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Rook
Rook | Daniel O'Malley
A quick-witted, genre-bending, and wildly imaginative thriller about the secret organization keeping England--and the world--safe from supernatural threats (one staff meeting at a time)."The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex gloves. With no recollection of who she is, Myfanwy must follow the instructions her former self left behind to discover her identity and track down the agents who want to destroy her. She soon learns that she is a Rook, a high-ranking member of a secret organization called the Chequy that battles the many supernatural forces at work in Britain. She also discovers that she possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability of her own. In her quest to uncover which member of the Chequy betrayed her and why, Myfanwy encounters a person with four bodies, an aristocratic woman who can enter her dreams, a secret training facility where children are transformed into deadly fighters, and a conspiracy more vast than she ever could have imagined. Filled with characters both fascinating and fantastical, THE ROOK is a richly inventive, suspenseful, and often wry thriller that marks an ambitious debut from a promising young writer.
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WildAlaskaBibliophile
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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1. 🤔
2. “The Rook“ by Daniel O'Malley. The main character, Myfanwy Thomas, possesses a rare, potentially deadly supernatural ability.
#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!😊 7mo
24 likes1 comment
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random_michelle
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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(T)he most effective psychics are the ones who never realize they‘re psychic and instead manage to live excellent lives by consistently making the right decisions. Their powers effectively guide them through the shoals of life without their knowing.

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random_michelle
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

Audio narrated by Susan Duerden. Reread/listen.

I love this book so much. And the pace / action is perfect to keep me doing chores / exercising.

I can't read the first line without hearing Susan Duerden saying, “Dear you“ and it's just perfect.

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Anathehistorian
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
Pickpick

Honestly one of the best books I have ever read. Clever, funny, absolutely absorbing and fun! I actually slowed down reading at the end cause I didn‘t want it to end!

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WildAlaskaBibliophile
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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“The Rook“ by Daniel O'Malley is my pick for #NatChessDay. #Nat.ChessDay #autumnplease @eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks #scarathlon

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ♟️🙌🏻♟️ 13mo
Eggs Perfect 🖤♟️❤️ 13mo
16 likes2 comments
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Laughterhp
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Bailedbailed

So I got about 100 pages into this book. It‘s been on my TBR forever and I finally picked it up. Interesting concept and I was intrigued. She wakes up surrounded by dead bodies with no memory. But the way they share information is exhausting. It‘s an info dump for 5 pages that I need to read to understand what is happening. I get why she has to give info that way, because it‘s a letter or binder, but I was zoning out. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Laughterhp This was a #roll100 book for May @PuddleJumper 2y
PuddleJumper It's off your list now 2y
BookNAround I‘m sorry this one didn‘t land for you. I couldn‘t put it down! 2y
51 likes3 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐
This was fun!
Myfanwy is a secret agent at a supernatural bureau in London. Someone in the agency is a traitor, and has tried to kill her, only problem is Myfanwy lost all of her memory during the attack!
Quick paced with easy to follow action. The characters are fun and interesting.
A good time.

ChaoticMissAdventures Almost forgot! This was my April #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
22 likes2 comments
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Laughterhp
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Here are my May picks for #Roll100.

I‘ve been thinking about reading the tagged book lately, so this should give me the push I need!

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2y
42 likes1 comment
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Rook | Daniel O'Malley
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#bookspin
#doublespin

Getting books off my GR 2019 list!

@thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
20 likes1 comment
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ellie_ember
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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1. Not sure of it's made me cry the most, but the most recent is Little Women.
2. Fiction-- and that includes fantasy and paranormal. I like stories a lot and, after a long day, it's nice to kick back and unwind. I read a lot of non-fiction, bit it's not relaxing in the same way.
3. Well...I kind of mentioned 3 genres...so, here's 3 titles I really enjoyed...Little Women, The Powder Mage Trilogy, and The Rook
#wonderouswednesday
@a_bit_bookish

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Avanders
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad I finally read this. A nice, hearty 4.5 🌟s. It‘s immersive, but not dry; has great world-building, but still good action/movement; and is thought-provoking, but fun. Book 2 is already awaiting a hopefully-soon read!

In other news…📰

* Sent the recipe portion of #LitsyRecipeSwap today! @BennettBookworm 🥣🍫🥮💌

* And I finally made it to the PO to send you Nightbooks @KateReadsYA !! It‘s coming media mail, but expected on Monday!

wanderinglynn I need for reread this and pick up book 2! 3y
Avanders @wanderinglynn I really want to watch the series too… but I‘m glad I read that it deviates *much* from the book. The 2nd book is almost 600 pages! 😯 3y
KateReadsYA Okay 👍can't wait 3y
wanderinglynn I totally missed that there‘s an adaptation. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I should check it out. 3y
aa_guer2021 I remember this being fun! Glad to know there is a book 2!! 3y
86 likes5 comments
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MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Panpan

I wanted to like this. So, so badly. It was sent by a friend, with much hype from them and beyond. But, from the main character‘s first examination of their body, IMMEDIATELY POST AMNESIA, waking among unconscious or dead people being “Well, my boobs are small, but at least I don‘t have cellulite” to the….
Y‘know.
Honestly, I pretty much lost interest there.

#rook #unpopularopinion #fiction #fantasy #sad #omalley #danielomalley

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Addison_Reads
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

#SeriesRead2022 Thank you again for sending me this book @TheSpineView 💚 I can't wait to read the next one now.

Although I did feel like this book was slow in the middle, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Having the story start with an amnesiac woman who wakes up bruised and bloody instantly pulled me in. The setup of a secret organization based on chess pieces was so much fun too. I loved the mystery, the supernatural, and the creative characters.

TheSpineView Glad you enjoyed! 👍🤩📖 3y
47 likes1 comment
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Fofall247
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
Pickpick

This is the first book I got on audible and it turned into my all time favorite. It has this quality of being intriguing without taking itself wayyyy too seriously like a lot of fantasy tends to do. It‘s got rich characters, awesome lore, and a great storyline that I have read (listened to on audible) at least 10 times

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Nessavamusic
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

This was such fun! I want to call this urbane - fantasy. Very British adventure-spy type of story with supernatural elements. It‘s really hard to describe. I listened to it on audiobook, and the narrator is excellent. 4.5⭐️ 2 squares for my #bookspinbingo too!

TrishB I read this years ago and enjoyed 👍🏻 3y
37 likes1 comment
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Nessavamusic
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Here is my #14Books14Weeks final results:

Finished 11, 1 dnf for now!

I‘m currently reading The Rook and hope to get to Crown of Feathers soon.

Thanks @TheHeartlandBookFairy for hosting!

TheHeartlandBookFairy Good job! I'm right at the same place with you except for the DNF. I will finish soon though 😁 3y
CoverToCoverGirl 👏👏🙂 3y
45 likes2 comments
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Ast_Arslan
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it. Some will be old, some will be new - don't judge me, I have a lot of books.

Day 87th

Join the fun if you want!

#tbrpile

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FantasyChick
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

This I picked up on a whim. I've heard very little about it but good reviews for the most part. Amnesia story, secret societies in a modern world, X-men style powers and a whole chess based ranking system. Interesting, unique and engaging though a little drawn out and hard to follow at times. I just might keep on with this series!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y
47 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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FantasyChick
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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I.....am out of shape 😓

Took the minion for a little walk to the park to play and realized I really need to get back out there

#audiowalk #WalkToMordor

Alfoster Glad I‘m not the only one!😳😂😂😂 3y
50 likes1 comment
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Ubookquitous
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

Memento meets the MI-5 meets X-men LOL enjoyed it.

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TiffanyMichele
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

Finally finished a book!!!
This was a reread and it‘s still a four star. Would be a five but it has about a dozen f bombs in it.
Supernatural MI5 with an amnesiac MC. What more could you ask for??

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kristilabrie
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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This has been a delicious read so far and a nice escape from 2020, but I‘ve got an Angela Y. Davis book on deck because there is always more work to be done! #blacklivesmatter

That-Bookish-Hiker Love this book! The show is pretty good but not like the book. 4y
Bibliotekate Beep boop! 4y
Foxnorth sounds very cool! (edited) 4y
Foxnorth also very topical 4y
Foxnorth and interesting 4y
6 likes5 comments
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Lillie
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

A look back at my 5🌟 in 2012 #DecadeofBooks

I loved every single one of these books! Each so unique and wonderful or adventurous or funny or sweet or a deep dive. I highly recommend each and every single one.

thegirlwiththelibrarybag Love The Rook! 4y
ralexist The Rook is the best! 4y
Lillie @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @ralexist I couldn‘t put it down! Read it so long ago but I still remember details. 4y
17 likes3 comments
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Kimberlone
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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View from my #audiowalk today. Up to 11 hours reading for #24b4Monday

MyNamesParadise Whoa, that is beautiful! Where is that? 5y
Kimberlone @MyNamesParadise Chugach Mtns in Anchorage, AK 5y
Tanisha_A Wow! 😍 5y
Andrew65 Wow! Beautiful. 5y
50 likes4 comments
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ceilidh_gibbons
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
Pickpick

Re-read this year. Imaginative and entertaining.

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violabrain
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Mehso-so

Not my usual genre and not really my cup of tea. I enjoyed the incredible creativity of the first half, but once it got to the fight scenes, like all fantasy books, it just struck me as so juvenile and something only a 13-year-old boy would find cool. The humor also struck me as stupid and silly, which made it annoying. It made the main character sound like an airhead, when actually she‘s incredibly smart.

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Cinsarly
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

Awesome supernatural spy thriller about a woman who wakes up with the ability to control people's bodies and no memories. It turns out she's a member of a secret supernatural agency within the British government. The world is amazingly well built, the characters are well rounded, and the plot was well done. Plus, all the weird powers are super cool. #WinterGames #SlayBells #TBRRead @MidnightBookGirl @StayCurious @Clwojick

4 likes1 comment
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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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After watching Season 1 (only 8 episodes) I‘ve come to the conclusion that the show took the title of the book and the very bones of it and took it in another direction. Do I hate it? No not really. Am I disappointed? A little.

So far they have taken what makes this book so great- Myfawny‘s humor. I loved her humor in the books and so far she hasn‘t shown that in the show.

I‘m going to continue watch to see where it goes.

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jpmcwisemorgan
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley

I‘ve not read the book yet and I‘m considering watching the show - what‘s the word, Litsy?

DGRachel I thought the book had potential, but had serious pacing issues. I haven't watched the show, but I'm interested, too. 5y
jpmcwisemorgan @DGRachel I have the first one as an ebook. It must have been on sale and I decided it looked good but never read it. 5y
DGRachel It was one of the first books I bought on a bookseller‘s recommendation at Park Road Books. It was good enough that I bought the sequel, but I haven‘t read it, yet. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 5y
32 likes3 comments
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AnneFindsJoy
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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#booked2019 Summer! Tagged book was a fun read - a genre mashup of urban fantasy, mystery, paranormal, science fiction. It‘s now a STARZ tv series too - need to watch!

Cinfhen Ohhhhh!! Love finding series suggestions ♥️ 5y
jb72 I thought I saw something about that book made into a show. I think my library has it in ebook so I‘ll have to see the wait time. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Sounds like a fun book and series! 5y
33 likes3 comments
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Lillie
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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1. The Rook by Daniel O'Malley - read it now!!
2. Crazy Rich Asians - don't go to the movies often
3. White peaches, cherries, watermelon
4. 8 cousins
5. ❤

#friyayintro

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Squidapus
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

This book was phenomenal. Squidapus was hooked from page one when a woman wakes up standing in the middle of a circle of dead people all wearing latex gloves with no memories. While a secret organization protecting against the supernatural isn't original, the execution is fantastic. An intriguing plot is carried along by an absolutely riotous dry humor that never detracts from the seriousness or horror of events. Unique and wonderful characters

Erinsuereads OMG I loved this book! 5y
Lucy_Anywhere I loved this book! It's hilarious and imaginative, and Myfannwy is a fab character! 5y
shanaqui I really wanted to read this, but I'm so utterly put off by the fact that it moronically proclaims "Myfanwy" to sound like "Tiffany". I know Welsh names aren't common, but a tiny sliver of respect would be nice... 5y
See All 7 Comments
Squidapus @ErinSueGreads Squidapus had to pull me off the floor when she threw her gun down the passage then went back to pick it up! 5y
Squidapus @Lucy_Anywhere I loved both of them! 5y
Squidapus @shanaqui Being an American with no cultural pride or identity, Squidapus just kinda accepted stuff the book said about the UK. We can promise you that the rest of the book is worth the stumbles. 5y
Erinsuereads OMG right??? There were so many little things like that that had me cracking up 5y
21 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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Squidapus
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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So confession, Squidapus has already been reading this for a day so he'll probably review it tonight or tomorrow because he is ripping through it. He absolutely loves it. I was shocked to see it came out in 2012 and didn't get any awards (I think) cause it's pretty damn brilliant.

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jackilynn
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick
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Michollio
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Wanted to reread this because Starz made a show based on it, which I'm pretty psyched about. I might need to reread the second one now.

I'm also going to go ahead and use it for the psychological thriller space for #BookishBingo.

HOTPock3tt Ohmygosh I love that book so much lol! ✨😍 5y
Michollio @HOTPock3tt Right? I laughed aloud a lot 5y
11 likes2 comments
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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Book mail!!!

Finally got my own copies of The Rook and Stiletto.

DGRachel I love those covers! They‘re so much better than mine. 😭 5y
LibrarianRyan I like those covers 5y
That-Bookish-Hiker @DGRachel @LibrarianRyan I got them from Book Depository. I love all the detail on them! (edited) 5y
42 likes1 stack add3 comments
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jackilynn
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Well remind me not to go to Bath 😂😂

That-Bookish-Hiker Love this series! Are you watching the show on Starz? 5y
jackilynn @That-Bookish-Hiker I watched the 1st episode and was slightly confused as to what was going on. I figured I would pick up the book before I went back to series that way I would understand it better. I am really enjoying the book so far & am eager to get back to the tv series. 5y
9 likes2 comments
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jackilynn
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Picked this up at work today. The TV show looked interesting so I figured I better check out the source material first.

GypsyKat I haven‘t seen the show, but I love this series! 5y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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IndyHannaJones
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley

Anyone else out there watching the show????

Jillylovesbooks I‘m watching now! I didn‘t know about the book until now. I‘ll have to go back and read it. 5y
GypsyKat I haven‘t watched it, but I loved the books! 5y
Lostinagoodbook I haven‘t yet and I‘m nervous to start. It just doesn‘t look like they‘ve tapped into the humorous side of the book. 😐 5y
See All 6 Comments
IndyHannaJones @Lostinagoodbook so that is exactly what irritated me about the premier. The new Myfawny is super sassy and funny...and the tv one was...not. I honestly was disappointed because it is such a goofy, surreal book and thr show just felt like a government drama. 5y
IndyHannaJones @Jillylovesbooks the books are super funny and the 'aesthetic' of the show feels really different sooo...take that as you will... 5y
Jillylovesbooks @IndyHanna That‘s too bad. Maybe the show will introduce some humor as it goes along. 5y
10 likes6 comments
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Michollio
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Love this book 🤣

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That-Bookish-Hiker
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Ahhhhh!!!! I know what I‘ll be watching Sunday.

@GypsyKat did you know this was happening?

GypsyKat I knew it was happening, but I didn‘t know it was happening so soon! Such a great series!!! 5y
hermyknee Did you watch it? What did you think? I went over to one of my friend‘s houses to watch it last Sunday 5y
That-Bookish-Hiker @hermyknee I loved it! Pretty similar to the book and I love the actors they chose so far. I‘m excited to see another new episode Sunday. 5y
22 likes3 comments
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mcipher
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Truly enjoying my re-read of this book via Hoopla audio - I‘ve been driving for work so much this week I already clocked more than 4 of the whopping 17 hours...I can‘t believe how much I forgot in 7 years!
My only quibble is that the narrator does this weird thing with her voice where she drags the last word of each sentence out and kind of down - I get stuck on things like that and they annoy me! Too picky... 🙄

GypsyKat I love this series!!! ❤️🖤❤️🖤 5y
mcipher @GypsyKat I just discovered that there is a show based on the book, on Starz! 5y
GypsyKat @mcipher I know! I think it just came out! It‘s such a unique and complex series, they can really do so much with the show. 5y
mcipher @GypsyKat I hope it‘s good. Now to finish up my other shows so I can justify a new one... 5y
56 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Bookartbookmarks
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Mehso-so

Anyone read The Rook? I really liked it, but used some disturbing language I just couldn‘t get behind. They‘re making a show about it. Not sure how I feel and if I‘ll watch. Thoughts?

TrishB I‘ve read a while ago and enjoyed at the time! Don‘t particularly remember language, but it is a while ago. 5y
DGRachel I read it several years ago and struggled with the pacing of it. I don‘t remember having issues with the language, but I also don‘t really remember much of it at all. I may give the show a chance, but I don‘t have high expectations. 5y
52 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Opened my #summersantagoespostal box and it‘s amazing! Thank you @Chili !!!

j9brown Cute tote! 5y
Chili @Nessavamusic I‘m so glad you like it!!! I was so much fun to put together. Omg! I forgot it was opening day.🤦‍♀️ 5y
squirrelbrain Great gifts! ❤️ 5y
57 likes3 comments
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mreads
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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One of my favorites set in London. Myfanwy is a Rook, in a secret organization called the Chequy that battles supernatural forces in Britain. She has a rare dangerous ability but we meet a fast number of agents with obscure and humorous 'gifts'.

#londoncalling #wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB

Cinfhen If you like fantasy this one sounds good!! 5y
BarbaraBB I have no idea what you‘re posting about 😂 5y
63 likes1 stack add2 comments
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HOTPock3tt
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

#AudioBook Well!😵 I‘m wondering exactly what to think! This had a very compelling story with lots of extremely fun characters! Lots of court intrigue too. The villains were a bit corny, So you might want to go for the print version 🤣 and the ending was kind of meh. But overall it was really fun and I‘m looking forward to the tv series! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ /5
Btw, I nominate MYSELF to play the Black girl Shantay: Bishop of the American Checquy! Lol😝♥️

SW-T 🤣🤣🤣 5y
HOTPock3tt @SW-T 😎 5y
BookNAround I thoroughly enjoyed this one even though it‘s not my usual kind of read at all. Now I‘m trying to convince myself the sequel won‘t ruin the first one. 5y
HOTPock3tt @BookNAround Same here! It was my usual type of thing either and I was shocked by how much I liked it. I also had a similar feeling where I am scared to jump into the sequel because I‘m afraid it‘ll mess up the feel of the first one or go in a weird direction with the characters 😅 but I liked this one so much I doubt I‘ll be able to resist a chance to go back into that world 😎 (edited) 5y
32 likes4 comments
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Bookgoil
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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I read 15 books in May... my lowest amount this year but I have been gaming more and enjoying some good weather with my dogs (when it‘s not raining...)

Here‘s the run down:
* 5 audiobooks
* 4 library books (one audio)
* 2 rereads
* 4 graphic novels
* 3 ARCs
* 3 TBR pile books

How was May for you?

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Kristy_K
The Rook: A Novel | Daniel O'Malley
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Pickpick

3.5 Stars

The Rook blends fantasy, sci-fi, action, and more into an exciting novel about Myfanwy, a woman who wakes up with no memory of her past self. Through letters her previous self wrote (knowing this was to come) and through her own investigation, Myfanwy works to figure out who wiped her memories and tried to kill her. It‘s not an easy task considering she works for an elite government agency that deals with the paranormal.

JazzFeathers Oh, wow! Of course l'm staking it! 6y
Kristy_K @JazzFeathers I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 6y
52 likes2 stack adds2 comments