Anglet Sutonga is the heart of 'Steeplejack,' and her perspective as a working-class steeplejack gives the story such a fresh feel. She’s not your typical chosen one; she’s just trying to survive in a city that’s stacked against her. Berrit, her mentor, has this tragic arc that hits hard, and Mnenga, the foreign diplomat, brings this outsider’s curiosity that contrasts with Ang’s street smarts. Willinghouse is the slippery politician you never quite trust, and Dahria’s sharp tongue hides her own vulnerabilities. Even minor characters like the ruthless minister Felton leave a mark. The dynamics between them—especially Ang’s uneasy alliances—make the political thriller elements crackle.
One of the things I love about 'Steeplejack' is how A.J. Hartley crafts such vivid characters in this gritty, industrial fantasy world. The protagonist, Anglet Sutonga, is a young steeplejack who scales the towering chimneys of Bar-Selehm to clean them—a dangerous job that mirrors her precarious life. She's resourceful, tough, and deeply loyal to her found family, especially her mentor Berrit. Then there's Willinghouse, a politician with a hidden agenda, and Dahria, his sharp-witted sister, who adds layers of intrigue. The way their paths collide amidst political conspiracies and racial tensions makes the story unforgettable.
What really stands out is how Ang isn't just some action hero; she's deeply human, grappling with her identity as a Lani outsider in a city that treats her people as second-class. The side characters, like the street-smart Josiah and the enigmatic Mnenga, flesh out the world beautifully. Hartley doesn’t just throw tropes at you—every character feels like they’ve lived a full life before the book even starts. It’s one of those casts that lingers in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.
Bar-Selehm feels alive because of its characters. Anglet’s the kind of protagonist who stays with you—her voice is so distinct, whether she’s navigating the city’s towering smokestacks or its back-alley betrayals. Berrit’s fatherly warmth makes his fate even more gutting, and Mnenga’s cultural outsider status parallels Ang’s in a way that deepens the themes. Willinghouse and Dahria are the perfect foils: one all calculated charm, the other bristling with sarcasm. Even the antagonists, like the manipulative minister, feel nuanced. The book’s strength is how these personalities clash and intertwine, driven by survival and secrets. It’s rare to find a cast where everyone, down to the side characters, has this much depth.
'Steeplejack'’s characters are its backbone. Ang’s resilience makes her easy to root for, but it’s her relationships—like her bond with Berrit or her tense truce with Willinghouse—that give the story weight. Dahria’s wit and Mnenga’s quiet wisdom round out a cast that never feels flat. Even the city itself feels like a character, with its smog and inequality shaping everyone’s choices. Hartley writes people, not plot devices, and that’s why the story sticks.
2025-12-08 13:26:12
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Fall in love with these bad-boy bikers — with steamy stories ranging from second-chance romances to secret hookups.The Heaven Hill Series is created by Laramie Briscoe, an eGlobal Creative Publishing Signed Author.
Ashley thought she could outrun her past—but a broken-down car on a deserted highway throws her into a brutal biker ambush. Her world collides with the Steel Vipers MC, a brotherhood bound by steel, loyalty, and danger.
Rescued by four men—Nolan, the commanding President; Jax, the scarred Enforcer; Ace, the silver-tongued VP; and Cole, the reckless Prospect—Ashley is pulled into their world... and into their hearts.
With rival gangs, a ruthless cartel, an obsessed ex, and a relentless detective closing in, trust turns to temptation, desire, and a forbidden bond with all four men. On the open road, survival isn't guaranteed... but wild, dangerous love just might be.
The last chapters deliver explosive heat—intimate and deeply earned—as Ashley and the vipers stop running from what they want and claim each other completely.
Lots of people are asking so here it is:
Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy.
Thank you so much for reading xxx
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When his dad cheats on his mum and brings in the mistress to play happy families, Billy vows to get back at him somehow, he just has to find the right angle.
When his new stepmum warns him to stay away from his pretty new stepsister, she unknowingly gives him the perfect revenge plot.
Will be be able to convince the sweet and innocent Elsie to get back at his dad and stepmother? Or will he fall for her in the process and ruin everything?
Lots of people are asking so here it is:
Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy
Thank you all so much for reading!
~~~~~
Jake has one goal in life - protect his brothers and keep his family together. He has to find a job, earn his keep. He doesn't have time for trivial things like friends and girlfriends.
Kim wants freedom, adventure and excitement. She's not interested in living a life of regrets or what if's.
A chance encounter with the stoic and mysterious new guy in school, has Kim adamant to bring a little joy to his life, even if he doesn't think he wants it.
Sold like a circus animal.
Collared, forced into misery and self-hatred.
With a single blow, she hopes to change her life, only to find herself trapped again.
Ocean has no idea what freedom means, but she desires nothing more than a taste of it.
The secrets hidden from her will unfold before her eyes, no one can escape the truth.
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The book excerpt:
"Here, I have a key to your heart," I left the key in my palm, metal, and skin together. I stumbled upon the ancient artwork in the locker rooms. It caught my attention because it resembles a dagger, so I took it and waited for the perfect opportunity.
"Silly girl, that is not the key to my heart. Pathetic attempt." Vladimir growls in disgust. If I'm lucky, I'll be free by the end of the night.
Taking the first step toward my destruction, I grin and move my hips in time with the slow music in the background. Vladimir swallows, his Adam's apple bobbles in his throat. The vampire's eyes focus on the crook of my neck as I stop directly in front of him. I place my palm on his chest, guide my fingertips down to his abdominal muscles, a corner of my lip twitches in disgust. When he closes his eyes, I take the opportunity to plunge the key directly into his heart, smiling as his eyes shoot open and he looks down at me in horror. "Are you still convinced I don't have the key to your heart?" I ask, grab him by the collar, and pull him closer. My lips nearly touch his ear as I whisper, "It fits."
Power, position and throne are what the Ashcroftians only wanted. They will kill if they need to. An endless war that feels just like a children's game, a floody blood flows just like the water in the river, and wine is much more expensive than people's lives. And yes! It all exist only in the nation named Ashcroft.
After the long drought and hunger for justice and equality, one woman (Princess Sapphire Welshly Sylverstein) will return stronger, bolder and even smarter to change the whole nation's seances about "life". And surprisingly another long lost precious gem of the Knightwalkers will appear to continue his father's legacy.
After everything is settled, this man can't still figure out what's missing on his part late until he realized that it was the woman whom he's with back in the city (Japan) that he wanted to spend most of his time. But this time it's becoming more allonomous to take action to follow his heart as he got rivals both in the throne and in the woman she treasures most.
He then focused more on becoming a good ruler of Knightwalker Empire and for the main time set aside his feeling for Sapphire and instead ask his best friend to look after her, but the case won't always be the same as his best friend did the most unexpected action that will change him forever. This is why we should never entrust our belongings to someone else, as looks can be deceiving and remember that the devil was once an angel-therefore be careful who you trust.
Upon the lost of his love the visionary finally happen. He became harmful and hatred consumed him until a year later, a young lovely Princess will come home with the same purpose.
Screwjack' is one of Hunter S. Thompson's wilder, lesser-known works, a collection of three short stories that dive deep into his signature gonzo style. The 'main characters' aren't traditional protagonists but rather visceral, almost hallucinatory figures—like the narrator himself, a drug-fueled version of Thompson, and the grotesque, surreal entities he encounters. The titular 'Screwjack' feels more like a nightmarish force than a person, embodying chaos and decay. The second story, 'Blood Fever,' follows a man spiraling into paranoia, while 'Big Fate' riffs on obsession and doom. It's less about conventional storytelling and more about raw, unfiltered emotion—like being trapped in a bad trip with no escape.
I first stumbled upon this book after binge-reading 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,' expecting more of the same, but 'Screwjack' hits differently. It's darker, meaner, and way more experimental. If you're into Thompson's usual themes—existential dread, substance abuse, and societal collapse—this is a fascinating (if unsettling) detour. Just don't expect cozy bedtime reading.
The core cast of 'Tower of Jack' is such a wild mix of personalities—it’s part of why I got hooked! Jack, the protagonist, is this scrappy underdog with a sharp tongue and a reckless streak, but you can’t help rooting for him. Then there’s Elena, the mysterious rogue who always seems three steps ahead but hides her past like buried treasure. Their dynamic feels electric, especially when they clash with the Tower’s enforcers, like the coldly efficient Commander Vex or the fanatical zealot Seris.
What’s cool is how side characters like Grem, the chatterbox alchemist, or the melancholic ghost-warrior Lysander weave into the bigger mystery. The Tower itself almost feels like a character, shifting and manipulating everyone’s fates. I love how nobody’s purely good or evil—just survivors wrestling with their own demons while climbing toward some twisted version of salvation.