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Debbiereadsbook (1753 KP) rated Conrad (Assassin's To Order #4) in Books
Oct 13, 2023
saved the best for last!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 4 in the Assassins To Order series, and I strongly recommend you read books 1 to 3 first. OR at least, book 3 Duron. The Devil pops up first in that book.
I think, for me, Sayle and Oliver saved the best for last! I LOVED this, the final book.
Conrad is an assassin, and Kylo a police officer in Paraguay where the lost boys seem to originate from. Kylo has been chasing The Devil for 20 years and calling for an assassin to finally help him seemed like a good idea. Until Conrad gets off the plane and they scent each other: mates!
What I especially liked about this one was that Conrad is fully aware of his sexuality, while his brothers had not been. And Kylo calls to his Dom, much like his lion. And while Kylo is an Alpha male, a panther, he doesn't question Conrad and his connection and what Conrad can do for him, he just goes with it, and accepts what the Fates have planned for him.
Loved that Wyatt pops up, and who with and how THAT all plays out! Kinda saw that coming in the last book, but loved that it gets explained.
The Devil and what happens with all that was a surprise, and I loved the showdown! I'm still not entirely sure how many animals Conrad has, but they range from a blue dragon to a spider and everything inbetween. What happens between them all at the showdown was shocking but Kylo took it all in his stride. Loved that, while Conrad's lion is his most Dominant animal, the dragon has to have the last say!
There is talk of the other assassins, but only Wyatt pops up, The Thalassa guys are mentioned as well, but none appear here. I kinda missed them!
I'll miss ALL these guys, now both series are finished, but I think this really was a fitting end. I do hope we get some follow ups shorts!
I was waiting for this, and it did not disappoint.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 4 in the Assassins To Order series, and I strongly recommend you read books 1 to 3 first. OR at least, book 3 Duron. The Devil pops up first in that book.
I think, for me, Sayle and Oliver saved the best for last! I LOVED this, the final book.
Conrad is an assassin, and Kylo a police officer in Paraguay where the lost boys seem to originate from. Kylo has been chasing The Devil for 20 years and calling for an assassin to finally help him seemed like a good idea. Until Conrad gets off the plane and they scent each other: mates!
What I especially liked about this one was that Conrad is fully aware of his sexuality, while his brothers had not been. And Kylo calls to his Dom, much like his lion. And while Kylo is an Alpha male, a panther, he doesn't question Conrad and his connection and what Conrad can do for him, he just goes with it, and accepts what the Fates have planned for him.
Loved that Wyatt pops up, and who with and how THAT all plays out! Kinda saw that coming in the last book, but loved that it gets explained.
The Devil and what happens with all that was a surprise, and I loved the showdown! I'm still not entirely sure how many animals Conrad has, but they range from a blue dragon to a spider and everything inbetween. What happens between them all at the showdown was shocking but Kylo took it all in his stride. Loved that, while Conrad's lion is his most Dominant animal, the dragon has to have the last say!
There is talk of the other assassins, but only Wyatt pops up, The Thalassa guys are mentioned as well, but none appear here. I kinda missed them!
I'll miss ALL these guys, now both series are finished, but I think this really was a fitting end. I do hope we get some follow ups shorts!
I was waiting for this, and it did not disappoint.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Murder on the Orient Express (2017) in Movies
Nov 8, 2017
Dull and boring
I've never read the book or seen any previous adaptations, or indeed any other Poirot stories or any Agatha Christie novels at all. And all I can say is that I hope this film isn't a reflection on the rest of her work.
The film starts well, with a fun introduction to Poirot and Kenneth Branagh is probably the best thing about the film in general. He does a fantastic job as Poirot for the most part, very believable as a Belgian.
However before the murder even takes place, the film starts to dip and gets a little dull. The murder itself is presented in such an uninteresting way and the cinematography at times is a little bizarre. Some of the camera shots don't work and some seem ridiculously cheesy how they're staged. The questioning of the suspects does little to bring any tension or intrigue, and the star studded cast isn't given much to work with although some try their best to ham it up (Michelle Pfeiffer).
And then the finale/resolution itself is just completely bonkers. It might have been unexpected, but not in a good way. It was just very silly and not at all what I was hoping for from this film. Such a disappointment.
The film starts well, with a fun introduction to Poirot and Kenneth Branagh is probably the best thing about the film in general. He does a fantastic job as Poirot for the most part, very believable as a Belgian.
However before the murder even takes place, the film starts to dip and gets a little dull. The murder itself is presented in such an uninteresting way and the cinematography at times is a little bizarre. Some of the camera shots don't work and some seem ridiculously cheesy how they're staged. The questioning of the suspects does little to bring any tension or intrigue, and the star studded cast isn't given much to work with although some try their best to ham it up (Michelle Pfeiffer).
And then the finale/resolution itself is just completely bonkers. It might have been unexpected, but not in a good way. It was just very silly and not at all what I was hoping for from this film. Such a disappointment.
A much better sequel
Me Before You was such an unexpectedly good, sweet and heartwarming read. Sadly the sequel, After You, was a massive let down and I'd been expecting more of the same with Still Me. But fortunately, Still Me does fairly well in being the sequel we really should have had to begin with.
Louisa is a loveable character, although her chattiness and ineptitude sometimes comes across as either vexing or almost cringeworthy, and the same can be said of some of the predicaments she gets herself in. That's not to say I can't relate to parts of her life and emotions, and it's these parts that really drew me into this book. It was also nice to see Louisa finally doing what Will had wanted her to do. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear or two towards the end.
The main problem with this book is it's completely unnecessary. There was really no need for one sequel, let alone two, and despite the fact that this is a much better sequel, you get the feeling reading it that we would have been much better off leaving Louisa as she was at the end of Me Before You.
Louisa is a loveable character, although her chattiness and ineptitude sometimes comes across as either vexing or almost cringeworthy, and the same can be said of some of the predicaments she gets herself in. That's not to say I can't relate to parts of her life and emotions, and it's these parts that really drew me into this book. It was also nice to see Louisa finally doing what Will had wanted her to do. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear or two towards the end.
The main problem with this book is it's completely unnecessary. There was really no need for one sequel, let alone two, and despite the fact that this is a much better sequel, you get the feeling reading it that we would have been much better off leaving Louisa as she was at the end of Me Before You.
Lindsay (1812 KP) rated A House for a Mouse in Books
Jan 15, 2019
The story of the two mice is a sweet one. Though it really does not really have much of a story to it. The story is how to get a house for a mouse. I like it but it not much of a story. The author does a wonderful job with the pictures in telling the story to a point.
The pictures could be down a bit more. There is not much of adventure to this story. The development of the characters is not there much. This need some work. This is best for children under the age of 7. Children that can read will be able to read it. It good for young children a bit for the picures for children under 5.
The author would have told the story as how the owner of the home came about and then found the mice or mouse and had a bit more of an adventure to how it ends. I say this book would have gotten a better rating. It an okay book to me. Maybe to you it will be better for you. You decide if you want it for your children or not. Like I said it an okay book. Great for children.
The pictures could be down a bit more. There is not much of adventure to this story. The development of the characters is not there much. This need some work. This is best for children under the age of 7. Children that can read will be able to read it. It good for young children a bit for the picures for children under 5.
The author would have told the story as how the owner of the home came about and then found the mice or mouse and had a bit more of an adventure to how it ends. I say this book would have gotten a better rating. It an okay book to me. Maybe to you it will be better for you. You decide if you want it for your children or not. Like I said it an okay book. Great for children.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Echoes of Us in Books
Jun 23, 2020
110 of 200
Kindle
Echoes of us
By S.H. Timmins
What happens if your life begins on the wrong side of right?
What will you sacrifice when secrets and money are the weapons of choice?
How do you combine memories and dreams to reshape the future?
You place your trust in the innocence of love, embrace the passion it offers, and never let it go.
Jolene and Cruz are childhood friends who were ripped apart by tragedy, tearing Jolene from her home and everything she knew. Now, in their senior year of high school, Cruz finds Jolene in her new life - a life she never wanted and will do anything to escape from. Together, they need to discover the secrets that forced them apart, to save Jolene from the dangers of her new family. Along the way, they find that a friendship born in childhood can become the love of a lifetime.
This is a new author for me and I have to say I enjoyed this book so much! Her writing style is so comfortable to read, the story is really good and you’re rooting for Jolene all the way through! It’s so sweet and endearing. I would definitely love to see another book following these characters!
Kindle
Echoes of us
By S.H. Timmins
What happens if your life begins on the wrong side of right?
What will you sacrifice when secrets and money are the weapons of choice?
How do you combine memories and dreams to reshape the future?
You place your trust in the innocence of love, embrace the passion it offers, and never let it go.
Jolene and Cruz are childhood friends who were ripped apart by tragedy, tearing Jolene from her home and everything she knew. Now, in their senior year of high school, Cruz finds Jolene in her new life - a life she never wanted and will do anything to escape from. Together, they need to discover the secrets that forced them apart, to save Jolene from the dangers of her new family. Along the way, they find that a friendship born in childhood can become the love of a lifetime.
This is a new author for me and I have to say I enjoyed this book so much! Her writing style is so comfortable to read, the story is really good and you’re rooting for Jolene all the way through! It’s so sweet and endearing. I would definitely love to see another book following these characters!
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Beckman (2020) in Movies
Mar 17, 2021 (Updated Mar 17, 2021)
"𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘩𝘶𝘩? 𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘥?"
When I say Pure Flix's superbly silly Christian 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬 + Holy Bible mashup with 𝘎𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥's Pastor Dave in the Keanu Reeves role and William Baldwin as a twisted desert sex cult leader where a drill goes into some dude's eye at one point - I want you to know that not only is that as righteously (no pun intended) entertaining as that sounds... it's better. Shocking what good acting, minimal preaching, and a budget that costs more than a Happy Meal can do for these things even as there's still no real characterization. Made by people who aren't just trying to cash-in on the success of Wick, but people who clearly love and respect the franchise: this has the delicious wide-angle comically over-the-top fight sequences, bumping screechsynth score, general nasty brutality, portentous monologues, and weaponized masculinity in all their respective glories. Never thought I'd see the day where one of these is executed with actual competency, especially when they aren't afraid to get down and dirty. I haven't seen a film which instantly made me demand cult status in forever - but this one absolutely deserves it.
When I say Pure Flix's superbly silly Christian 𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘤𝘬 + Holy Bible mashup with 𝘎𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥's Pastor Dave in the Keanu Reeves role and William Baldwin as a twisted desert sex cult leader where a drill goes into some dude's eye at one point - I want you to know that not only is that as righteously (no pun intended) entertaining as that sounds... it's better. Shocking what good acting, minimal preaching, and a budget that costs more than a Happy Meal can do for these things even as there's still no real characterization. Made by people who aren't just trying to cash-in on the success of Wick, but people who clearly love and respect the franchise: this has the delicious wide-angle comically over-the-top fight sequences, bumping screechsynth score, general nasty brutality, portentous monologues, and weaponized masculinity in all their respective glories. Never thought I'd see the day where one of these is executed with actual competency, especially when they aren't afraid to get down and dirty. I haven't seen a film which instantly made me demand cult status in forever - but this one absolutely deserves it.
Julian Schnabel recommended Raging Bull (1980) in Movies (curated)
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Winter Killer (DI James Walker #3) in Books
Oct 9, 2022
This is the third book in the DI James Walker series and the second I have read but do not worry, it can be read as a standalone very easily.
It's New Year's Eve and a body is found on a jetty at the prestigious The Fells Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere where a wedding is taking place but was it an accident or murder? DI James Walker and his team are tasked with finding out and it soon becomes clear that the death is very much suspicious.
This is a proper who-dunnit with plenty of potential suspects and is anything but simple and straightforward particularly when all manner of revelations come to light including members of the victims family and close acquaintances.
With great characters, an intriguing plot and written at a great pace, this is an engaging read. The setting is perfect - well I would say that as it's my neck of the woods - and Mr Pine captures the weather, scenery and location completely.
Overall, a great read and I look forward to the next in the series and my thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Winter Killer.
It's New Year's Eve and a body is found on a jetty at the prestigious The Fells Hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere where a wedding is taking place but was it an accident or murder? DI James Walker and his team are tasked with finding out and it soon becomes clear that the death is very much suspicious.
This is a proper who-dunnit with plenty of potential suspects and is anything but simple and straightforward particularly when all manner of revelations come to light including members of the victims family and close acquaintances.
With great characters, an intriguing plot and written at a great pace, this is an engaging read. The setting is perfect - well I would say that as it's my neck of the woods - and Mr Pine captures the weather, scenery and location completely.
Overall, a great read and I look forward to the next in the series and my thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Winter Killer.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Dead Girls are Easy ( Nicki Styx book 1) in Books
Jan 15, 2022
8 of 230
Kindle
Dead Girls are Easy ( Nicki Styx book 1)
By Terri Garey
There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx—she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.
Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light . . . and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend . . . who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.
But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.
As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.
I really enjoyed this book it had some ghost whisperer vibes! I’ve not read this sort of storyline before and really glad I picked it up. I love her name Nicki Styx and her whole character was refreshing! Definitely a good read and recommended!
Kindle
Dead Girls are Easy ( Nicki Styx book 1)
By Terri Garey
There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx—she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.
Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light . . . and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend . . . who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.
But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.
As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning.
I really enjoyed this book it had some ghost whisperer vibes! I’ve not read this sort of storyline before and really glad I picked it up. I love her name Nicki Styx and her whole character was refreshing! Definitely a good read and recommended!
*＊✿❀ Maki ❀✿＊* (7 KP) rated Heir of Fire in Books
May 3, 2018
In my head, this will always be "Throne of Glass: Sacrifice Edition". Dear lord.
Character development continues to abound in this book, and Celaena actually joins Chaol and Dorian in growing for the better. We even get a couple of sets of new characters to follow, including Manon, who is a wyvern riding Witch.
However, this book also suffered from Training Montage Syndrome (TMS). A good portion of the book is spent watching Celaena learn how to use her powers. And while I understand that it's an important piece of the story, the training portions were generally slow-paced, and made the book feel like it was never going to end.
<img src= "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx5snM_uuuA/TdKW7fdvaHI/AAAAAAAACHA/_LxQWaVWjT8/s1600/Team-America-montage-001.jpg"; width="360" height="176"/>
I can be fair, though - that's a trap that a lot of fantasy books can fall into. I <i>still</i> haven't read [b:Inheritance|7664041|Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle, #4)|Christopher Paolini|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390886502s/7664041.jpg|10260587] because of how horrifically slow-paced [b:Brisingr|2248573|Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle, #3)|Christopher Paolini|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391443970s/2248573.jpg|3124969] was.
The worst part of the overwhelming focus on training was, to me, that the book didn't really <i>need</i> to cut back to Celaena's training so often. There were plenty of other things to focus on instead of watching other people watch Celaena play racquetball with fire.
I mean, Chaol and Aedion (Celaena's cousin) are searching for a way to restore magic to the land, while simultaneously working to gather together survivors of Adarlan's oppression to raise a rebellion, Dorian starts looking for a way to control his magic, Manon is introduced and needs time dedicated to her character...but nope! Celaena needs <i>another</i> scene where she gets into a fight with Rowan, and then she's rude to everybody.
Chaol is the main driving-force behind my continued interest in this series. The things that man has gone through, and done by the end of the book...and all for someone who gave up on him, because of a misunderstanding. I said it in my Crown of Midnight review, and I'll say it again - Celaena doesn't deserve him. >__>
I actually found myself really liking Dorian in this book, as well. Even if he is doomed to unbelievably and suddenly fall in love with random women at the drop of a hat.
Manon's sections of the story were pretty fun. The new point of view was interesting, although I kept picturing Manon training her wyvern as the Other Mother from Coraline inserted into the world of How to Train Your Dragon 2.
...I'll leave you to supply your own visuals.
The ending would have been heartbreaking, except it just got ridiculous after a while. There are only so many self-sacrifices that can be made before my brain starts going, "I'm Spartacus! No, I'M Spartacus!"
<img src= "http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/86/53/69/20140315/ob_a59585_spartacus.gif"/>;
And the fruit of all of that self-sacrifice?
<spoiler>Chaol escapes the kingdom with his life, but is now a traitor to the Crown, which is kind of what Aedion had sacrificed himself to avoid in the first place. Meanwhile, both Aedion and Dorian are prisoners, and Dorian's love interest is dead.</spoiler>
These books are almost starting to frustrate me. They're <i>so</i> close to being great - but there's always something that disappoints me enough to stop me from being completely in love with this series. Ah, well. I suppose at least I still like them well enough.
Maybe the next one will be the one to completely win me over.
Character development continues to abound in this book, and Celaena actually joins Chaol and Dorian in growing for the better. We even get a couple of sets of new characters to follow, including Manon, who is a wyvern riding Witch.
However, this book also suffered from Training Montage Syndrome (TMS). A good portion of the book is spent watching Celaena learn how to use her powers. And while I understand that it's an important piece of the story, the training portions were generally slow-paced, and made the book feel like it was never going to end.
<img src= "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yx5snM_uuuA/TdKW7fdvaHI/AAAAAAAACHA/_LxQWaVWjT8/s1600/Team-America-montage-001.jpg"; width="360" height="176"/>
I can be fair, though - that's a trap that a lot of fantasy books can fall into. I <i>still</i> haven't read [b:Inheritance|7664041|Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle, #4)|Christopher Paolini|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390886502s/7664041.jpg|10260587] because of how horrifically slow-paced [b:Brisingr|2248573|Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle, #3)|Christopher Paolini|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1391443970s/2248573.jpg|3124969] was.
The worst part of the overwhelming focus on training was, to me, that the book didn't really <i>need</i> to cut back to Celaena's training so often. There were plenty of other things to focus on instead of watching other people watch Celaena play racquetball with fire.
I mean, Chaol and Aedion (Celaena's cousin) are searching for a way to restore magic to the land, while simultaneously working to gather together survivors of Adarlan's oppression to raise a rebellion, Dorian starts looking for a way to control his magic, Manon is introduced and needs time dedicated to her character...but nope! Celaena needs <i>another</i> scene where she gets into a fight with Rowan, and then she's rude to everybody.
Chaol is the main driving-force behind my continued interest in this series. The things that man has gone through, and done by the end of the book...and all for someone who gave up on him, because of a misunderstanding. I said it in my Crown of Midnight review, and I'll say it again - Celaena doesn't deserve him. >__>
I actually found myself really liking Dorian in this book, as well. Even if he is doomed to unbelievably and suddenly fall in love with random women at the drop of a hat.
Manon's sections of the story were pretty fun. The new point of view was interesting, although I kept picturing Manon training her wyvern as the Other Mother from Coraline inserted into the world of How to Train Your Dragon 2.
...I'll leave you to supply your own visuals.
The ending would have been heartbreaking, except it just got ridiculous after a while. There are only so many self-sacrifices that can be made before my brain starts going, "I'm Spartacus! No, I'M Spartacus!"
<img src= "http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/86/53/69/20140315/ob_a59585_spartacus.gif"/>;
And the fruit of all of that self-sacrifice?
<spoiler>Chaol escapes the kingdom with his life, but is now a traitor to the Crown, which is kind of what Aedion had sacrificed himself to avoid in the first place. Meanwhile, both Aedion and Dorian are prisoners, and Dorian's love interest is dead.</spoiler>
These books are almost starting to frustrate me. They're <i>so</i> close to being great - but there's always something that disappoints me enough to stop me from being completely in love with this series. Ah, well. I suppose at least I still like them well enough.
Maybe the next one will be the one to completely win me over.