RaveThe Nerd Daily... a beautiful book that reminds us of the presence of extraordinary people that history has forgotten ... I found Her Hidden Genius to be very interesting in balancing these [political] outside expectations to internal drive to know and learn and share. It is not possible to do that without a good support system and I loved the people that Rosalind surrounded herself with ... I am so happy to have read about these wonderful women who had a role to play in shaping the world we live in.
S.J. Sindu
RaveThe Nerd Daily... a thought-provoking book about faith and belief, the lengths that we go to, and the reasons we use to justify our actions that control someone who does not know any better. This was a hard read for me at times and I encourage you to check the content notes before reading the book. If you have travelled to or lived in India or any place where Hinduism is practiced, like Sri Lanka, your prior knowledge will come in very handy ... Blue-Skinned Gods does an amazing job at depicting the tension between belief and truth ... I also enjoyed the modern touch that the book has when Kalki travels to North America; it gives a good contrast to his rural upbringing in India. This will likely make the book more accessible to Western audiences ... I enjoyed the twists and origin story of the young boy. It made me face my own presumptions and marvel at how reading about a culture moulds the people I imagine in my head ... a beautifully written book that made me ponder the world I live in. It is rich in Hindu culture, exposing not just its positive sides, but also its negative. I really liked the balance of information and how the main character, Kalki, questioned things as he grew older.
Claire North
PositiveThe Nerd DailyThere are three things that have stuck with me since I finished this book ... The political landscape and struggles set up in Notes from the Burning Age is fascinating to observe, and the interplay between Ven and Georg is very well written ... The world building was vivid and detailed and since it is a post-apocalyptic scenario, there were times when I found the writing quite atmospheric. The lack of particulars over the course of time over which these events took place added an additional suspenseful element to the story. Sometimes I found the book hard to follow because it is ingrained in ideology, often conflicting sides of it. At the same time, it is a thoughtful read that made me question my reality and how the same can be viewed with multiple lenses and have polar interpretations ... There is no doubt that Claire North is an exceptional writer with a brilliant imagination and eloquent storytelling. If you are looking for a unique fantasy with an espionage driven plot and descriptive writing, pick up this one!
E.J. Beaton
RaveThe Nerd DailyThe Councillor is an exceptional book. It was not just my connection to the protagonist that kept me immersed in this story, but the world and culture depicted by Beaton is breathtaking as it drew me in and I never wanted to leave ... The Councillor was the perfect read for me because it was focused and precise ... I loved The Councillor and it is a book I will always cherish. I am excited to read the second part of the duology and can’t wait to add this book to my home library collection. These 500 pages are packed with action, memorable characters and plot twists, that you will love. Every chapter helped me build a better picture of the world and become more immersed. The pace never faltered, and I had so many emotions, like sadness, disappointment, astonishment, respect, betrayal… I could go on. Most importantly, if you are someone who loves books and seeks knowledge, The Councillor will give you a glimpse of the influence scholars can have on the world. I personally think we need more stories like this one.
Julie Carrick Dalton
PositiveThe Nerd Daily... beautiful ... touches on many complex themes. I love how they were all interwoven together in the story ... balances the nuances of living under the fear that the truth will come out while at the same time wanting to have the courage that will set the truth free so that everyone can move forward ... an engaging read. The cover is absolutely breathtaking, the pace is a good one, and the issues are timely, set in the backdrop of the haunting present ... The diverse characters were an asset to the story, bringing in perspectives that aren’t always part of fiction.
Jonathan Maberry
PositiveThe Nerd Daily... fascinating ... I have read a couple of books about memories and loss of memories, and it was this unique element of someone stealing memories that drew me to this book. I am happy to say that it did not disappoint though it was much darker than I had expected ... a well written story that kept me guessing at a number of aspects of the storyline ... The kind of twisted mind that would explore and exploit these powers and take pleasure in reliving memories is well portrayed by the book. He was so well written that I hated him with a passion ... an engaging read. It took a while to get into it because of the sheer number of perspectives ... spooky in its own unique manner and portrays the importance of memories and how the supernatural is integrated into our world in an interesting way.
Rob Hart
PositiveThe Nerd DailyIt is the only book I have read in the dystopian genre so far that I can confidently say is likely to happen ... Rob Hart’s book is a deep study of the drive and choices that led to this future, the effects on the people of the world, and the comfort that it provides ... I really enjoyed this book. It was seasoned with commentary on a number of issues that we face today – the access to guns in America, the reliability on delivery systems like Amazon (not yet drone operated but that’s in the works), green energy, the business versus the government model, law and order, and waste management ... I love books that offer more food for thought. The Warehouse truly led me down that lane and I am grateful for that. It is always a pleasure to challenge preconceived notions and get new insights.
