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Merissa (12066 KP) rated The Goddess's Curse (Heartmates, #1) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from Reading Alley in return for a fair and honest review.
The basic crux of this story is a battle between men and women living apart and only coming together when pheromones and nature mix together.
The Sharona (women) live in luxury and don't have any fears about anything. Anything, that is, apart from when the heat comes on them and their crystal changes colour, which lets them know that they will soon be in the mating season. This isn't a mate at first sight season, it's more like a rutting season with the Sharona mating with various men until the urge leaves her.
The Lahon (men) live in more 'rustic' accommodations and yet seem to be the happier of the two. Or at least they would be if they weren't worried about the lack of water.
The plot line of this story is fairly simple and it is obvious from the start just who the 'bad guy' is. The story lies in the detail of the hows and whys and, of course, getting the innocent party to believe ill of someone else.
Although this story does have a sort of happy ending, it is also left wide open for further stories which I will be happy to read when they come out.
The basic crux of this story is a battle between men and women living apart and only coming together when pheromones and nature mix together.
The Sharona (women) live in luxury and don't have any fears about anything. Anything, that is, apart from when the heat comes on them and their crystal changes colour, which lets them know that they will soon be in the mating season. This isn't a mate at first sight season, it's more like a rutting season with the Sharona mating with various men until the urge leaves her.
The Lahon (men) live in more 'rustic' accommodations and yet seem to be the happier of the two. Or at least they would be if they weren't worried about the lack of water.
The plot line of this story is fairly simple and it is obvious from the start just who the 'bad guy' is. The story lies in the detail of the hows and whys and, of course, getting the innocent party to believe ill of someone else.
Although this story does have a sort of happy ending, it is also left wide open for further stories which I will be happy to read when they come out.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Wraith Squadron (Star Wars: X-Wing, #5) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
How best to describe 'X-Wing: Wraith Squadron', the fifth book in the Star Wars series of books (loosely) based on the old video-games? I think the following exchange from the early part of the novel sums it up best (with Wedge speaking):
' " .. I'd originally thought that Rogue Squadron would be used opportunistically: a strike mission would reveal a ground-based weakness, and we'd have the training and supplies ot go down and perform the necessary ground mission. The way it turned out, we keep landing full-fledged commando missions. So I think we need another Commando X-Wing squadron, one where we choose pilots so as to have a full range of intrusion and subversion skills. Rogue Sqaudron was designed as a fighter unit first, commando unit second; this time, I want to go the other way around."
...
"I want pilots no one else want. Washouts. Pilots staring court-martials in the face. Trouble-makers and screw-ups." '
The rest of the novel deals, primarily, with the formation of that unit and their first mission, concentrating in particular on two members of that unit and their own internal battle against themselves.
While not the strongest of spin-off novels (and, maybe, slightly longer than it needs to be), this is still an enjoyable enough diversion for a couple of days light reading.
' " .. I'd originally thought that Rogue Squadron would be used opportunistically: a strike mission would reveal a ground-based weakness, and we'd have the training and supplies ot go down and perform the necessary ground mission. The way it turned out, we keep landing full-fledged commando missions. So I think we need another Commando X-Wing squadron, one where we choose pilots so as to have a full range of intrusion and subversion skills. Rogue Sqaudron was designed as a fighter unit first, commando unit second; this time, I want to go the other way around."
...
"I want pilots no one else want. Washouts. Pilots staring court-martials in the face. Trouble-makers and screw-ups." '
The rest of the novel deals, primarily, with the formation of that unit and their first mission, concentrating in particular on two members of that unit and their own internal battle against themselves.
While not the strongest of spin-off novels (and, maybe, slightly longer than it needs to be), this is still an enjoyable enough diversion for a couple of days light reading.
David McK (3425 KP) rated Batman: Knightfall, Part Two: Who Rules the Night in Books
Jan 30, 2019
So, when you hear the name 'Batman' I'm sure most of you, like me, immediately associate that character with his alter-ego of Bruce Wayne.
Not of Jean-Paul Valley.
But that is precisely who Batman's alter-ego is in thus, with Bruce Wayne (the original Batman!) still in convalesence following his brutal battle - and defeat! - by Bane, and with Bruce then temporarily passing the mantle of the bat onto the former Azrael (another lesser-known comic book character to the general masses, of which I was one prior to TVs Gotham and Rocksteady's Arkham series of games) , and former foe rather than - for some inexplicable reason - passing it on to Nightwing, or even to his own sidekick Robin (or Tim Drake in this).
But this Batman proves to be rougher and more violent than his predecessor - harking back to the original anti-hero Batman? - dispensing extremely rough justice to the crooks of Gotham city and side-lining Robin (who seems to do nothing but wring his hands throughout). It's really only at the very end - when Jean-Paul crosses a line - that Bruce Wayne re-appears (somehow, and mysteriously, having recovered from his severr injury), leading to the set-up for the final part of the trilogy: a final part that I will read in due course, but that I currently feel I need a break from!
Not of Jean-Paul Valley.
But that is precisely who Batman's alter-ego is in thus, with Bruce Wayne (the original Batman!) still in convalesence following his brutal battle - and defeat! - by Bane, and with Bruce then temporarily passing the mantle of the bat onto the former Azrael (another lesser-known comic book character to the general masses, of which I was one prior to TVs Gotham and Rocksteady's Arkham series of games) , and former foe rather than - for some inexplicable reason - passing it on to Nightwing, or even to his own sidekick Robin (or Tim Drake in this).
But this Batman proves to be rougher and more violent than his predecessor - harking back to the original anti-hero Batman? - dispensing extremely rough justice to the crooks of Gotham city and side-lining Robin (who seems to do nothing but wring his hands throughout). It's really only at the very end - when Jean-Paul crosses a line - that Bruce Wayne re-appears (somehow, and mysteriously, having recovered from his severr injury), leading to the set-up for the final part of the trilogy: a final part that I will read in due course, but that I currently feel I need a break from!
Merissa (12066 KP) rated Crazy Over You (Taming the Pack, #3) in Books
Dec 17, 2018
I received this book from Entangled Publishing in return for a fair and honest review.
This is book 3 in the series and whilst this isn't detrimental to the story, I now NEED to read books 1 and 2 plus anything else I can get my grubby mitts on by Wendy Sparrow. This is a fast-flowing, good-paced book that is full of witty banter, sexual attraction, a first-class bitch and impossible situations.
I was kept guessing to the end about Ross and what LeAnn would do. I know what I wanted her to do but she didn't always (if ever) do the expected. The attraction between her and Travis sizzled off the page but they both have an uphill battle with the Pack. They do have a good friend in Jordan however, and I'm sure his is one of the stories that I'm now wanting.
The thing that I loved about this book is that it's not all light and fluffy. Death is involved and I found out it has its own smell. Pack Law is also involved, swift and deadly.
If you need a good shifter book to read, then I can definitely recommend this one. Now excuse me, I'm off to hunt down the others.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is book 3 in the series and whilst this isn't detrimental to the story, I now NEED to read books 1 and 2 plus anything else I can get my grubby mitts on by Wendy Sparrow. This is a fast-flowing, good-paced book that is full of witty banter, sexual attraction, a first-class bitch and impossible situations.
I was kept guessing to the end about Ross and what LeAnn would do. I know what I wanted her to do but she didn't always (if ever) do the expected. The attraction between her and Travis sizzled off the page but they both have an uphill battle with the Pack. They do have a good friend in Jordan however, and I'm sure his is one of the stories that I'm now wanting.
The thing that I loved about this book is that it's not all light and fluffy. Death is involved and I found out it has its own smell. Pack Law is also involved, swift and deadly.
If you need a good shifter book to read, then I can definitely recommend this one. Now excuse me, I'm off to hunt down the others.
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
YA Sci-Fi with dog-fighting spaceships!!
A young girl, Spensa (call sign: Spin), wants to escape her life and follow in her father’s footsteps into the Defiance Defense Force. Except her father died in terrible circumstances - he was killed by his own people in a battle against their enemies, the Krell. He has been labelled a coward, the stigma of which has stuck with the whole family. Spensa doesn’t believe it, and wants to restore his reputation. Those in charge of admission to the flight school believe she carries the same ‘defect’ as her father, and set out to make it extremely difficult for her to attend. She isn’t allowed to stay at the school to sleep or eat, and so she finds a cave nearby, where she sleeps, eats and discovers an old spaceship. She goes about repairing the ship, and finds that it has an AI called M-Bot. Something which those on Detritus have no access to.
The beginning of the book was a bit ‘teenage-angsty’, but it did develop into a really good book, with dog fights galore (think Top Gun with space ships!). And M-Bot really made it for me. After THAT ending, I’m definitely looking forward to the next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
The beginning of the book was a bit ‘teenage-angsty’, but it did develop into a really good book, with dog fights galore (think Top Gun with space ships!). And M-Bot really made it for me. After THAT ending, I’m definitely looking forward to the next book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
David McK (3425 KP) rated Wonder Woman (2017) in Movies
Jul 27, 2019 (Updated Jun 22, 2021)
Like, I'm sure, many others, if you'd mentioned the words 'Wonder Woman' to me prior to 2016 Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice I probably would have thought of the 1970s(?) Linda Carter starring TV series.
That was a role that Gal Gadot took in in the 2016 movie, portraying a different take on the character: one who has largely remained in the background throughout history, only revealing herself (and her powers) towards the end of that movie.
This film takes place at an earlier period in her life (albeit 'bookended' by a modern day setting, with Diana receiving a vintage photo of her in costume): during the First World War, to be precise, when Diana first leaves the Amazonian island paradise of Thermiscyra and enters the world, discovering her powers and heritage in the process.
While there may be an element of truth in the criticism that the plot of this movie is - largely - a role-reversed Captain America (World War setting? Sacrificial ending?) and that it probably could have done without the CGI battle at the end (which, IMO, lessened the impact the movie would have had without it) this is still a very enjoyable movie indeed!
As an aside: the stand-out scene where Diana crosses No-Mans land on her own? That was nearly cut from the movie.
That was a role that Gal Gadot took in in the 2016 movie, portraying a different take on the character: one who has largely remained in the background throughout history, only revealing herself (and her powers) towards the end of that movie.
This film takes place at an earlier period in her life (albeit 'bookended' by a modern day setting, with Diana receiving a vintage photo of her in costume): during the First World War, to be precise, when Diana first leaves the Amazonian island paradise of Thermiscyra and enters the world, discovering her powers and heritage in the process.
While there may be an element of truth in the criticism that the plot of this movie is - largely - a role-reversed Captain America (World War setting? Sacrificial ending?) and that it probably could have done without the CGI battle at the end (which, IMO, lessened the impact the movie would have had without it) this is still a very enjoyable movie indeed!
As an aside: the stand-out scene where Diana crosses No-Mans land on her own? That was nearly cut from the movie.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) in Books
Nov 27, 2019
The second part of the original epic fantasy starts where the first part ends. The Fellowship of the Ring is broken and scattered but thanks to Frodo and Sam the Ring is still heading towards Mordor. Meanwhile Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas persue the band of orcs that have captured Merry and Pippin.
This book carries on with the darker tone that The Fellowship Of The Ring developed as it went on though with Tolkien's grasp of narrative, story and saga it is always an engrossing read. More if Middle Earth is explored, from the horror of the Dead Marshes to the rolling plains of Rohan. Tolkien also keeps the twists coming, from alliances forged by desperation to unexpected allies.
This also features the first full scale battle of the saga - Helm's Deep. A desperate defence that in so many ways is the template for all the battles that have come after in fantasy books, a breathless and intense part of the story that really evokes the sense of grim determination in the combatants.
As with the whole of the trilogy, for something that is very much the genesis of a whole style of story telling there is so much that is complete, and still with that sense of massive depth of history that many of its imitators lack.
This book carries on with the darker tone that The Fellowship Of The Ring developed as it went on though with Tolkien's grasp of narrative, story and saga it is always an engrossing read. More if Middle Earth is explored, from the horror of the Dead Marshes to the rolling plains of Rohan. Tolkien also keeps the twists coming, from alliances forged by desperation to unexpected allies.
This also features the first full scale battle of the saga - Helm's Deep. A desperate defence that in so many ways is the template for all the battles that have come after in fantasy books, a breathless and intense part of the story that really evokes the sense of grim determination in the combatants.
As with the whole of the trilogy, for something that is very much the genesis of a whole style of story telling there is so much that is complete, and still with that sense of massive depth of history that many of its imitators lack.
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