Written in the Blood, by Stephen Lloyd Jones, is a story of unfinished business. In The String Diaries, Lloyd Jones introduced us to the hosszú életek, long-lived creatures capable of changing their appearance. Written in the Blood picks up the story of Hannah and Leah Wilde fifteen years after the fiery ending of The String Diaries. Fifteen years have given Hannah a chance to try and save the dying hosszú életek, in spite of her blindness. Her daughter, Leah, recognizes that their efforts are not enough. She goes in search of hosszú életek exiles, not knowing that her good intentions will draw the attention of enemies the Wildes didn't even know existed...

Read the rest of my review at Summer Reading Project.

Moonlight Reader started the TBR Thursday, and I think it's a good way to a) show what new books I've got and b) confront myself with my inability to lower my TBR. In fact, since I started recording it, it has risen significantly. I get the feeling I'm doing something wrong here...

A new month always means new books. I try to not request too many books so that I'll finally be able to get my Netgalley percentage up from 46%, but so far I'm not really successful in doing so. Last week was quite busy, so my TBR has risen a bit, but I hope it will go down (or at least stabilize) again soon!

Written in the Blood

The new, enthralling supernatural thriller from Stephen Lloyd Jones, following his highly acclaimed debut THE STRING DIARIES. High in the mountains of the Swiss Alps Leah Wilde is about to gamble her life to bring a powerful man an offer. A promise. Leah has heard the dark stories about him and knows she is walking into the lion's den. But her options are running out. Her rare lineage, kept secret for years, is under terrible threat. That is, unless Leah and her mother Hannah are prepared to join up with their once deadly enemies. Should the prey ever trust the predator?

The Science of TV's The Big Bang Theory

Reveals the hard facts behind the laughter on TV’s most popular sitcom The highest-rated scripted show on TV, The Big Bang Theory often features Sheldon, Howard, Leonard, and Raj wisecracking about scientific principles as if Penny and the rest of us should know exactly what they’re talking about.The Science of TV’s The Big Bang Theory lets all of us in on the punchline by breaking down the show’s scientific conversations. From an explanation of why Sheldon would think 73 is the best number, to an experiment involving the physical stature of Wolowitz women, to an argument refuting Sheldon’s assertion that engineers are the Oompa-Loompas of science, author Dave Zobel maintains a humorous and informative approach and gives readers enough knowledge to make them welcome on Sheldon’s couch

Monkeys, Myths and Molecules

Quacks and pundits beware! The internet is a powerful beast when it comes to science; the answer to any query you may have is just a few keystrokes away. But when there are multiple answers from various sources, how do we know what information is reliable? In Monkeys, Myths, and Molecules, bestselling author Dr. Joe Schwarcz takes a critical look at how facts are misconstrued in the media. He debunks the myths surrounding canned food, artificial dyes, SPF, homeopathy, cancer, chemicals, and much more.Unafraid to expose the sheer nonsense people are led to believe about health, food, drugs, and our environment, Dr. Joe confronts pseudoscience and convincingly and entertainingly advocates for a scientific approach to everyday life.

The Returned

In an Alpine town reeling from a devastating accident, the families of dead wish their lost loved ones could come back...only to wake up one day to the chilling reality of their prayers being answered. But the victims of the accident are not the only ones to have returned from the dead. Their arrival coincides with a series of grizzly murders which bear a chilling resemblance to the work of a serial killer from the past... A stunning page-turner filled with startlingly real characters, Seth Patrick’s THE RETURNED reveals how the choices we make can affect those we love long after we’re gone.

The Acolyte

Jonah Murtag is an Acolyte on the New Bethlehem police force. His job: eradicate all heretical religious faiths, their practitioners, and artefacts. Murtag's got problems - one of his partners is a zealot, and he's in love with the other one. Trouble at work, trouble at home. Murtag realizes that you can rob a citizenry of almost anything, but you can't take away its faith. When a string of bombings paralyzes the city, religious fanatics are initially suspected, but startling clues point to a far more ominous perpetrator. If Murtag doesn't get things sorted out, the Divine Council will dispatch The Quints, aka: Heaven's Own Bagmen. The clock is ticking towards doomsday for the Chosen of New Bethlehem. And Jonah Murtag's got another problem. The biggest and most worrisome... Jonah isn't a believer anymore.

Publication Date: 29th January 2015

Publisher: Headline

ISBN: 978-1472204721

Source: Bookbridgr/Netgalley

Rating: 2/5

Synopsis:

High in the mountains of the Swiss Alps Leah Wilde is about to gamble her life to bring a powerful man an offer. A promise.

Leah has heard the dark stories about him and knows she is walking into the lion's den. But her options are running out. Her rare lineage, kept secret for years, is under terrible threat. That is, unless Leah and her mother Hannah are prepared to join up with their once deadly enemies.

Should the prey ever trust the predator?

Is hope for future generations ever enough to wash away the sins of the past?

With a new and chilling danger stalking them all, and the survival of their society at stake, they may have little choice...

Review:

I was so excited when I heard about this book and I really wanted to read it. It sounded brilliant, so I was really pleased to receive it. But, I was so disappointed! Now I've read reviews from other readers, I can only conclude that it's me. Maybe I just didn't get it?; perhaps I should have read the prequel, The String Diaries, first? Whatever the reason, I abandoned it after reading 50%.

There were aspects I liked. I found Leah an interesting character and I enjoyed some interactions. I'll give it another go at some point and update my review if I change my mind.