This can be read and enjoyed without having read other books set there
355752
Set in the same world as her Queens Thief, This can be read and enjoyed without having read other books set there. I suspect that having read them might enhance the experience, but I enjoyed this one.
 Kamet is a slave, albeit a very astute one. When the story opens, hes content to manage his masters affairs, taking care of financial matters as well as riding herd on the other house slaves. When he hears his master has been poisoned, possibly by his own brother, he realizes that no matter his lack of connection to the murder, custom and law decree that he and all the other slaves must be killed as payment for the crime.
 After a soldier under cover of darkness offers him a chance to escape, he must decide whether to die or leave everything behind and hope the mysterious man can assist him in escaping the country.
 What follows is quite the chase, involving burning ships, friendly nomads, suspicious allies in seaports and a very big surprise at the end. Its a good book for teens who like fantasy adventure with some tense moments along the way. Both Kamet and his mysterious soldier are intelligent and appealing characters.
3202508
I really did know what to expect from this book  the description made it seem like several different genres would be appropriate to group it with, but with a beautifully designed cover and an intriguing premise of the one left behind in a tragedy, I started reading. The chapters here alternate between fourteen-year-old Meredith and her mother, Claire. The titular moment of the book is the abduction of popular Lisa Bellow, with Meredith as the witness left behind. And though Lisa is, in many ways, central to the novel, this isn't a thrilling kidnapper novel, but more of a character study around this central event and the perspectives of mother and daughter.

The interior monologues are surprisingly easy to identify with, which makes this book quite engaging  from Merediths imagination and Claires practicality mixed with her own flights of fancy. Its a well-written novel, and I think ideal for discussion groups and book clubs. While I didn't exactly love this book, I can really see how it would lead to some lively debate. The characters here feel authentic, and anyone who loves a good character-driven story is sure to enjoy this one. For me, it goes a bit too far with Merediths imaginings for it to be truly stellar, but I would definitely check out more of the authors work in the future.
86081
I enjoyed reading this story, partly because I now live in this area and enjoyed learning a little of the area's past.
1576817
This author is a local person and it is fascinating to try to ascertain what place or location she is describing without her really giving the name of it.
601295
I found Dark Home to be a refreshing read. It is a well written book for young adults and adults alike.  I enjoyed the unique ideas that I haven't encountered in other stories.  While based on a society caught up in a brutal war, the author was able to demonstrate the consequences soldiers experience when following orders that go against their conscience.  It discusses violence without being overly gory.  The main character Renn had depth and became quickly likable while still having a dark side that I could both sympathize with and dislike. This book is not all about war but rather the growth of a character as he is exposed to new ways to deal with others.  I found it to be meaningful and entertaining and highly recommend it.
3263889
Jayant's writing style is unique and keeps you reading! I don't read a lot of fiction books, but this was recommended by a friend and I devoured it in a few sittings. The story took me back to my home town, Bangalore, where I grew up. The best part I liked is the super-powers of one of the characters that aptly captures the title of the book. Highly recommended if you are looking for something offbeat and refreshing.
1728682
The Matador series isn't great literature by any stretch of the imagination. What it is however is a fun story set in a universe different from our own yet very familiar. The characters are well thought out and as you progress through the different book they grow on you and it is easy to empathize with them as they deal with things.

It's a good read that allows you to get lost for a few hours and is hard to put down. More often than not you will finish these books in one sitting of a few hours.
2243072
I read Ms. Cole's Compass North first which was a wonderful prelude to the town and people however not necessary to enjoy this book as Ms. Cole introduces the characters and then delves deeper into each personality.  Although this is not a travel book it did open my eyes to the unexpected beauty of Alaska. I found the characters doing and saying things that I never would even given their circumstances however that is what i found most interesting. I read to go where I would not ... to learn and experience things from a different perspective and this book delivers! I will say it isn't just a wonderful love story of friends, family and lovers which it is but also a nail biting, heart thumping mystery. I even had to stop reading to calm down a bit before continuing. Disclaimer: I'm don't watch or read any thing remotely horrifying so I may not be the best judge of scary. Give it a try its a good and fun read!
3132850
This book is refreshing and interestingly written. It is set in central Texas in 1905. The story is fictitious, but the geography is accurate, and those who have spent time in central Texas will find this particularly fun to read. If you are not from the area, the book has many other appealing qualities. For a new author, Michael Kelly has a unique ability to paint a scene by giving the reader just enough, but not too much, detail to visualize a historical setting and understand how things worked in the past. As he tells this tale, Michael Kelly writes with the authority of someone with life experience who understands the interaction of people and events. For a short novel, the book is full of interesting characters, exciting action, and rich descriptions. The main character is a young deputy in a small town who finds himself in a confrontation with a career criminal, but there are a variety of other characters in the book to which people of different age groups and backgrounds can relate. I highly recommend this for anyone from young adults to retirees.
146670
I enjoyed this book.  I am a lover of history and this is an unique approach to telling a story of historical characters.  While the writing is somewhat different than your typical historical fiction, I found it refreshing and very readable, very no nonsense.  I loved the incorporation of mystical aspects into unknown details and events.  I thought it was a very clever approach and it encouraged me throughout the novel to understand what was fact and what was fiction.  As any historian knows, history is written through the eyes of the pen holder.  In this respect, Gregory takes all aspects of fact and fiction and incorporates them into her "version" of this period.  It is believable (as long as you do not have an extensive affinity for this time period.  As with all books which incorporate fact, if you are a lover of the "truth" and knowledgeable and defensive of the subject matter, this is probably not a book you would enjoy).  For me it was an adventure which led to curiosity.  While clearly not all true, it provided me with a better understanding of the cast of characters and an intrigue to learn more.
611478
Being a native South Carolinian, I enjoyed reading about (fictional) folks from a city I am very familiar with.  The places and personalities seemed authentic to me and the love story was, as in life, strange.  I am 66 years old, old enough to know that the turns our lives take are truly amazing and make every life worthy of a novel. Enjoy the taste and atmosphere of a unique place and I hope you will one day make an actual visit there after you've lived this virtual one.
1578421
Why do we read this type of text except for a vicarious thrill and the gleaning of little details of French life?  I can't understand the sometimes negative reviews here.  This isn't a work of fiction and these people seem to be reading it in the wrong spirit if they expect it to be.  For what it is, a chronicle of one woman/family's life in France, I found it enjoyable and would recommend it.  If a few readers are by now jaded thinking it yet ANOTHER Peter Mayle, Ann Barry, et al. tale, well then they need to move on and read something else instead of expecting to find magic over and over in sameness.  Enjoyable.  And it has some recipes.  Buy it.
443500
I will admit I skip where the stories overlap and are told from the current character 's point of view but I have enjoyed reading this book. I would highly recommend
745322
I was born in England and lived there for 28 years, this is the England I left and have seen during many visits to Derbyshire.
It is not an easy read as the many characters are well defined and it is necessary to know them to enjoy the read.
For me while reading, I can identify many of my casual school friends, family friends, do-gooders, and snobs. It certainly isn't pleasant to read as we face people and situations we know from life and that is uncomfortable.

But it should not be a reason to not read the book.
6060
I've enjoyed the other worldly aspects of the book.  It's nice to get away from reality but never far away from love.
1467523
Not my typical read, but Pamela is a friend of mine and I downloaded it on my wife's Kindle. We all read things that are not our favorite genre's and it is good from time to time to do that to see what others are finding enjoyable. This is a good read with great characters, island knowledge, and a protagonist who doesn't win at everything. The men are shadowy so you have to follow the women as main characters and that's fun now and then for a man reader. I see others have enjoyed it immensely. It is fun to read and you get a smile when you close the cover for the last time.
465973
Easy read - I enjoyed it.  It is not a book that I feel I would like to call all my friends and tell them they must read it - and it certainly does not hold you riveted to it (i.e. a page turner) but it was a nice break from my usual reading.  And the book moves along.  The characters he meets along his journey are well introduced and described without going on ad nauseum.  His journey moves on each day and so do the places and the people he meets.