Book Review - Doctor Who - The Stone Rose by Jacqueline Rayner

 

Books read in 2021 - No.1

Hello fellow readers!

Have finished my first book of 2021, a light Doctor Who adventure romp which was really good.  This is the second Jacqueline Rayner book in the set of ten.  The first was Winner Takes All which was an ok read and I gave it an above average 6/10.

The Stone Rose is the first in the set to feature the Tenth Doctor and is alot better than Winner Takes All.  Firstly I enjoyed the setting more - ancient Rome!  I also liked how the POVs were mainly from the Doctor and Rose.  This book also featured more of the Doctor and I feel Jacqueline has a better grasp of the Tenth Doctor over the Ninth.

The pace is great and I zoomed through the first three quarters trying to solve the mystery of a statue in a museum of Rose, this leads them to ancient Rome and meeting a girl called Vanessa who may not be who she seemed! She may also be from another time.

The story is good although the reveal didn't tick all my boxes and seemed unbelievable. It involves a future AI creature. Other than that I really enjoyed it especially the Doctor in the Gladitorial Arena.  I was expecting from the title a Weeping Angel story so was surprised when it wasn't.

Overall - a better Doctor Who book from Jacqueline Rayner, plus a great start for the Tenth Doctor.  It had good pace, a good mystery and the setting was good, although there could have been more detail.  Although with the books only being 250 pages you can't always get what you wish for. (Clue to story).

Score      8/10

Reading and Writing Goals 2021 - Jan - June - First 6 Months!

 

Hey Folks!

It's a lovely Snowy day, so I thought I would do some Reading and Writing goals for this year.  Although I decided to split it into two 6 month parts.  January to June is part 1.  July to December is part 2.  This is because I haven't decided on the books for the latter part of the year.

I'm hoping to read at least 16 books in 2021 which is double what I read in 2020.  Yes a measly 8 books.

JAN/FEB

DOCTOR WHO

I thought I would ease into the year with the first 2 months dedicated to easy reading Doctor Who books.  The 4 above are the last in a 10 book box set I have.  I also have another 10 book box set of Doctor Who but will start that either at the end of 2021 or in 2022. They are quick reads and enjoyable.

MARCH/APRIL

DAVID GEMMELL - RIGANTE SERIES

This will be my first read of David Gemmells Rigante series.  Even though he is my favourite author I have only read his Drenai books so far.  I need to get on reading the rest of his work.  The only issue I have, is that I wish they were all paperback and matching. It will be my first series to read in 2021 and looking forward to it.

MAY/JUNE

TERRY PRATCHETT 

Another favourite author is Terry Pratchett and I still have loads of his books to read.  Plus loads to collect in the next few years.

It looks alot but I have already read Mort in the Death Trilogy.  So I will be reading Reaper Man and Soul Music.  Then move to Night Watch which I've heard is one of his funniest novels in Discworld. 

I will then do Part 2 in June after seeing how far I am in these books as things may change, but in July to December I want to read some Sci-fi and John Gwynne.

WRITING - JAN - JUNE

Writing  wise I just want to get back into it.  Still to finish my short story/novella The Cubby Hole.

Then by June if all goes well I want to be well into my novel Colony X.

Plus may write some other short stories too.

2021 - BOOK 1

Book Review - Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

 

Books read in 2020(ish)  -  No 8.

Hi Peeps

Well it's took 3 months to read with a couple of hundred pages spilling into 2021 but I've finally finished book 3 of the First Law Trilogy.

I'm annoyed it took so long but with job searching,  watching too much YouTube and Xmas I didn't read it as fast.  I was hoping to read 12 books in 2020. Although I have done better than previous  years. I only read 3 books in 2019!!  In 2021 my goal is to read double amount of 2020 - so 16 books!

Another reason why it took so long to read is that I didn't want to leave the First Law World and characters, which you get to know very well thanks to Joe Abercrombie's excellent writing and characterisation skills.

His characters of Glokta, Logen Ninefingers, Ferro, Dogman, Jezal and more really come to life in these books. 

In this third and final book the action and story are the main focus with the Gurkish attacking the Union, a new King being crowned, final battles in the North.  There is alot going on in the 670 pages. Including political deceit and more magic.

I'd seen reviews where reviewers had said there wasn't much story but when you look closely there is loads going on.  Again the book and style reminded me of David Gemmell yet the character work was better especially Glokta. There are not many people who can write a torture scene yet have you chuckling.

Overall   -  A great finale to what is now one of my favourite series and I will miss the characters.  Yet there are the Standalone books set in the First Law world to read and a sequel trilogy to get hold of when the final book comes out this year.

Score  -  10/10

First Law Trilogy Overall - David Gemmell is still my favourite author but Joe Abercrombie is at the moment my favourite living author after this with great prose, action and character work. More please!

First Law Trilogy Score  -  9/10

January mini Book Haul

 

Hi folks

Just a quick post, as I have been after the above book since it came out last year.

Whenever I've managed to get to a Waterstones it hasn't been in, and I needed it to complete the Empires of Dust Trilogy by Anna Smith Spark.

Everytime I looked at my bookshelf it felt like a part of me was missing!   With the last of my Xmas money I ended up buying it on Amazon Prime.

I'm sure I will enjoy it when I start it either end of this year or next year as it's a Grimdark Fantasy.

Neil x

Happy New Year - 2021 Goals

 

Hi Folks!

Hope you had a good New Year despite no pubs being open and the pandemic restrictions.

I had a great new year so far and there will be a few changes in the next few months.

I will be deleting some subscriptions from YouTube as I've been watching it too much.

This will give me extra time to job search which I will try to step up this year and hope to be in work March/April.

Also this should give me time to get writing again. I just didn't find my writing mojo in 2020.

I'm also hoping to read more books in 2021 as I read 8 books in 2020, which isn't great but better than the year before where I read just 3 books.

In 2021 I'm wanting to at least double the amount I read in 2020 so I'm looking to read 16 books.  Hopefully more.

The books will include some Terry Pratchett, Sci-fi like Alastair Reynolds and David Gemmells Rigante series.

I also hope to exercise more and eat better next year.

So what are your New Year Resolutions?

Neil x