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High Tide (Olympic Cove #5)
High Tide (Olympic Cove #5)
Nicola M. Cameron | 2024 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
HIGH TIDE is the fifth book in the Olympic Cove series and continues the overall story arc, so you really need to read them in order to get the full enjoyment from them.

In this one, we have Scott (who thinks he's a human), Orrin (a satyr), and Rian (who people think is a mer but is so much more.) Rian and Orrin are already a couple when Scott comes on the scene, and Rian is not happy with his appearance. This, for me, is where I lost a star. Rian's insecurity and jealousy were understandable and he didn't really receive any reassurances. Not only that, but his attitude did a 180 from disliking Scott to not. I would have liked a little more details about the change of heart, a little more build-up.

The story arc is coming along nicely and I am LOVING how it's going with Thetis. Instead of being a cartoon character baddie, she is fully dimensional and I found myself sympathising for her in this book. Loved that!

On the whole, this is a great addition to the series, just not one of my favourites. I still recommend it, plus the others in the series.

** 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!
Jul 4, 2024
  
Wolfwalkers (2020)
Wolfwalkers (2020)
2020 | Animation, Family
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Wolfwalkers is the latest animated offering from Irish based studio, Cartoon Saloon. I’m actually ashamed to say that before watching Wolfwalkers, I was pretty unfamiliar with their previous Irish folklore offerings - The Secret of Kells (2009) and Song of the Sea (2014) - but having seen this latest animated feature, it’s a mistake that I will be looking to correct as quickly as possible.

Wolfwalkers is set in Kilkenny, Ireland (which is also the home of Cartoon Saloon!) during the 17th century. Robyn (Honor Kneafsey) has moved from Yorkshire with her father, Bill (Sean Bean) to the walled town, where Bill has been tasked by the rather menacing Lord Protector (Simon McBurney) to clear the surrounding forest of wolves. Once the forest is clear, the woodsmen can fell the trees and the farmers can start working the land.

There are signs everywhere, throughout the town and pinned to trees in the forest, showing a snarling wolf with a red cross drawn over it. A wolf attack on some woodsmen early on shows us just how dangerous the wolves are, and also introduces us to the Wolfwalkers that walk among them. With blazing eyes and fiery red hair, the Wolfwalkers are able to communicate with and control the wolves, calling them off their attacks on the humans. They also appear to possess magical healing abilities, using them to heal a wolf scratch on the chest of one of the men.

Robyn has dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a hunter as she practices her crossbow skills. So rather than work all day in the scullery, she decides to slip past the guards at the outer gate (no children are allowed beyond the town walls) and secretly follow her father out into the forest, watching him as he sets traps for the wolves. When she comes face to face with a wolf, it’s much smaller and a lot cuter than the ones we’ve seen before, and Robyn learns that it is, in fact, a young Wolfwalker named Mebh.

Robyn forms a bond with Mebh and discovers that when the Wolfwalkers sleep, they assume the body of a wolf, leaving their human body to sleep until they return in order to wake it up. Mebh is worried because her mother has been asleep for some time and her wolf form has not yet returned. Robyn learns that the Wolfwalkers are simply trying to defend the animals from the modern world that is encroaching on their forest and Robyn vows to help find her mother. A difficult task when the Lord Protector has given her father 2 days to clear the forest of wolves, and he isn’t listening to his daughter as she pleads with him to stop.

I found Wolfwalkers to be simply wonderful, with a captivating story full of twist and turns for both kids and adults to enjoy. It’s beautiful to look at too, utilising a watercolour style with rough pencil sketches visible in most of the characters and scenery only adding to its visual appeal. I was completely taken by surprise and just couldn’t fault it.
  
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Katie (868 KP) rated Boomerang in Apps

Jul 1, 2018  
Boomerang
Boomerang
Entertainment
Great content (0 more)
The Boomerang app is great for fans of classic cartoons. Their content includes the entirety of The Flintstones and The Jetsons as well as other Hanna-Barbera classics. They also have plenty of Looney Tunes and WB content. I'm hoping they continue to add to the catalog because no other streaming service carries much of this kind of content. They also stream some modern cartoons which some may be interested in.

I've tried the app on both my Android phone and my Fire Stick. I've had no issue with the streaming and it seems to run very smoothly. I also think the app looks great. The design is clean and colorful. I only have a couple of minor complaints about the app. First, it has a startup screen that has sound that you cannot turn off. This can be somewhat annoying. Second, when selecting a cartoon it automatically starts playing the first episode, or whichever episode you're on rather than taking you to a screen that shows all episodes. If you want to see all of the episodes you have to hit a tiny information button very precisely. I'd rather it just take me to the episode screen immediately.


At only $4.99 a month, I'm really happy with this service. It's pretty inexpensive and I've probably watched more on it than a lot of my other streaming subscriptions (which, as an adult with no children, I probably should be embarrassed by). They also have a 7-day free trial, so I recommend giving it a try!
  
    Ostrich

    Ostrich

    Edgar Williams

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    Book

    In many senses the ostrich looms large - the tallest and heaviest of any living bird, a fully grown...

    Gumball Rainbow Ruckus

    Gumball Rainbow Ruckus

    Games and Entertainment

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Play as Gumball to help defeat Jealousy and save the town of Elmore in this fun-filled game ...

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Merissa (11825 KP) rated Overland in Books

Mar 31, 2021 (Updated Aug 2, 2023)  
Overland
Overland
Ramcy Diek | 2020 | Contemporary, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
OVERLAND is a compelling story about a woman whose actions come back to bite her. Not that she did anything wrong, but it had far-reaching consequences that never occurred to her.

It is very well-written, with the scenes between Skyla and the children particularly heart-rending. The big bad is just that - bad, through and through. The same as Edmond, he just had no redeeming qualities at all. Although the reader was supposed to want Skyla and Troy to get together at the end, it was just a bit too easy. If Edmond had been a bit more involved, I believe it would have added a bit more to the story, rather than him being a two-bit cartoon character.

Saying that, the whole story takes you along at a fair pace, with suspense and horror/disgust in equal measure. Part of me is sad that Bjorn got off so easy, but then I also think it was the perfect ending.

Although this says it is romantic suspense, I don't feel that it is. The romance part of it is definitely secondary to the thriller side, just a mention before and after the main event.

A great read and definitely recommended by me.

** 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, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 31, 2021