The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 222

When First I Met My King by Harper Fox

Goodreads Blurb: Once upon a time, there was a winter that wouldn’t end. And all that’s standing between the people of White Meadows and starvation is a young man called Lance.

He’s sixteen years old, and for all his courage and hunting skills, he’s running out of fight. His family has been wiped out in a border raid, and he’s drowning in loneliness. When strangers arrive at White Meadows, all Lance can think of is using his last strength to drive them away.

But these men have come in peace, not to burn and destroy. Among them is a hot-headed, utterly charming prince-in-training named Arthur.

For Lance, Arthur’s arrival is like the return of the sun. The prince has everything – learning, battle skills, a splendid destiny. But as the days unfold in the remote northern settlement in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall, it soon becomes clear that Arthur needs Lance, too.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: Finally, the great gay Arthurian romance I’ve been looking forward. There’s no settling for mere implications here. That was a delight. I also found myself really liking the main character, which for anyone familiar with just how deep my usual hate of any version Lancelot runs that should come as a very big surprise.

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 221

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back by Elizabeth Schaefer (Editor)

Goodreads Blurb: On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers recreate an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back, through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: Excellent, a perfect follow up to the previous book.

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 220

Young Man’s Fancy by Richard Matheson

Goodreads Blurb: A recently married man misses his dead mother and his childhood so much that he can’t seem to live in the here and now, causing untold horror for his new bride.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I went into this thing thinking it was going to be the mother that was the crazy possessive one – boy was I wrong.

The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 219

Number 12 Looks Just Like You by Charles Beaumont

Goodreads Blurb: In a future society where everyone must undergo an operation at the age of nineteen to make them look like everyone else, one young woman desperately tries to hang on to her own identity.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: I know her constantly mistaking other women for her mother was supposed to highlight the terror of a world where most everybody looks the same but I couldn’t help feeling like it just made the main character seem like she hadn’t grown up in this world. Like she was a holdover from our world – which now I say it out loud may have been the point.

The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 218

Who Am I? By Jerry Sohl

Goodreads Blurb: A young businessman wakes up one morning and has a completely different face—but only “he” thinks it’s different from before.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review: My God is this a weird one – even for the twilight zone. Though I have to say I like the twist at the end, it’s nicely foreshadowed in the Doctor’s office.

The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 217

From a Certain Point of View by Elizabeth Schaefer (Editor)

Goodreads Blurb: Forty years. Forty stories.

On May 25, 1977, the world was introduced to Han, Luke, Leia, a pair of droids, a Wookiee, an old wizard, a villain in black, and a galaxy full of possibilities. Forty years on, Star Wars remains an unparalleled cultural phenomenon, having inspired and influenced generations of fans and creators. Decades of rich storytelling were sparked by one film, in part because the Star Wars galaxy feels alive. Strange and wonderful characters fill the edges of the screen and make us wonder:

What are their stories?

This unique anthology celebrates that legacy, as more than forty contributors lend their vision to this retelling of the original Star Wars film. Each of the forty stories reimagines a moment from the film through the eyes of a supporting character. From A Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors, trendsetting artists, and treasured voices from the literary history of Star Wars:

⁃ Gary Whitta bridges the gap from Rogue One to A New Hope through the eyes of Captain Antilles.

⁃ – Aunt Beru finds her voice in an intimate character study by Meg Cabot.

⁃ Nnedi Okorafor brings dignity and depth to a most unlikely character: the monster in the trash compactor.

⁃ Pablo Hidalgo provides a chilling glimpse inside the mind of Grand Moff Tarkin.

⁃ Wil Wheaton spins a poignant tale of the rebels left behind on Yavin.

⁃ Plus thirty-five more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales.

⁃ Experience the story of Star Wars from a whole new point of view.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: This book was fantastic, I would read it over and over again if I could…which seeing as I bought the audiobook, I guess I can. A must-read for anyone even a little interested in the star wars franchise, just brilliant 🙂

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 216

The Last Tudor by Philippa Gregory

Goodreads Blurb: The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her queen.

Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king’s half sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner’s block, where Jane transformed her father’s greedy power grab into tragic martyrdom.

“Learn you to die,” was the advice Jane wrote to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and fall in love. But she is heir to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and then to her half sister, Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a Tudor son. When Katherine’s pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister’s scaffold.

“Farewell, my sister,” writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth’s suspicious glare. After seeing her sisters defy their queens, Mary is acutely aware of her own danger but determined to command her own life. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving Queen Elizabeth?

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: Wow, that Elizabeth the First was a real bitch – the book.

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 215

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Musical Drama by H.G. Wells and Jeff Wayne

Goodreads Blurb: An Audible Original Drama

One of the world’s most recognisable sci-fi stories, H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds established numerous conventions for the genre, including the threat of an invasive extraterrestrial species, space travel and intergalactic conflict, inspiring directors, gamers, producers and writers alike with its sobering story of struggle and survival.

Marrying the suspense, drama and urgency of Wells’ original novel with Jeff Wayne’s rousing and flamboyant score, Audible’s new and exclusive dramatisation uses action, narration, original music and evocative sound design to immerse listeners in a world that’s as thrilling as it is desolate.

Jeff Wayne’s The War of the Worlds: The Musical Drama stars Michael Sheen, Taron Egerton, Adrian Edmondson, Theo James and Anna-Marie Wayne.

Also featuring: Rachel Atkins, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Josh Bond, Nicholas Boulton, Philip Bulcock, Jessica Dennis, Stephen Fletcher, Pete Gold, David Holt, Roger May, Harry Myers, Richard Reed, Mark Straker, Ben Whitehead and Sarah Whitehouse.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: Fantastic, it’s hard to go wrong with such an iconic story. Great music, really adds to the atmosphere of terror. My only issue was not a single person paused while running for their lives, to break out into song. I’m just saying, I was promised a musical 😉

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 214

Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn

Goodreads Blurb: Ominous words under any circumstances, but all the more so when uttered by Emperor Palpatine. On Batuu, at the edges of the Unknown Regions, a threat to the Empire is taking root—its existence little more than a glimmer, its consequences as yet unknowable. But it is troubling enough to the Imperial leader to warrant investigation by his most powerful agents: ruthless enforcer Lord Darth Vader and brilliant strategist Grand Admiral Thrawn. Fierce rivals for the emperor’s favor, and outspoken adversaries on Imperial affairs—including the Death Star project—the formidable pair seem unlikely partners for such a crucial mission. But the Emperor knows it’s not the first time Vader and Thrawn have joined forces. And there’s more behind his royal command than either man suspects.

In what seems like a lifetime ago, General Anakin Skywalker of the Galactic Republic, and Commander Mitth’raw’nuruodo, officer of the Chiss Ascendancy, crossed paths for the first time. One on a desperate personal quest, the other with motives unknown . . . and undisclosed. But facing a gauntlet of dangers on a far-flung world, they forged an uneasy alliance—neither remotely aware of what their futures held in store.

Now, thrust together once more, they find themselves bound again for the planet where they once fought side by side. There they will be doubly challenged—by a test of their allegiance to the Empire . . . and an enemy that threatens even their combined might.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: Is this book making me like the blue space Nazi? This feels slightly self defeating on the part of Star Wars – having said that, I can’t wait till Thrawn gets his first live action appearance, if its anything like this book it is going to be awesome.

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The Wee Writing Lassie’s 300 Books in a Year – Book 213

Johnny Alucard by Kim Newman

Goodreads Blurb: DRACULA COMES TO NEW YORK: Kim Newman returns to one of the great bestselling vampire tales of the modern era. Considered alongside I Am Legend and Interview with theVampire as one of the stand-out vampire stories of the last century – this brand-new novel is the first in over a decade from the remarkable and influential Anno Dracula series.

Newman’s dark and impish tale begins with a single question: What if Dracula had survived his encounters with Bram Stoker’s Dr. John Seward and enslaved Victorian England?

Fallen from grace and driven from the British Empire in previous instalments, Dracula seems long gone. A relic of the past. Yet, when vampire boy Johnny Alucard descends upon America, stalking the streets of New York and Hollywood, haunting the lives of the rich and famous, from Sid and Nancy to Andy Warhol, Orson Welles, and Francis Ford Coppola, sinking his fangs ever deeper into the zeitgeist of 1980s America, it seems the past might not be dead after all.

(Goodreads Page)

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Goodreads Review: I find this book by far the creepiest of all the Anno Dracula Series – if for no other reason then just how human and banal the evil is. Sure this is a world where Vampires are common place but don’t mistake me it’s the humans that are the actual terrifying monsters.

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