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The Bones Beneath My Skin
The Bones Beneath My Skin
TJ Klune | 2025 | Contemporary, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
TJ Klune books are basically my dopamine hit. When life is a bit hectic and I’m having NO fun, then his books are a great place to retreat. It’s not all chilled-out and hugs, this book in particular was action packed! A special girl is trying to escape from some particularly unpleasant people, with the help of an ex-marine and a poor ex-journalist who happens to find the two squatting in his remote cabin.

Art is 10 and a very quirky young lady. She’s written as an inquisitive, outspoken child with a penchant for bacon. Alex, her protector, is quiet, brooding and clearly troubled. Nate spends most of the book being justifiably terrified.

Of course, there is found family at the heart of this thoroughly lovely book. It’s a TJ Klune, after all! I thought the Sci-fi element was a bit of a departure, but all his other themes are still there: found family, acceptance and love.

This is action packed and a fast, intense read - and you can’t knock a bit of sci-fi, can you?! (Well, I can’t anyway!).
  
You Otter Know (Part of: Double-Booked for the Holidays)
You Otter Know (Part of: Double-Booked for the Holidays)
Minerva Howe | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Paranormal, Romance
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
YOU OTTER KNOW is part of the Double-Booked for the Holidays series, and it is a cabin by a river that is double-booked in this story. Both Bodhi and River were looking forward to a quiet Christmas, away from well-meaning but repetitive mothers and loud family time. Instead, they have a Christmas that is both sweet and steamy, with a missing desk clerk and surprise gift baskets left on the porch.

You may want to hold onto your hat for this one, as the pacing is FAST. In twelve or thirteen chapters, you get an entire year, a pregnancy, and a relationship from meeting to marriage; all at breakneck speed.

I would have preferred a little more show and less tell, but it's a cute, easy read that begins and ends at Christmas. If you're not looking for anything more than that, then this is the one for you.

** 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 24, 2025
  
Knock at the cabin (2023)
Knock at the cabin (2023)
2023 | Horror, Mystery
7
7.3 (8 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Writer/Director M. Night Shyamalan is back with his new thriller “Knock at
the Cabin” and like his earlier works; the film blends reality with
supernatural elements to put ordinary people in circumstances that are
dangerous and unnatural.
The film involves a same-sex couple named Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew
(Ben Aldridge), who have taken their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui),
to a secluded cabin for a relaxing vacation.

The arrival of four strangers lead by the imposing but soft-spoken Leonard
(Dave Bautista) becomes dangerous when Leonard informs them that the world
is about to end and only by choosing to sacrifice one of them can the
Apocalypse be diverted.

Leonard explains that the four had the same vision of the end of the world
and that they were drawn to save it by taking such drastic actions. They
inform their captives that they will not harm them but they will not be
allowed to leave as they must make the choice and failure to do so will
doom everyone and force the three of them to exist as the sole-survivors
of the aftermath.

Convinced that the intruders are insane; Eric and Andrew refuse the offer
and watch as one of the four captives sacrifices themselves which is soon
followed by news on the television of a massive earthquakes which resulted
in tsunamis.

Convinced it is a ruse or simply timed events to the days news; the
captives again refuse a request only to see another sacrifice followed by
more news of devastation happening around the world.

What follows is a tight thriller as Eric and Andrew learn more about their
captives and the changing world situation which forces them to confront a
world gone mad.

The film is good at setting a tone and maintaining a mild tension
throughout as the audience is left to wonder how real what is being
presented by Leonard and his associates are. I liked the fact that the
movie did not try to wrap things up nice and tidy and left the audiences
with some questions about the events as well as what would happen in the
aftermath.

Bautista gives an career-best performance and shows that his is capable of
doing more than the action-comedy genre which he has been playing to date
and I hope he continues to seek roles such as this.

While the film may not reach the levels of some of his earlier classics,
Shyamalan has crafted an entertaining film that keeps you guessing.

3.5 stars out of 5
  
Knock Knock (2015)
Knock Knock (2015)
2015 | Thriller
Keanu Reeves (1 more)
Great sex scene
Too extreme or not extreme enough? (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
Much like when you slow down and look at a car accident to see if you can see any carnage is the same way you feel when watching a film directed by Eli Roth. Whether it's Cabin Fever, the Hostel films or the depraved The Green Inferno, you always know you will be watching something like you have never seen before.
The much-maligned Keanu Reeves actually holds his own not being in control and saving the world for once being the victim of circumstance and his own poor decisions. The new acquaintances he lets into his life certainly take advantage of the situation and make him understand the consequences of his decisions. In comparison to his other films, this one seems subdued with no hacking or entrails on display, just a sadistic duo hellbent on lesson-giving. Some of the twists approach and exceed the ridiculous; however, I found the film entertaining which a film like this has set out to do. Some of the dialogue and motivations stretch in the plausibility or cohesion as well, but you are not watching Citizen Kane here.
I have certainly utilized 99 minutes in worse ways.
  
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
2012 | Comedy, Horror
Not just your average horror film
If you're expecting your run of the mill slasher/horror flick then this film won't be for you. Whilst it starts off exactly like every other cabin in the woods type film, there are a few odd bits of intrigue thrown in that make you realise it isn't just your average horror. And as far as horror goes, this isn't one for typical jump scares. In fact, this film is actually hilarious and the only real bits of horror are the copious amounts of gore and creeps towards the end. The elevator scene is by far one of my favourite scenes out of any horror, it's delightfully bonkers and horrifying.

This film is in its entirety pretty crazy and bonkers, but for the most part it doesn't matter as it does brilliantly at challenging your typical horror movie cliches and this is so fun to watch. The ending itself is possibly the only part that goes a little too far & is probably a bit too farfetched, but it is still a far more refreshing ending than what you'd get in your typical horror.

I'd love to see them make a 'choose your own' ending type game out of this film, it'd be so much fun!
  
Show all 3 comments.
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speaker357 (212 KP) Oct 15, 2018

Hey, I hope you don't think I ripped off your review, I literally just saw this title pop up and wrote what I came to discover was a pretty much shared love for this movies concept.

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Sarah (7800 KP) Oct 15, 2018

@speaker357 I wouldn't think that at all! More like great minds think alike ?