Morgana Steele
Bio
Old books, my happy place. Dreaming of adding my own stories to those cherished shelves. Working towards that goal, one word at a time, embracing the vulnerability. Join the adventure!
Stories (107)
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A Crucible of Friendship and Empire
Conn Iggulden's "The Gates of Rome" is a masterfully crafted historical fiction that transports readers to the heart of the Roman Republic, a world of burgeoning power, political intrigue, and personal ambition. With vivid prose and compelling characters, Iggulden paints a captivating portrait of a pivotal era, focusing on the formative years of a young Julius Caesar and the enduring bonds of friendship forged in the crucible of a rising empire.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Shadowed Return and a Perilous Prophecy
Ilona Andrews' "Blood Heir" returns readers to the gritty, magic-infused landscape of Atlanta, a city teetering on the brink of apocalypse. Here, the clash between technology and magic has birthed a dangerous world, where supernatural factions battle for survival amidst crumbling skyscrapers and monstrous threats. Into this volatile arena steps Julie Lennart, now Aurelia Ryder, returning after eight years with a new identity, a new magic, and a desperate mission.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Final Showdown and the Carving Out of Rot
Rachel Vincent's "Alpha" brings the protagonist's journey to a climactic confrontation, as she faces accusations of trespassing, kidnapping, murder, and treason levied by the unscrupulous new Council chair. With her allies, Jace and Marc, she embarks on a mission to avenge her brother's death and dismantle the corruption festering within the Council.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
Scars, Shifts, and Shifting Alliances
Rachel Vincent's "Shift" delves deeper into the protagonist's challenging role as the first female werecat enforcer, a position that has left her both physically and emotionally marked. The narrative explores the intricate balance between personal life and Pride obligations, now further strained by her brother's death and her father's impeachment.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Relentless Hunt and the Limits of Tolerance
Rachel Vincent's "Prey" throws the protagonist into a whirlwind of chaos, where her Pride is besieged from all sides. Her father's authority is challenged, her lover is in exile, and she's burdened with the protection of a new mother and a know-it-all teenager. The strain is palpable, and the protagonist's longing for Marc is a constant undercurrent.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
Trial by Fire and Lingering Frustrations
Rachel Vincent's "Pride" escalates the stakes for the protagonist, placing her on trial for her life within the rigid confines of her werecat society. Accused of infecting and killing her human ex-boyfriend—capital offenses in their world—she faces a grim fate. Yet, even as her life hangs in the balance, a rogue Stray terrorizes the mountainside, forcing her to juggle her own survival with the protection of a vulnerable teenage tabby.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
Compelling Story, Familiar Writing Frustrations
Rachel Vincent's "Rogue" continues to deliver a gripping narrative within her werecat world, immersing readers in a complex web of guilt, responsibility, and the repercussions of past actions. The protagonist, now an enforcer, grapples with the weight of her decisions, navigating treacherous politics and a string of grisly murders that threaten to expose her darkest secrets.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Clawing Descent into Werecat Intrigue (and Repetitive Phrases)
Rachel Vincent's "Stray" plunges readers into the hidden world of werecats, a society teetering on the edge of extinction. The narrative follows a young female werecat, our unnamed protagonist, who has escaped the pressures of her Pride to forge a "normal" life. However, when a Stray attack and the disappearance of fellow tabbies threaten her newfound independence, she's forced to return to the fold, claws out and ready to fight.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Gothic Descent into Cursed Realms and Forbidden Desires
Keri Lake's "Anathema," the first installment of The Eating Woods duology, weaves a captivating tapestry of gothic dark fantasy, plunging readers into a world of forbidden boundaries, cursed souls, and grotesque creatures. The narrative centers on Maevyth Bronwick, a shunned woman forced to venture beyond the mortal realm's edge, into the terrifying and alluring depths of Witch Knell.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
Ambition, Illusion, and the Wearying Tread of Repetition
"The Emerald Sea," the third installment in Richelle Mead's Glittering Court series, focuses on Tamsin Wright's relentless pursuit of perfection within the Court's gilded walls. Her ambition to become the "diamond" of her class, securing an elite marriage in the New World, drives her immersion in etiquette, history, and music. However, by this third book, the series' pattern of repeating previously covered ground through different perspectives becomes increasingly tiresome, leading to reader fatigue.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
A Refugee's Fight for Freedom (and Repetitive Ground)
"Midnight Jewel," the second installment in Richelle Mead's Glittering Court series, shifts its focus to Mira, a war refugee whose past and motivations starkly contrast with the privileged backgrounds of her peers. Mira's story is one of resilience, survival, and a fierce determination to carve out a life free from the shackles of her past. However, this change in perspective also brings with it a degree of repetition that some readers may find tedious.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
Forging Destiny in a New World
Richelle Mead's "The Glittering Court" introduces a captivating tale of ambition, societal constraints, and the pursuit of self-determination. Set against the backdrop of a meticulously crafted world, the story follows Adelaide, a high-born young woman trapped in a gilded cage of arranged marriages and stifling expectations.
By Morgana Steele10 months ago in BookClub
