The CIA helped remove a president they feared. This book proves it with real files.
#books #bookreview #TheLumumbaPlot #CIA
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/the-lumumba-plot-book-review-stuart-reid/
#book-review โ Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #book-review, aggregated by home.social.
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Book Review: Reckoning by Bradley James
Title: Reckoning (The Aftermath #4)
Author: Bradley James
Publisher: Bradley Blooman
Publication date: October 16, 2026
Genre: Science Fiction
Reckoning is the fourth and final novel in the Aftermath military sci-fi series. It follows astronaut Elliot Adams as he becomes stranded on the moon after an asteroid devastates Earth and discovers a plot by an alien race, the Telvanni, to destroy all life on Earth in order to take it for themselves. Heโs joined by members of the colony hidden inside the moon, as an experimental group by the Telvanni, and rebels from Titan, a moon already claimed by the Telvanni. This is an explosive, compelling finale to the series that neatly ties up all threads and still manages to make my readerโs heart find joy.
After the events of the third book, Elliot and Mayto are stranded on Earth in really rough shape, Ava is trying to survive in the moon with Bella and Lyra as the Telvanni hunt them down before they power everything down and abandon the colony, and Ryken and Kara find themselves stranded and hunted on Mars. The Telvanni, thinking they have the upper hand, are still watchful, but their plans are in motion and nearly complete. But, thanks to an old friend, Elliot and his friends have a shot at saving Earth and destroying the Telvanni leaders.
When I first accepted the first book for review I thought this series would be a fun sci-fi adventure on the moon. But I fell in love with it about halfway through and, with each novel, Iโve loved it even more. The writing might not be masterful, but the characters are incredible, the plot is engaging, the pace is quick even in quieter moments, and the world is detailed and feels scientifically sound to my very unscientific eyes. I love everything about it, and I am so sad this story is complete. Itโs taken me on an incredible adventure and has shown me that maybe I do kind of like military sci-fi. Thereโs nothing quite like epic space battles and fights against would-be alien overlords. But what I really loved was how, even though the Telvanni have so much technology at their fingertips, both groups felt like they were, overall, on even footing. Things could go either way. The Telvanni were smart and savvy, but Elliot and his friends were just as smart and savvy, and both sides fell into traps. It was so much fun, and I loved every minute of Reckoning.
I have loved watching the characters grow and evolve. Elliot has always been a favorite. I adore everything about him, how open and warm he is and so incredibly personable. He doesnโt need to prove himself and he just does whatโs right without even thinking about it. Heโs a natural leader. Ava and Bella are so sweet together. I love their mother-daughter dynamic, and I love how Ava always adjusts as Bella grows up. Sheโs a concerned mother also capable of realizing her daughter isnโt a child anymore. Bella is just incredible. I had no idea she would be such a central character and she has just blossomed. It has been amazing to watch her grow up. Itโs hurt a little, the things sheโs had to go through, but sheโs always true to herself and loves so deeply. Iโve known Ryken and Kara the least amount of time, but they are so much fun. They perfectly balance each other and I love how they never once felt extraneous. I loved their time on Mars, and I love how they always held hope. My favorite, though, is Mayto. Heโs just this big, strong, fun character who loves beating up the Telvanni but probably wouldnโt hurt a fly otherwise. His friendship with Elliot is one of the best parts of this series. I adore them together, but, truly, Mayto is a star all on his own.
I donโt want to go too much into the story here considering this is the finale. There are some seriously dire situations, some surprises, and a great deal of death. Every piece felt like it had its place, no matter how hard it was. I loved the way Reckoning unfolded. Even though thereโs a time passage that felt a little jarring, it also made me really want to know how that would play out because itโs such a major thing. But this story kept me on the edge of my seat, even the slower moments. Something was always happening, and the tension was just so thick. James really does tension so well in this series. I could not read fast enough to find out what happened next, nor could I even consider slowing down to savor my time with these characters. It was propulsive with so many pieces moving all over the place, so many plots and plans as these three groups worked their way to the epic conclusion.
Reckoning is an incredible conclusion that somehow managed to bring everything back, tie it together, and make it all work seamlessly. I loved how things from Red Storm and the first three books were folded in, loved how everything was tied up, loved all the internal consistency. It was fantastic to see all the plots and plans play out, and absolutely wonderful to get to the epilogue knowing everyone deserved it. As much as Iโm going to miss this series, I could not have asked for a better ending.
How many cups of tea will you need?
5 cups
Thank you to the author and StoryOrigin for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.
This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:
Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
#BookReview #bradleyBlooman #bradleyJames #indie #militarySciFi #reckoning #ScienceFiction #theAftermathSeries -
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ง: "๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ ๐พ๐๐๐ก๐" ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฃ -
๐ฏ-๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐:
Claustrophobic
Broken Narrative
Looming๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ:
How do the historical documents serve the fiction?
#bookreview #bookrecommendations #readinglist #literature #books #book #reading #bookstagram #frictionalreading #3words #olgaravn #thewaxchild #danishliterature #witchcraft #historicalfiction #pointofview #experimental #horror #feminism
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Can good intentions survive inside a spy agency? Anderson tracks four men who found out the hard way.
#books #bookreview #ScottAnderson #ColdWar
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/quiet-americans-cia-spies-cold-war-review/ -
๐ blog! โBook Review: The Thousand Deaths of Romeo and Juliet - Caroline Finchโ
โ โ โ โ โThe thing about Romeo and Juliet is that it is a true story. It isn't literally true, but it is literary true. We see the same motif repeated throughout all cultures and all times. Caroline Lea (writing as Caroline Finch) asks an importantโฆ
๐ Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/10/book-review-the-thousand-deaths-of-romeo-and-juliet-caroline-finch/
โธป
#BookReview #NetGalley #shakespeare -
Book Review: The Thousand Deaths of Romeo and Juliet - Caroline Finch
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2026/10/book-review-the-thousand-deaths-of-romeo-and-juliet-caroline-finch/The thing about Romeo and Juliet is that it is a true story. It isn't literally true, but it is literary true. We see the same motif repeated throughout all cultures and all times. Caroline Lea (writing as Caroline Finch) asks an important question - what if every pair of star-cross'd lovers were reincarnations of the original Verona duo?
The essence of tragedy is that the end is unavoidable. You've probably watched Romeo sup poison a hundred times. It is inevitable that Juliet will take her own life in response. Horrific! Yet, not only do you refuse to look away, you gleefully seek it out for another viewing. There's a reason why Tony and Maria cannot escape their destinies in West Side Story - something more than fate is pushing them onto a path that will accept no deviation. The only way through is, of course, death.
The Thousand Deaths starts slowly - the first "act" felt like an excuse to retell the classic tale in a new setting. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and it is suffused with lovely writing - but it felt a bit "so what?"
And then they die.
As the acts progress and they get closer to the their thousandth death the pace picks up. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, packed with allusions and references for the careful reader (more on that later). The story is heartbreaking - as well you know - and the author has the perfect knack of keeping her characters on just the right side of histrionics.
I'd sort of classify this as almost romantasy. There's an undercurrent of sci-fi and fantasy which can't be ignored - but you can also hear the stirring of the violins in the background. Our hero and heroine come together and are violently broken apart for our insatiable entertainment. Do we care about whether that's good for them? What does it feel like to be a Mercutio forever used as a pawn-sacrifice? Does Tybalt resent his forcible reincarnation into a perpetual baddie? Are we culpable for insisting that they strut upon an endless stage just so we can wipe tears from our eyes?
The book builds to a fine crescendo. It is heartfelt and utterly tragic. The ending will, I suspect, divide people. I found it mostly satisfactory and completely in keeping with the rest of the story.
One final thing - the end notes are superb. They go through all the references you might have missed, explain where certain phrases came from, and point the curious reader to the books which were an inspiration. Too many authors treat their literary allusions as a precious puzzle and jealously guard them. I'm delighted that Caroline Finch is generous enough to share her secrets with us.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. The book will be released in 2027 - I strongly recommend putting it on your pre-order list.
#BookReview #NetGalley #shakespeare -
This book claims political leaders pushed into mission planning. That choice put more than optics at risk.
#books #bookreview #Politics #MilitaryHistory
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/bin-laden-raid-seal-team-six/ -
A Black Magic by Joseph Stone (The Haunted Women, 3)
A haunting, richly-textured supernatural thriller about violence as inheritance and the line between control and love
The post A Black Magic by Joseph Stone (The Haunted Women, 3) appeared first on Independent Book Review.
https://independentbookreview.com/2026/10/13/a-black-magic-by-joseph-stone-the-haunted-women-3/#bookreview #ABlackMagic #Fantasy #indieauthor #SciFiAndFantasy
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Pincher spent his career knowing more than governments wanted him to. Too Secret Too Long shows why they feared him so much.
#books #bookreview #ChapmanPincher #ColdWar
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/mi5-soviet-spy/ -
Ambition without caution ends badly. This book proves that point, one hard year at a time.
#books #bookreview #lessonslearned #biography
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/cry-havoc-book-review/ -
What does it cost to speak out against your own government? These two men paid in full.
#books #bookreview #JohnKiriakou #WarOnTerror
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/cia-torture-whistleblower-review-convenient-terrorist/ -
No fancy words. No drama. Just two men laying out hard facts about secret prisons.
#books #bookreview #Nonfiction #Espionage
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/cia-torture-whistleblower-review-convenient-terrorist/ -
Cook never tried to be Steve Jobs. He led his own way, and Apple soared.
#books #bookreview #AppleCEO #Business
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/tim-cook-apple-biography-review/ -
The author knows Israeli leaders in person. That access shapes every page of this book.
#books #bookreview #Netanyahu #Nonfiction
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/israel-at-war-book-review/ -
These men were not heroes. They were not villains. They were given a job, and the job changed them forever.
#books #bookreview #MoralDilemma #WarBooks
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/vengeance/ -
Kim Philby passed British secrets to Moscow for over 30 years. Agents died because of his lies.
#books #bookreview #KGBMole #SpyBookReview
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/kim-philby-betrayal/ -
He grew up in small-town Alabama. He now runs the world's most famous tech company.
#books #bookreview #TechLeadership #Biography
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/tim-cook-apple-biography-review/ -
How do you defend a town with no supplies and no backup? Commandant Pat Quinlan found a way.
#books #bookreview #PatQuinlan #MilitaryHistory
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/siege-at-jadotville-book-review-irish-army-forgotten-battle/ -
One line in this book feels eerie today. Putin sees America as a rival, not a friend.
#books #bookreview #RussianHistory #ColdWar
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/comrade-j-book-review/ -
A KGB officer spied for Britain for ten years. He changed history.
#books #bookreview #Spy #NonFiction #histbookchat
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/the-spy-and-the-traitor/ -
U.S. Special Forces and Afghan troops fought side by side on that hill. Their trust was built under real pressure.
#books #bookreview #Taliban #Memoir
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/lions-of-kandahar/ -
Back on the "reading graphic design books" game!
Over on the blog I'm reviewing 'Cover' (Mendelsund, 2020), a lovely portfolio of book cover designs; 'The language of graphic design' (Poulin, 2018), an introductory textbook with an emphasis on graphic design from real estate; and 'Graphic design for everyone' (Caldwell, 2019), a simple but suburb graphic design primer.
https://periaptgames.blogspot.com/2026/10/graphic-design-redux-three-book-reviews.html
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This is Trotsky's own account of the 1917 Revolution. No spin. Just his side of it.
#books #bookreview #Autobiography #History
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/trotsky-autobiography-review/ -
The once and future market for prostitution in Rhode Island #EconTwitter #blackmarket #bookreview #controversialmarkets #moraleconomics #prostitution #repugnance
http://marketdesigner.blogspot.com/2026/10/the-once-and-future-market-for.html -
My latest read: "Amityville Awakens" by Robert P. Ottone
It doesn't get much more "spooky season" than this. Some challenging themes but I enjoyed the ride. ๐
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9019595945
Book Radar
https://thebookradar.com/review/5596
StoryGraph
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9abe4d36-48b1-44d4-a915-1a4a81b7cd9b#spookyseason #bookreview #bookreviews #bookrec #bookrecs #horror #paranormal #booksofmastodon #readersofmastodon #read #reads #reader #reading #readingcommunity #booksof2026 #book #books #bookstodon #booktodon
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R Meadow Substack Highlights โ Highlighting Kristi Keller at Unstack Substack
R Meadow Substack Highlights - Highlighting Kristi Keller at Unstack Substack by R Meadow - Oct 2026 Writers are readers first. We may relate to specific words or topics, but judge content by whether it lives up to what caught the eye. R Meadow Highlights was launched to highlight word seed treasures worth exploring and a second read. Each highlight here grabbed attention and then resonated in some way. I hope you find new favorites to follow, like, or subscribe to through these [โฆ] -
Book Review: Diesel and Electric Trains: A New Era of Railways by David Reed http://dlvr.it/TVtL8K #AmberleyPublishing #BookReview #BookReviews #RailNews
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One Canadian spymaster helped turn the tide of WWII. Few people know his name.
#books #bookreview #ManCalledIntrepid #WWII
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/man-called-intrepid/ -
Two sides both misread each other. That mistake led straight to war.
#books #bookreview #SaddamHussein #IraqWar
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/saddam-hussein-cia-iraq/
