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Seconds Away (Mickey Bolitar #2)
8.0
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This action-packed second book in international bestseller Harlan Coben’s Mickey Bolitar young...
The Faerie Guardian (Creepy Hollow, #1)
8.0
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She's fae. He's human. He should never have followed her into the magic realm ... ...
With Silent Screams ( Hellequin book 3)
9.0
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His name is Nathan Garrett, but he’s also known as Hellequin. And murdering one of his friends and...
Merissa (12061 KP) rated Flame Kissed (Phoenix Rising #1) in Books
Nov 2, 2023
FLAME KISSED is the first book in the Phoenix Rising series. It is a fast-paced and action-packed story involving Wraiths and Phoenixes.
There is a whole new world here, just waiting to be explored. Where you have Oracles and Seers, Soldiers and Scholars. Where torture is not unknown and you can be bonded to someone against your will. From a heartbreaking start to a climactic finish, this book will hit pretty much every emotion as you read it. You will laugh at Aurelia and her sassy, take no prisoners, attitude. And then there is the banter between her and Evan, Rhys, West, and the rest of the crew.
I get the feeling that this book has only just scratched the surface of what is to come, and I for one, am looking forward to learning more! Definitely recommended.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 2, 2023
There is a whole new world here, just waiting to be explored. Where you have Oracles and Seers, Soldiers and Scholars. Where torture is not unknown and you can be bonded to someone against your will. From a heartbreaking start to a climactic finish, this book will hit pretty much every emotion as you read it. You will laugh at Aurelia and her sassy, take no prisoners, attitude. And then there is the banter between her and Evan, Rhys, West, and the rest of the crew.
I get the feeling that this book has only just scratched the surface of what is to come, and I for one, am looking forward to learning more! Definitely recommended.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 2, 2023
Merissa (12061 KP) rated Bury Me (Immortal Vices and Virtues: Her Monstrous Mates #6) in Books
Sep 18, 2023
BURY ME is the sixth book in the Immortal Vices and Virtues: Her Monstrous Mates series but it is the first one I have read. Now I've read this one, I want ALL of them!!!
Everything about this book was amazing - from the world-building to the character development. I loved it all. Most especially, although the men were drool-worthy, I adored Cira. She really has been to hell and back, and her so-called guardian got off very lightly in my book! The solution to her shifting problem was brilliant and not one I've read before.
Action-packed and with a multitude of different races, characters, and Houses, this was hot and steamy in a way relevant to the story. Absolutely brilliant, HIGHLY recommended by me, and I need all of the others!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 18, 2023
Everything about this book was amazing - from the world-building to the character development. I loved it all. Most especially, although the men were drool-worthy, I adored Cira. She really has been to hell and back, and her so-called guardian got off very lightly in my book! The solution to her shifting problem was brilliant and not one I've read before.
Action-packed and with a multitude of different races, characters, and Houses, this was hot and steamy in a way relevant to the story. Absolutely brilliant, HIGHLY recommended by me, and I need all of the others!
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 18, 2023
The Redemption of Mattie Silks
Book
SEEKING REDEMPTION, SHE FINDS RETRIBUTION In 1892, running one of the West’s fanciest brothels...
Historical Women's Fiction
Ships of War: Murky Waters
Book
1791 - England's cannon remain ever silent as her shipping is ruthlessly preyed upon, a detestable...
Naval Adventure Fiction Historical
Lucy Buglass (45 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
An action-packed mix of super powers, solidarity and cats
Ever since Captain Marvel was announced, it dominated social media for a number of reasons. People were either hyped, or couldn’t wait to slag it off. As a casual superhero fan I was interested to see what all the fuss was about, and how Brie Larson would perform in the titular role. Ever since I saw her in Room, I’ve been so impressed by her talent and hoped she would deliver in this project too.
This film follows pilot Carol Danvers, as her world is turned upside down and she has to discover the truth about herself whilst caught slap bang in the middle of a galactic war. Captain Marvel is an origin story, and for a large portion of the film Danvers is struggling with amnesia and frequent nightmares. I really sympathised with her throughout the entirety of the film, and most of this is a testament to Brie. Once again she knew exactly how to bring a character to life.
The film does have some flaws, and for me, most of them came in the first act. The pacing felt a bit off here, but thankfully by the time the second act rolls around, it settles down. It’s a shame that the first act didn’t do much for me, especially as it felt like a completely different film in terms of its tone and narrative. Once the film got going I had a great time with it, with the scenes on Earth being my personal favourites. From the moment she arrived on Earth, I became hooked.
By the time Carol meets Nick Fury, the film changed for me and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters. It provided plenty of light relief when it was needed, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love Samuel L. Jackson? The rest of the cast is fun too. Special shout out to Goose the Cat who, as expected, completely stole the show. Scenes involving him and Nick Fury were particularly delightful, and I think I could’ve watched just that for hours. Jude Law and Gemma Chan take to their respective, badass roles effortlessly, and I enjoyed what they brought to the table despite not being on screen as much as I’d expected.
Overall, I thought it had the right mix of comedy and serious moments, in classic Marvel style. I’ve come to expect silly jokes and cringe worthy dialogue in between the action; it’s all part of the fun. I loved Danvers’ sarcastic personality, and how brilliantly it clashed with those around her to make the audience laugh out loud. Her level of sass is something that I can’t wait to see more of.
Like most Marvel films, this is best experienced on the big screen due to its impressive visual style. The scenes in space particularly stood out to me, and seeing that in the cinema was a real treat. There’s something about a good space setting that’s so hypnotic, and Captain Marvel was no exception. It is action packed, aesthetically appealing, and features a strong cast against this backdrop. There’s some genuinely heart-warming moments here, especially featuring significant people from Carol’s life on Earth. In an effort to keep this as spoiler free as possible, I won’t mention them, but I guarantee it’ll make you smile.
I’m excited to see where Captain Marvel goes next, particularly her appearance in Avengers: Endgame which is already generating a lot of excitement. Brie Larson is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe, and I see her as a strong, powerful woman who I’d love my future children to look up to.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2019/03/27/an-action-packed-mix-of-super-powers-solidarity-and-cats-my-thoughts-on-captain-marvel/
This film follows pilot Carol Danvers, as her world is turned upside down and she has to discover the truth about herself whilst caught slap bang in the middle of a galactic war. Captain Marvel is an origin story, and for a large portion of the film Danvers is struggling with amnesia and frequent nightmares. I really sympathised with her throughout the entirety of the film, and most of this is a testament to Brie. Once again she knew exactly how to bring a character to life.
The film does have some flaws, and for me, most of them came in the first act. The pacing felt a bit off here, but thankfully by the time the second act rolls around, it settles down. It’s a shame that the first act didn’t do much for me, especially as it felt like a completely different film in terms of its tone and narrative. Once the film got going I had a great time with it, with the scenes on Earth being my personal favourites. From the moment she arrived on Earth, I became hooked.
By the time Carol meets Nick Fury, the film changed for me and I absolutely loved the dynamic between the two characters. It provided plenty of light relief when it was needed, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love Samuel L. Jackson? The rest of the cast is fun too. Special shout out to Goose the Cat who, as expected, completely stole the show. Scenes involving him and Nick Fury were particularly delightful, and I think I could’ve watched just that for hours. Jude Law and Gemma Chan take to their respective, badass roles effortlessly, and I enjoyed what they brought to the table despite not being on screen as much as I’d expected.
Overall, I thought it had the right mix of comedy and serious moments, in classic Marvel style. I’ve come to expect silly jokes and cringe worthy dialogue in between the action; it’s all part of the fun. I loved Danvers’ sarcastic personality, and how brilliantly it clashed with those around her to make the audience laugh out loud. Her level of sass is something that I can’t wait to see more of.
Like most Marvel films, this is best experienced on the big screen due to its impressive visual style. The scenes in space particularly stood out to me, and seeing that in the cinema was a real treat. There’s something about a good space setting that’s so hypnotic, and Captain Marvel was no exception. It is action packed, aesthetically appealing, and features a strong cast against this backdrop. There’s some genuinely heart-warming moments here, especially featuring significant people from Carol’s life on Earth. In an effort to keep this as spoiler free as possible, I won’t mention them, but I guarantee it’ll make you smile.
I’m excited to see where Captain Marvel goes next, particularly her appearance in Avengers: Endgame which is already generating a lot of excitement. Brie Larson is a welcome addition to the Marvel universe, and I see her as a strong, powerful woman who I’d love my future children to look up to.
https://lucygoestohollywood.com/2019/03/27/an-action-packed-mix-of-super-powers-solidarity-and-cats-my-thoughts-on-captain-marvel/
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) in Movies
Sep 12, 2021
See Shang-Chi on the Big Screen
The new Marvel Super Hero film, SHANG-CHI and the LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS is the kind of film that deserves to be seen on the big screen and Writer/Director Destin Daniel Cretton (JUST MERCY) has crafted a film that earns that statement.
Based on the Marvel comic book character (of course), SHANG-CHI tells the tale of…well…Shang-Chi a financially struggling - but happy - Valet in San Francisco who has a family secret.
Writer/Director Cretton has crafted a whimsical, mythological, mystical and action packed film that settles in at the top end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe family of films.
At the center, newcomer Simu Liu (KIM’S CONVENIENCE) more than holds his own as the newest Super Hero in the MCU. He is grounded, centered and more sure than unsure as he discovers his abilities and his family’s secrets. He is a worthy addition to this world of Superheroes.
Joining him is the remarkable Awkwafina (CRAZY, RICH ASIANS) as his best friend, sidekick who handles the drama comedy and action with aplomb. This film makes some smart choices with this character and Awkwafina shines.
The rest of the cast/characters are equally as strong from Tony Chi-Wai Leung (as Shang-Chi’s father) to Meng’er Zhang (as Shang-Chi’s sister) and good ol’ Michelle Yeoh (as Shang-Chi’s Aunt) bring strong characters to life. They all shine.
This film also brings back a character from a previous MCU film that somewhat redeems the poorly conceived character from his earlier appearance. I won’t spoil it by saying who it is, but I liked what the MCU did with this character.
But, this being a Marvel movie, all of these performances anchor a bigger picture that is filled with action, action and more action - and something else, something mystical.
Here is where Director Cretton really shines. The action scenes are interestingly staged and choreographed well. The first fight (the bus fight that is shown in the trailer) and a fight on scaffolding both particularly work well.
This film does delve into the mystical in the last 1/3 and in Cretton’s hands, this ends up working well instead of being comical or inane. I bought what was going on and was rooting for our heroes to defeat the undefeatable, fantastical creatures.
To be honest, the “final battle” didn’t really live up to the rest of the film so that brings this film down a notch, but this movie did what it needed it to do, it opened up a whole new area of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - in both character and locations - and I am anxious to see where they go from here.
Try to see SHANG-CHI on the Big Screen, the visuals are worth it.
Letter Grade A- (the finale needed to be better)
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Based on the Marvel comic book character (of course), SHANG-CHI tells the tale of…well…Shang-Chi a financially struggling - but happy - Valet in San Francisco who has a family secret.
Writer/Director Cretton has crafted a whimsical, mythological, mystical and action packed film that settles in at the top end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe family of films.
At the center, newcomer Simu Liu (KIM’S CONVENIENCE) more than holds his own as the newest Super Hero in the MCU. He is grounded, centered and more sure than unsure as he discovers his abilities and his family’s secrets. He is a worthy addition to this world of Superheroes.
Joining him is the remarkable Awkwafina (CRAZY, RICH ASIANS) as his best friend, sidekick who handles the drama comedy and action with aplomb. This film makes some smart choices with this character and Awkwafina shines.
The rest of the cast/characters are equally as strong from Tony Chi-Wai Leung (as Shang-Chi’s father) to Meng’er Zhang (as Shang-Chi’s sister) and good ol’ Michelle Yeoh (as Shang-Chi’s Aunt) bring strong characters to life. They all shine.
This film also brings back a character from a previous MCU film that somewhat redeems the poorly conceived character from his earlier appearance. I won’t spoil it by saying who it is, but I liked what the MCU did with this character.
But, this being a Marvel movie, all of these performances anchor a bigger picture that is filled with action, action and more action - and something else, something mystical.
Here is where Director Cretton really shines. The action scenes are interestingly staged and choreographed well. The first fight (the bus fight that is shown in the trailer) and a fight on scaffolding both particularly work well.
This film does delve into the mystical in the last 1/3 and in Cretton’s hands, this ends up working well instead of being comical or inane. I bought what was going on and was rooting for our heroes to defeat the undefeatable, fantastical creatures.
To be honest, the “final battle” didn’t really live up to the rest of the film so that brings this film down a notch, but this movie did what it needed it to do, it opened up a whole new area of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - in both character and locations - and I am anxious to see where they go from here.
Try to see SHANG-CHI on the Big Screen, the visuals are worth it.
Letter Grade A- (the finale needed to be better)
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
There has definitely been a shift in the characters that women are portraying in the movies. No longer happy to be relegated to the damsel in distress who is looking for their Prince Charming to rescue them, they become bad-ass avengers who aren’t afraid to kick-butt and take names. There is no better example of this than Lisbeth Salander, everyone’s favorite goth super-hacker and vigilante. In The Girl in the Spider’s Web, based on the best-selling novel of the same name, we see Lisbeth at her finest and it is an action packed, butt kicking good time.
Lisbeth (Claire Foy) leads a life as a vigilante who targets men that abuse woman ensuring they pay for their evil deeds. She’s not afraid to play hardball and threaten their very existence to ensure that justice is served. In the middle of punishing all the right people, Lisbeth receives a hacking opportunity that she can’t refuse, involving an application where simply logging in allows you to take over the world’s nuclear weapons. This super application was originally created and sold to the NSA in Washington and Lisbeth is tasked with stealing it back and returning it to the original creator so that it can be properly destroyed. Lisbeth successfully steals the application but that then makes her the target of not only the NSA whom she had stolen it from originally, but also another secretive group who has their own nefarious plans.
The film quickly goes from Lisbeth and her “simple” vigilante ways to becoming a global thriller that spans multiple countries and agencies. Not only does the plot change quickly but Lisbeth’s character also morph’s from being a Black Canary type vigilante to becoming a female version of Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hunt. Even though playing a female Ethan Hunt is different from Lisbeth’s usual trope her skills fit nicely into her new role. Her ability to hack into any computer system comes in handy quite a few times and lets us have a tie to the Lisbeth we know and love, but we also get to see her flex her wits and general bad-assery a bit deeper during her “impossible mission”. The film was definitely not what I expected but I was still pleasantly surprised.
The Swedish setting where the movie takes place was gorgeous and varies from desolate abandoned buildings to chases in the middle of sprawling cities. It utilizes the snow-covered landscape and decrepit buildings to create a sense of isolation, even when the streets themselves are packed with cars. Along with the isolation from the setting we also see the use of both old and new technology, which gives a low-tech feel to what is an otherwise a high stakes mission. Both the setting and the technology allows us to see that Lisbeth is a force to be reckoned with no matter what type of adversity she faces.
Which brings me to the one of the best parts of the movie and that is Claire Foy’s absolutely amazing portrayal of Lisbeth. We already knew she did a great job playing a royal in The Crown and as the wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong in First Man but relinquishing her usual elegant and classy portrayals to spectacularly play one of the biggest, baddest female characters around shows the true depth of her talent. She is definitely the star of the show and now I am an even bigger fan of hers than I already was. I was also impressed with the other main characters, including investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason), who plays less of role than in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but does a great job nonetheless, and the young boy, August Balder (Christopher Convery) that holds the key to the entire mission excellently played by Christopher Convery. The trio make an unusual team, but how the characters (and actors) play on each other’s strengths and weaknesses to complement each other brings heart to a movie that could have easily been 100% an action adventure.
The one aspect I feel could (and should) have been fleshed out more, was Lisbeth’s character as a battered woman’s vigilante. The movie started off with a very strong vigilante scene, but the vigilante theme is quickly forgotten until the very end of the film where we find out it was the sole catalyst of the main adversary. This oversight sadly turned what could have been a woman’s justice vigilante movie into a more run-of-the-mill super spy movie. That’s not necessarily bad, it is still action packed and full of twists and turns, but it’s definitely a missed opportunity to show more of who Lisbeth is.
The Girl in the Spider’s Web is filled with action, gadgets, and car chases though beautiful scenery and it is an excellent movie to see if you are looking for something different than green grinches and Nazi zombies. It’s not the movie I went in expecting to see, but I’m not complaining as it is still a solid film. Even though it diverts away from the more artistic The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo it is a very good action-packed thriller that would stack up nicely next to the Mission Impossible movies it is reminiscent of. It’s definitely a movie I recommend to action movie fans everywhere.
Lisbeth (Claire Foy) leads a life as a vigilante who targets men that abuse woman ensuring they pay for their evil deeds. She’s not afraid to play hardball and threaten their very existence to ensure that justice is served. In the middle of punishing all the right people, Lisbeth receives a hacking opportunity that she can’t refuse, involving an application where simply logging in allows you to take over the world’s nuclear weapons. This super application was originally created and sold to the NSA in Washington and Lisbeth is tasked with stealing it back and returning it to the original creator so that it can be properly destroyed. Lisbeth successfully steals the application but that then makes her the target of not only the NSA whom she had stolen it from originally, but also another secretive group who has their own nefarious plans.
The film quickly goes from Lisbeth and her “simple” vigilante ways to becoming a global thriller that spans multiple countries and agencies. Not only does the plot change quickly but Lisbeth’s character also morph’s from being a Black Canary type vigilante to becoming a female version of Mission Impossible’s Ethan Hunt. Even though playing a female Ethan Hunt is different from Lisbeth’s usual trope her skills fit nicely into her new role. Her ability to hack into any computer system comes in handy quite a few times and lets us have a tie to the Lisbeth we know and love, but we also get to see her flex her wits and general bad-assery a bit deeper during her “impossible mission”. The film was definitely not what I expected but I was still pleasantly surprised.
The Swedish setting where the movie takes place was gorgeous and varies from desolate abandoned buildings to chases in the middle of sprawling cities. It utilizes the snow-covered landscape and decrepit buildings to create a sense of isolation, even when the streets themselves are packed with cars. Along with the isolation from the setting we also see the use of both old and new technology, which gives a low-tech feel to what is an otherwise a high stakes mission. Both the setting and the technology allows us to see that Lisbeth is a force to be reckoned with no matter what type of adversity she faces.
Which brings me to the one of the best parts of the movie and that is Claire Foy’s absolutely amazing portrayal of Lisbeth. We already knew she did a great job playing a royal in The Crown and as the wife of astronaut Neil Armstrong in First Man but relinquishing her usual elegant and classy portrayals to spectacularly play one of the biggest, baddest female characters around shows the true depth of her talent. She is definitely the star of the show and now I am an even bigger fan of hers than I already was. I was also impressed with the other main characters, including investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason), who plays less of role than in the original The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but does a great job nonetheless, and the young boy, August Balder (Christopher Convery) that holds the key to the entire mission excellently played by Christopher Convery. The trio make an unusual team, but how the characters (and actors) play on each other’s strengths and weaknesses to complement each other brings heart to a movie that could have easily been 100% an action adventure.
The one aspect I feel could (and should) have been fleshed out more, was Lisbeth’s character as a battered woman’s vigilante. The movie started off with a very strong vigilante scene, but the vigilante theme is quickly forgotten until the very end of the film where we find out it was the sole catalyst of the main adversary. This oversight sadly turned what could have been a woman’s justice vigilante movie into a more run-of-the-mill super spy movie. That’s not necessarily bad, it is still action packed and full of twists and turns, but it’s definitely a missed opportunity to show more of who Lisbeth is.
The Girl in the Spider’s Web is filled with action, gadgets, and car chases though beautiful scenery and it is an excellent movie to see if you are looking for something different than green grinches and Nazi zombies. It’s not the movie I went in expecting to see, but I’m not complaining as it is still a solid film. Even though it diverts away from the more artistic The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo it is a very good action-packed thriller that would stack up nicely next to the Mission Impossible movies it is reminiscent of. It’s definitely a movie I recommend to action movie fans everywhere.