The national government was like the brain of a dinosaur: an insignificant mass of neurons inside a gigantic body.
It was pretty great. I was almost suThe national government was like the brain of a dinosaur: an insignificant mass of neurons inside a gigantic body.
It was pretty great. I was almost surprised how much information can be stuffed in such a short book. I'll definitely read more from Lawrence Friedman in the future. And if you are looking for a book that gives you an overview of the evolution of the American Law, definitely pick up this one!
The most memorable information from this book? That you can import an ostrich under 36 inches in height or/and 30 pounds in weight without having it inspected by a veterinarian.
Though, I have to take one star down because I fell asleep while reading the part about marriage....more
Okay, I better be honest now. I was thrilled when the authors announced these snippets. But with every new bonus snippet, I'm more and more discourageOkay, I better be honest now. I was thrilled when the authors announced these snippets. But with every new bonus snippet, I'm more and more discouraged. I loved the Beyond series, but I sadly think it's time to let it go. If there are some longer novellas published, I'll probably read those, but I'm not reading these anymore....more
It's absolutely fascinating how much her life is similar to mine! I can relate to most of the things. At first, I found it a bit creepy but right now It's absolutely fascinating how much her life is similar to mine! I can relate to most of the things. At first, I found it a bit creepy but right now I take it as a sign that I am not completely insane! Or we all are?
EDIT: So, I could not really sleep and re-read it, and I suddenly realized that there is no "theme" to this book. Just randomly chosen cartoons. There is nothing really connecting them. I thought there would be way more cartoons about cats or even dogs. Also, I think I'm going to have to check the previous two books, but I think that several cartoons were used repeatedly.
Yeah, well, it took me some time to finally and officially finished cause I stopped reading for couple months.
Anyway, before I get into it, I have toYeah, well, it took me some time to finally and officially finished cause I stopped reading for couple months.
Anyway, before I get into it, I have to say that I did enjoy this, just to make that clear. Because sometimes I feel like I have more to say about the aspects which were not great in my opinion and I forget to speak about the things that I actually enjoyed.
I've always enjoyed geography, and always stared at maps for way too long. The only game I use on my phone is a geography game when it gives you country/city in the world and you have to locate it on a blind map. So, of course this book was something I had to buy. However, I have to say that I would appreciate if the book worked more with the maps it included. And I wanted more maps. It often felt like the maps were just slapped into the book and rarely worked with. I would love this to use old maps of first settlement and compare them with the current one. To SHOW how geography influenced the evolution of the area rather than just TALK about it.
That would be really awesome; however, I can understand that it may have not been possible in a book which has some odd 300 pages. Maybe an extended version? Or separated into several books?
I'll have to edit this review later on, cause I marked several quotes from the book I wanted to add here; however, I already lend the book to a friend. So, later.
I really liked the separation of the book; however, I would enjoy if it was more... logical in a way? It went from Russia to China than the USA, then Europe and then in a couple of chapters it went back to Pakistan and India and later to Korea and Japan and then it jumped to Latin America again. I believe that the flow would be better if there were more sense and order in how the chapters followed each other. The three chapters which were probably the best were Russia, China and the USA. Can you see a pattern there? All were chapters focusing only on one country, not a whole continent. But at the same time, I will say that the one which I enjoyed the most was Africa, which deserved more pages because it felt rushed and somewhat oversimplified.
And with finishing reading the chapter on Africa I also realised another issue. The author had a tendency to introduce ideas he did not mention until then. Which is a shame because those seemed to be the most interesting thoughts.
What I do not understand why there was a chapter on Western Europe which spend like two or three pages on the topic of Greece. Either it should have been Europe chapter or European Union chapter. Probably the former.
Also, where is Australia and New Zealand? Is one chapter missing? The author did acknowledge that he did not write on Australia or Canada and Indonesia. However, I have to say I do not feel like the book reached its limit. 300 pages is not that many and the glaring lack of the whole continent is just strange.
Okay, someone titled this book wrong. It should be "Bound by Aria's stupidity".
Where I was a bit okay with Aria being dumb in the first book since shOkay, someone titled this book wrong. It should be "Bound by Aria's stupidity".
Where I was a bit okay with Aria being dumb in the first book since she was still young and was sheltered all her life, here it was a tad too annoying. Scratch the "tad", it's unbelievable how stupid someone can be.
But let's start from the beginning.
Blurb: When Aria betrays Luca by going behind his back for her family When I read this I was disappointed because all I wanted to say was "again?" First for Gianna and then for Lily, and now again, the girl never learns her lesson.
Actually reading the book: I was surprised (and not pleasantly) to find that the majority of the book was only books 2,3,4 and 5 from Aria's or Luca's POV. I would say 3/5 of this book was a repetition of the series. Then we finally get some new content. (view spoiler)[And Aria again goes behind Luca's back for her family! How dumb this girl is? Seriously, how was she able to think that her plan was a good one! And she gets alive out of it. She just hopped on a plane, went to Chicago and expected to somehow snatch her brother and bring him to New York! I repeat, how dumb this girl is? And she's surprised that Luca is mad. And then the story moves and Luca is a bad guy in the situation? NO! Come on, if he is supposed to be the Capo, he cannot have a wife that goes into the enemy territory and repeatedly goes behind his back, and in the process, she steals money from the Famiglia. She should be dead for it! (hide spoiler)]
This is my main problem. And I will repeat it; Aria is dumb!
Luca spends so much time repeating that he cannot be soft and that no one can see his weakness. But then he goes and acts like a fool just because Aria makes puppy eyes. (view spoiler)[Like when Fabiano contacts them as an Enforcer for Camorra and asks for a meeting. And for some reason, Luca takes Aria with him... WHY?! (hide spoiler)]
As for Fabian, I'm actually interested in his story, so, I may give it a shot. Mainly because I hope he kills their father. (view spoiler)[However, I do not like Fabiano. Is he as dumb as Aria or what? He blames them for the way their father treated him. As if that idiot treated his daughters any better. And if I remember correctly, they offered him to go with them. He decided to stay in Chicago! (hide spoiler)]
Also, I'm interested in Remo Falcone; he seemed like the devil Luca was supposed to be. But let's see. (view spoiler)[However, the book here makes no sense at all. Remo comes and asks Luca not to interfere when he takes over the Camorra. And he sort of hints that maybe in the future that could be allies. But suddenly a couple of years forward they are not on friendly terms, definitely closer to the war than not. WHY?! (Okay, I guess this might be because I did not read book 5 in this series. But if I consider how much was repeated in this book, I don't get why this was not. (hide spoiler)]
As for Dante, I was never his fan but now? Probably even less. (view spoiler)[ I don't know what his plan was, but from where I stand it seems like when he found out Aria was pregnant he did not felt like personally using (okay, I should have said hurting, he definitely used her!) a pregnant woman. However, he sends her back to Luca and makes sure he gets pictures that look as if she cheated on Luca with Dante, with his enemy! And if you consider that Dante sees Luca as a monster, then I would say that Dante was hoping that Luca would snap and hurt Aria that much that she would miscarry or he would kill her and the baby as well. That much for not hurting women, especially a pregnant one. Anyone... I still don't get how anyone even for a moment could have thought that Aria has an affair with Dante like when? How? One would think that Luca would notice if his wife was going to Chicago from time to time without him... (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[In the end, Aria and Luca have two kids that no one knows about and Luca is trying to keep them hidden from the world. And I'm asking for how long? How do they think this will work? The son is Luca's heir, for how long is he going to hide him? (hide spoiler)]...more
I’d hoped I could marry for love now that my sisters had already been married off for tactical reasons.
“Gianna and I married for political reasons. W I’d hoped I could marry for love now that my sisters had already been married off for tactical reasons.
“Gianna and I married for political reasons. Why should Lily not be allowed to marry someone she wants?”
And I'm done with this series. I cannot take this any longer. How come that everyone suddenly turned so stupid? Like with the hope she'll be able to marry for love. Who could have even thought that after reading more than a page about their father? They all say how cruel he is and then they hope he'll be nice? Come on! And the huge love story that started back then when Lily fell from Romero when she was like 14- years-old or whatever? Nope, there was nothing between them, felt forced and stupid.
“Mother told me to be happy shortly before she died. And Romero makes me happy. I want to be with him.”
I thought that Gianna was dumb, but Lily takes the cake. This is just completely ridiculous. Luca actually won the Scuderi lottery. He got the only Scuderi girl that is not absolutely annoying and does not act on pure emotions. (view spoiler)[Except for some dumb decisions like helping Gianna run and then hiding Lily's secret. (hide spoiler)]
I went against his direct orders after all. That’s still a crime.”
Yes! He went against his boss, against direct orders. And after three books where Luca was painted as monster etc. he should have just put a bullet in his head and shipped Lily off to her father. This makes no sense. Same with "I won't go to war with Outfit because of this" and then suddenly "Fine, the war is happening no matter what."
Also, there are a lot of inconsistencies. Like the girl, Rocco (view spoiler)[ is going to marry (hide spoiler)] goes from being named Ramona to Maria. That's just sloppy.
So no, this series is so OVER for me. Nothing makes sense, and the characters just get more annoying with each other book in the series....more
Okay, I'm again torn how to rate this one. I still think that the one about Aria and Luca was probably the best one. This one was slightly better thanOkay, I'm again torn how to rate this one. I still think that the one about Aria and Luca was probably the best one. This one was slightly better than the one about Valentina and Dante but still... Not really sure how to rate it. My main problem is that I cannot stand Gianna. In the previous books, I hated Rocco, their father and he was painted in this one especially bad. But you know what? I did not care. I simply cannot stand Gianna to that point that I would not care if they did something far worse to her. She just has to insist on being on a high horse, showing how she doesn't care and want something different and yet to just complain again about something else. I like Matteo but his obsession with Gianna is absolutely senseless, and after talking how much Luca needs to keep his face Matteo just goes around almost doing his best to make Luca seem weak. Same with Aria, she may love Gianna, but I don't think she would really help her escape. That had potential to end really bad, and I don't think she would really risk that. Especially since Luca would be the one who would have been hurt by that.
So, I don't know how to rate this one because I rate the first one 3* and the second 2* and this one is just somewhere in the middle. Goodreads need to introduce half stars....more
I don't really know about this one. At the beginning I did not really like it and thought that it was worse than the first book then it seemed maybe aI don't really know about this one. At the beginning I did not really like it and thought that it was worse than the first book then it seemed maybe a bit better. What I liked more was that we got to see more of the mafia business. But in regards to their relationship, I did not like it all. It did not seem real at all, it was forced and really laughable to read about. Both of them acted very stupidly in unnecessary situations.
And to be honest Aria is supposed to be the timid one and Valentine even describes herself (several times) as a strong woman, but then you can see her as the one really bowing down to her husband and doing what's asked of her. It's one of the tropes I dislike. A heroine saying how strong and independent she is but then she acts nothing like that....more
“Didn’t you pledge to do no harm?” “I lied. Shocking.”
I'm no“Welcome to Chicago, the rats die first.”
So, here I am. Again in love with the Callahans.
“Didn’t you pledge to do no harm?” “I lied. Shocking.”
I'm not exactly a fan of spin-off series or adding to a finished series. And with the Children of Vice, it seemed to me that the series lost its spark. I rated it pretty low. Then Dona's book was better, and I could not wait for Wyatt's book, and even though I do not like everything about it, the Callahans are back, and they are back with a vengeance.
"Says who? Disney?"
There was not much of Dona in COR but I'm still looking forward to her book.
J.J.McAvoy is a master of unexpected and WTF moments.
I love Wyatt and how violent he is and that he does not really care. It brings the good memories of Melody&Liam burning the world to the ground.
I do not really like the couple, though I'm not as much against it as I was in the previous book when the idea was suggested. However, Helen proved much more capable than I thought she was so I think I can live with that.
I loved the whole book because it went from crazy to mindblowing and back to crazy. It did not stop, and no one was pulling any punches, all in.
The end really left me speechless. (view spoiler)[Okay, it seems sort of cheezy, which he was not braindead but you know what? I'm not even angry about it. (hide spoiler)]
I just want for Wyatt and Ethan to go full brothers. To have a lot of brotherly moments.
Also, love the dynamics between Thing 1 and Thing 2 aka Darcy and Sedric.
Why Ivy? Ethan could replace a wife, but a sibling is impossible-
I really like that Ivy is gone and that apparently no one really liked her either.
“It is fair.” “What?” “She was murdered. So it’s fair. Her weakness got her killed.”
I love, love the epilogue and I want to know what is going to happen in the next book. And I can see Ethan's expression at Gigi, that had to be priceless. And I got a feeling that Wyatt will be angry that he did not take a picture of that. And you know what I'm looking forward to? The moment Ethan has to say no to Gigi.
(view spoiler)[I loved Melody's reaction when she thought Wyatt is dead. And I want to know what is going to happen next. (hide spoiler)]
Also, I would like to see the one brave person who is going to break the news to Dona. All of the news. I think she'll go full Melody and just shoot the Messenger. If it's someone from the family I think she'll just shoot at the Messenger. :D
My little problem with, probably, the whole series is that there are some problems in the timeline. Especially in regards to the ages. Once it says that something happened when they were 14 then 16 etc. There should be more proofreading in regards to that. It's really annoying for people who pay attention to that. I had to stop reading several times and go back to previous books and check if I'm mistaken or not....more
Yeah, this is cute and everything and does not reveal much of anything.
(view spoiler)[Except, is there another child like the one Kora and Ashwin wilYeah, this is cute and everything and does not reveal much of anything.
(view spoiler)[Except, is there another child like the one Kora and Ashwin will have? Since it's mentioned here, I would not be surprised. Maybe one of the Riders? But I would be shocked if it was someone who was not yet on the pages. (hide spoiler)]...more
Honestly, when the authors announced these little snippets, I was actually really happy about it. But now? Not so much. This one is the fourth one, anHonestly, when the authors announced these little snippets, I was actually really happy about it. But now? Not so much. This one is the fourth one, and I think that I actually liked only one of them. And this one was probably the worst so far. I just could not stop thinking how ridiculous this was. ...more
I'm sorry, these two never really worked for me. I especially never liked Jeny. She was an okay side character that just sometimes appeared but she isI'm sorry, these two never really worked for me. I especially never liked Jeny. She was an okay side character that just sometimes appeared but she is not a good main character. So, unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one. ...more
I liked this one a bit more than the Creative Incentives. Probably because we got more of a story from this one, it felt like it was actually adding sI liked this one a bit more than the Creative Incentives. Probably because we got more of a story from this one, it felt like it was actually adding something to the story, to the storyline of the couple. And Jas and Noelle still remain my favourite couple from this series. I hope that the author will write another short story on them. ...more
It's a nice gesture on the authors' side that they still write there short stories for people to revisit their favourite heroes and heroines from the It's a nice gesture on the authors' side that they still write there short stories for people to revisit their favourite heroes and heroines from the Beyond series. However, I found this one to be way too short to be really enjoyable. Though, it was nice to be back in Sector Four....more
Good girls are Christians. Bad girls are Christian's.
I see what you did there!
Well, I don't think that this book is something amazing for a native speaGood girls are Christians. Bad girls are Christian's.
I see what you did there!
Well, I don't think that this book is something amazing for a native speaker of English. But since English is my third language, I think it gave me a lot! I sort of wish we had this in high school.
It certainly showed me a lot of things I did wrong and also things I never heard about. (Preposition at the end of a sentence... I know, I know.) What is the split infinitive? And some things I do, and I know that I should not. But I really love 'Tautology.'
I added a couple of bookmarks, definitely going to review some of the issues again....more
“And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubli“And many prefer not to exercise their imaginations at all. They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are. They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages; they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally; they can refuse to know.”
I can tell you right now that this is the only graduation speech I will ever read. Unless J.K.Rowling will have another one then I would read that one as well.
“I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiration date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.” ...more
I'm a way too big of a fan of Edgar Allan Poe to rate it differently.
Out—out are the lights—out all! And, over each quivering form, The curtain, a fI'm a way too big of a fan of Edgar Allan Poe to rate it differently.
Out—out are the lights—out all! And, over each quivering form, The curtain, a funeral pall, Comes down with the rush of a storm, While the angels, all pallid and wan, Uprising, unveiling, affirm That the play is the tragedy, “Man,” And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.
But even I have to say that there are some of his poem that I do not particularly like, such as Al Aaraaf and The Bells.
However, my all-time favourite remains unchanged. You cannot do better than The Raven.
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted—nevermore!...more
“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay “There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
Ray Bradbury did it. He presented a world where the population is completely controlled. And it was such a simple decision. Burn! The most frightening thing is that I could see glimpses of our society in Fahrenheit 451. And I thought about it. Are we slowly inching towards Bradbury's world? I was left breathless by this little novel. Reaching always for another page. Feeling strange pain in my heart for those characters completely swallowed by the simple entertainment. This novel is full of quotes I want to share and never to forget and for everyone to hear them.
“But you can't make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them. It can't last.”
“We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”
“Oh God, the terrible tyranny of the majority. We all have our harps to play. And it's up to you to know with which ear you'll listen.”
“And when he died, I suddenly realized I wasn’t crying for him at all, but for the things he did. I cried because he would never do them again, he would never carve another piece of wood or help us raise doves and pigeons in the backyard or play the violin the way he did, or tell us jokes the way he did. He was part of us and when he died, all the actions stopped dead and there was no one to do them the way he did. He was individual. He was an important man. I’ve never gotten over his death. Often I think what wonderful carvings never came to birth because he died. How many jokes are missing from the world, and how many homing pigeons untouched by his hands? He shaped the world. He did things to the world. The world was bankrupted of ten million fine actions the night he passed on.” ...more
Okay, after seeing a bazillion of raving reviews for this one (and the sequel) I caved.
[image]
This would be an easy answer. The more complicated and Okay, after seeing a bazillion of raving reviews for this one (and the sequel) I caved.
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This would be an easy answer. The more complicated and the true one is that I like it BUT.
So, let's have a look at the but. (No typo here 😊) And a fair warning might be a bit spoilerish.
- The first thing I have to say is that this might be a bit of my fault because through seeing a bazillion of reviews I did not manage to hide from some spoilers. So, I knew a bit what to expect.
- A thing I was dying to say: their school/lessons/lectures/whateveryouwanttocallit make no sense! Hear me out. It is for the Gentry children, but Jude and Taryn get to go as well. Supposedly Vivi should be there as well. And here is the first thing, is it mandatory? Or is it not? Because it seems like no one really cares if the kids are there. Vivi does not go. Taryn skipped classes once. Jude skipped them as well. Valerian skipped them. The teachers do not really pay attention to what's happening in their classes. They even change the topic of the classes when a Prince does not like it. Come on, I would guess that the King was the one who formed this "school" and the teachers should answer to him and not to the whims of his youngest son. I don't have a problem with the bullying (being in the book not that I think it's a normal thing. It's not). But I have a huge problem with the fact that it once took place in a class where the teacher clearly saw it and did nothing. Probably beside leaving. Like, what the...? All the kids in these class are somehow important. Their parents clearly are. And even if a Prince were to truly hurt a Generals daughter, there would be consequences. Maybe not for said Prince but I would bet that the tutor would be the one to face the consequences. It makes no sense! If they did all of it out of classes then okay but like this? Do not tell me that none of the kids talked about what they did to the General's daughter. And that none of their parents thought: "The young Prince has NO power, but the General is connected to the future King! Well, there is something to gain in telling him that his daughter is being mistreated."
- Am I the only one who got a massive City of Bones feel at the beginning? You know the whole (view spoiler)[ Jude's mum, and Jocelyn both faked their death by setting their houses on fire and then hid away for years. With their husband's child. Until said husband found them. (hide spoiler)]
- So, of course, I have to talk about the HYPE. Do I think it deserves the hype? Maybe. Did I succumb to the hype? Not yet. Not yet? Yes. And here's why. The beginning of the Cruel Prince was a bit slow. Somehow cliché. Only around the half, it started to really move. However, if the second book will follow in the same manner as the second half of the Cruel Prince than you can bet that I will sign on the dotted line for the Hype.
So, enough for the but and let's move on.
- And of course, I have to talk about Cardan's tail! 🐩 I'm sorry, I cannot help myself. I have so many questions. Like does he wiggle his tail when he's happy? When he kisses someone? Sleeps with someone? And when he's afraid does he tuck his tail between his leg? (No double meaning here! 🤣) I'm so sorry, but I just need to know more about his tail!
- I'm sort of conflicted about Jude. I like her. Like half of her. I like the bloodthirsty side of her, the one that wants revenge and wants power and is very good at scheming! The Slytherin part of her. 🐍 However, I do not like that part of her that is impulsive good-doer.
I am an idiot. An impulsive idiot. 🦁
- I do not like Taryn. Not because she is a (view spoiler)[backstabber who thinks only about herself (hide spoiler)] But because she is no good at it. Because she will get herself hurt very bad with this approach and then she is going to blame others for it. But I'm willing to bet on one thing; she will have a moment before this book ends: (view spoiler)[She held the crown, she had the power. If she went and gave the crown to Balekin, she could have possible gain something. However, she let Jude take it from her and Jude is still angry so Taryn will be getting nothing. Taryn will be angry; she will believe she deserves a reward and then she'll do something stupid to backstab Jude. (hide spoiler)]
- And since I went down the road, talking about both twins. Now is the time to have a look at Locke. And you may be surprised what I'm going to tell you. I liked him. I want more of him. I'm not mad at him for what he did. Because no matter what for that particular play, he needed someone to dance with him. He had no obligation to anyone. No one should have expected better of him. And honestly, he even gave a fair warning at the beginning! He likes drama; if there is none he will create it! But all of it was based only on one thing. Taryn's silence. I hope there will be more of his schemes in the next books. And honestly? He might be a fabulous member of the Court of Shadows.
- And when I'm talking about twins who are not at the best terms together I have to wonder. The Ghost mistook them for each other. I say that he is a terrible spy! Come one, he knows about the fact that Jude has a twin. He saw Jude previously. He knows what she's wearing. Don't tell me that that it was a stressful situation! He should have been aware of the fact that it was Taryn and not Jude! However, that brings me to the next thing. Are we going to see one of the twins pretending to be the other? Will Taryn get her revenge by pretending that she's Jude?
“You’re scheming.” I am so tired of her suspicion, so very tired. “You always think that,” I say. “It’s just that for once you’re right.” Leaving her to worry what that might mean.
- I knew it was not all. I'm actually surprised that Jude was able to best Madoc. (view spoiler)[I would expect that King's General would be taking poisons to built up his resistance. But it seems that he did not do it, otherwise he would consider Jude and Taryn doing the same if it would give them a fighting chance. But I'm still surprised that a General would not be trying his best to be resistant to anything and everything! (hide spoiler)]
What I liked the most is the fact that the book is full of pain. There is no holding back. There is torture. They try to kill Jude. Jude purposely hurts herself to make herself stronger. It is full of stabbing, killing, murder, torture, more backstabbing and treason. There is murder by treason, and there is treason by murder. This book is a very Slytherin kind of a book. And I really hope that it won't change in the next book. I need more Slytherin books! I love stabbity stab kind of books!
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