I need to update booklikes shelves for the ebooks I've wishlisted at my public library (uses overdrive) before it grows completely out of control.

 

I'll be spacing out some posts for my wishlist from oldest to newest in the process.

 

Some are available now but not fitting my mood (or needing more research because not sure if read).

 

(Last books on page 17 of  my wishlist)

Highlighted a few in this post ; see http://www.fictfact.com/BookReleaseCalendar for the rest and the series info.

As second-to-last in the series, keeps up the Indiana Jones-style adventure tone and the spectacular locales from all over the world and history, but it does have a bit of a talking-heads problem now that answers - or at least more information - are starting to come out. Female characters continue to be smart, active and holding their own.

Continuation of an intricate adventure story that grows more elaborate with every book. With two left in the series (I think...), this book seems to still be filling out the cast and world, while moving the story forward only incrementally. Has a bit of a classic pulp fiction or early adventure film feel to it; part Indiana Jones, maybe? Liking that there are many independent female characters making their own way, thriving and saving the day. Smart yet realistic women; no one has magical super strength, although much is (perhaps unfortunately) made of their appearance, and all are white British or American except for a fighting Asian who gets married and has babies... so the diversity score in the main cast isn't stellar, although various ethnic/national identities make it in as supporting cast in positive ways.

"Scarlet" is an engaging follow-up to the first book in the "King Raven" trilogy, "Hood." The story is told from Will Scarlet's point of view as he is sitting in jail after a failed kidnapping attempt. Scathingly funny at times, he is also down-to-earth and practical. While I enjoyed his character—as well as the development and rendering of the others—I feel his romance with one of the village women lacked depth; it felt extraneous.

Lawhead’s style and expertise propels the story forward. There is plenty of drama, mystery, and tension throughout most of the book. In the last third or so, I found some of the lengthy descriptions getting in the way. And, although I got a kick out of the little “in the moment” sections where Will is speaking directly to his autobiographer, the inevitable “and so we trudged on” got to be annoying. What a shame.

I loved the historical background: the contest between two popes, the machinations of those with power trying to expand that power, the casual (and sometimes horrific) indifference in the way the conquerors treated the conquered, and the sense of utter powerlessness experienced by the natives in the face of oppression. The author does a fantastic job, too, of presenting both sides of the church coin. There are those using their religion to advance themselves at the expense of others (and coming up with ways to justify it) and there are those simple folk with sincere belief, both calling on the same god.

All in all, another superb read. And I have book 3, “Tuck,” to leap into next…