swollen a bit over the past couple of days, so I'm going to call them tomorrow. He's not in a lot of pain, which can be managed with painkillers, but I suspect he might need some antibiotics.

I've also managed to do a couple of things on my 52 list (which still doesn't have 52 things on it). One of the things I wanted to do was learn beading, and I found a tutorial in one of my cross-stitch magazines. That turned out to be pretty easy, so I'm happy about that.

I tried a new-to-me recipe which failed badly. I had some cabbage to use up, so decided to try sauteeing it, which I've never actually done before. Sadly, it tasted like the overboiled cabbage I grew up with.

I also made a seed cake - I got Recipes from the World of Tolkien by Robert Tuesley Anderson for my birthday, and has a seed cake recipe in it, inspired by The Hobbit. I haven't tried it yet, but it smells pretty good.

I'm still reading Return of the King, but should finish it this week.

I also read Survive The Night by Riley Sager, and The Sandman: Volume 2 by Neil Gaiman. I enjoyed one of these much more than the other. 

I also started The Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly which is very ACTION! CONSPIRACY! ACTION! and reads a little bit like a 15 year old boy's wish fulfilment, but I am entertained. I do like to be entertained. 

How about you? How's your week? What are you reading?