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LilyLovesIndie (123 KP) rated Koven in Books
Nov 5, 2018
Celeste, a vampire with a very painful past, is determined to locate a mysterious organisation responsible for her pain. Striker is the leader of a protective band of vampires, Koven, charged with her capture and execution. It all sounds so simple, but when intrigue and powerful forces come into play, it changes the game they're both playing.
Before I go any further - I bloody loved this book! Anyone who's read my reviews knows just how much just love vampires, they're my Achilles heel, but so often they're overdone and full of cliches, but Koven blows most other vampire novels I've read completely out of the ball park. The creation of the Kouncil, Koven and then the added mystery of the Queens and konsorts all weaved together in a totally believable, yet very refreshing view on typical vampire lore.
The plot was full of twists and turns, I never knew exactly where Skye was going to take this novel. This, combined with a fast paced plot, had me hooked from the start and totally absorbed in Celeste and Striker's story. I found myself ignoring things that needed doing so I could spend the extra time reading.
Celeste and Striker, as leading characters were superb. They were developed, a pleasure to read, and their conflict over their feelings for each other was well written and very easy to get lost in. The support characters of Bradford, Rodham and the other Koven guys were just as entertaining to read, but Celeste really stole the show. Her back story, the pain, her recovery, it was just shine to read and she is such a powerful, strong lead character.
And so, before I keep you any longer, I can only say - buy this, find a quiet room and read it, preferably in one sitting. It's awesome, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Gripping, exciting and just fabulous from start to finish, this is a must read for anyone interested in the vampire genre. I mean this when I say I honestly cannot wait for another installment in what promises to be an excellent saga.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
Before I go any further - I bloody loved this book! Anyone who's read my reviews knows just how much just love vampires, they're my Achilles heel, but so often they're overdone and full of cliches, but Koven blows most other vampire novels I've read completely out of the ball park. The creation of the Kouncil, Koven and then the added mystery of the Queens and konsorts all weaved together in a totally believable, yet very refreshing view on typical vampire lore.
The plot was full of twists and turns, I never knew exactly where Skye was going to take this novel. This, combined with a fast paced plot, had me hooked from the start and totally absorbed in Celeste and Striker's story. I found myself ignoring things that needed doing so I could spend the extra time reading.
Celeste and Striker, as leading characters were superb. They were developed, a pleasure to read, and their conflict over their feelings for each other was well written and very easy to get lost in. The support characters of Bradford, Rodham and the other Koven guys were just as entertaining to read, but Celeste really stole the show. Her back story, the pain, her recovery, it was just shine to read and she is such a powerful, strong lead character.
And so, before I keep you any longer, I can only say - buy this, find a quiet room and read it, preferably in one sitting. It's awesome, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Gripping, exciting and just fabulous from start to finish, this is a must read for anyone interested in the vampire genre. I mean this when I say I honestly cannot wait for another installment in what promises to be an excellent saga.
*This book was first reviewed on Lily Loves Indie as part of a blog tour, for which an ARC was received in return for an honest review*
Midge (525 KP) rated Playing with Fire in Books
Jan 29, 2019
Full of drama, romance and hot desire (2 more)
Good character development
Great plot
A Great, Spicy Romance Novella!
Wow, Jen Talty is straight into all of the action and keeps it coming with this thrilling romance novella, set in Lake George, New York. It is a delightful story that has a bit of everything, from drama and hot desire to tension and conflict, there is something for everyone.
I really like that, in the opening chapter, we are introduced to hot and sexy fire-fighter, Cade Nash. Next, we meet his gorgeous new neighbour, but Heather Holbrook is a dentist and Cade has a deep-rooted fear of dentists, dating back to a bad experience from his childhood. Cade loves to help people in their hour of need so when Heather’s car has a flat battery and she needs a jump-start, he is there to assist.
Heather has recently divorced and is trying to start over in her new neighbourhood. After leaving her abusive husband, she just wants a happy, quiet life. You could immediately sense that there was an intense physical attraction between Cade and Heather and one of the highlights of the book was following how they dealt with their emotionally-charged feelings for one another. After some problems with her ex-husband, Heather is forced to rely on Cade more than she would have chosen to, until he oversteps the mark, although his main goal was to protect her. Can Heather forgive him?
I thought both the plot and the character development were great and found the story-line to be very believable. The story is well-told, captivating and engaging. It held my interest right from the beginning and I found myself rooting for both Heather and Cade as they tried to deal with all of their conflicting emotions. This was a short, fast-paced read with plenty of action, some suspense and lots of lust and love. I enjoyed their instant attraction and the banter between them and I laughed-out-loud a few times while reading it. I thought the ending was very appropriate for this great novella.
I have been inspired to read more from Jen Talty and I highly recommend "Playing With Fire."
Thank you to Hidden Gems and the author, Jen Talty for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
I really like that, in the opening chapter, we are introduced to hot and sexy fire-fighter, Cade Nash. Next, we meet his gorgeous new neighbour, but Heather Holbrook is a dentist and Cade has a deep-rooted fear of dentists, dating back to a bad experience from his childhood. Cade loves to help people in their hour of need so when Heather’s car has a flat battery and she needs a jump-start, he is there to assist.
Heather has recently divorced and is trying to start over in her new neighbourhood. After leaving her abusive husband, she just wants a happy, quiet life. You could immediately sense that there was an intense physical attraction between Cade and Heather and one of the highlights of the book was following how they dealt with their emotionally-charged feelings for one another. After some problems with her ex-husband, Heather is forced to rely on Cade more than she would have chosen to, until he oversteps the mark, although his main goal was to protect her. Can Heather forgive him?
I thought both the plot and the character development were great and found the story-line to be very believable. The story is well-told, captivating and engaging. It held my interest right from the beginning and I found myself rooting for both Heather and Cade as they tried to deal with all of their conflicting emotions. This was a short, fast-paced read with plenty of action, some suspense and lots of lust and love. I enjoyed their instant attraction and the banter between them and I laughed-out-loud a few times while reading it. I thought the ending was very appropriate for this great novella.
I have been inspired to read more from Jen Talty and I highly recommend "Playing With Fire."
Thank you to Hidden Gems and the author, Jen Talty for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Rear Window (1954) in Movies
Dec 24, 2018
Great Mystery
A photojournalist is wheelchair-ridden, watching people in his apartment complex from his window for hours. He’s thrown for a loop when he witnesses what he thinks is a murder. He wants to get to the bottom of it or die trying.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
I’ll start with Stella (Thelma Ritter) who is easily my favorite character in the entire movie. She is an in-home nurse who is taking care of main character L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart). Out of all the characters in the story, she has the brightest sense of humor. I also loved that she takes zero guff from L.B., sometimes even making it seem like he works for her. She was stern and went beyond the parameters of her job doing everything from offering love advice to helping L.B. dive into the murder.
Of course I appreciated a number of the other characters as well, including the creepy Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr). He is the object of L.B.’s accusation. Lars does a great job of making you think L.B. could be right. At other times, Lars seems like just a normal guy going about his daily routine. He takes strange to new heights. Each of the characters, the important ones anyway, help to frame the story and keep you intrigued.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 8
Genre: 5
Memorability: 10
Pace: 9
Plot: 10
Rear Window succeeds with a script that’s extremely crisp and engaging. Mystery and tension abound as you try and figure out what’s going to happen next. The story is simple, yet is peeled back in layers. Very well done.
Resolution: 10
I won’t dive in too much here but I will say that the ending is perfect to the point that it answers all the right questions. It doesn’t overdo things and try and unnecessarily put a bow on things. We find out what we need to know and that’s that.
Overall: 92
Alfred Hitchcock puts together stories like a boxer puts together a fight. He hits you with little jabs that wake you up. Eventually he goes in for the kill with harder punches that you’re not ready for. He is definitely one of the greats and Rear Window is yet another one of his classics to show for it.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
I’ll start with Stella (Thelma Ritter) who is easily my favorite character in the entire movie. She is an in-home nurse who is taking care of main character L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart). Out of all the characters in the story, she has the brightest sense of humor. I also loved that she takes zero guff from L.B., sometimes even making it seem like he works for her. She was stern and went beyond the parameters of her job doing everything from offering love advice to helping L.B. dive into the murder.
Of course I appreciated a number of the other characters as well, including the creepy Lars Thorwald (Raymond Burr). He is the object of L.B.’s accusation. Lars does a great job of making you think L.B. could be right. At other times, Lars seems like just a normal guy going about his daily routine. He takes strange to new heights. Each of the characters, the important ones anyway, help to frame the story and keep you intrigued.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 8
Genre: 5
Memorability: 10
Pace: 9
Plot: 10
Rear Window succeeds with a script that’s extremely crisp and engaging. Mystery and tension abound as you try and figure out what’s going to happen next. The story is simple, yet is peeled back in layers. Very well done.
Resolution: 10
I won’t dive in too much here but I will say that the ending is perfect to the point that it answers all the right questions. It doesn’t overdo things and try and unnecessarily put a bow on things. We find out what we need to know and that’s that.
Overall: 92
Alfred Hitchcock puts together stories like a boxer puts together a fight. He hits you with little jabs that wake you up. Eventually he goes in for the kill with harder punches that you’re not ready for. He is definitely one of the greats and Rear Window is yet another one of his classics to show for it.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) in Movies
Oct 31, 2019
Lacking In the Entertainment Realm
Netflix has some solid hits on their hands…but they can’t all be hits. Velvet Buzzsaw is proof (just like The Dead Don’t Die) that you can add all the starpower in the world and it won’t be enough to save a bad movie. This satirical movie tells the story of what happens when art becomes real and consumes our lives.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 1
Characters: 9
The story revolves around a solid group of characters. In their own way, they each play a part in contributing to the chaos of the story as a whole. Their individual lives are unique and come crashing together to keep the story somewhat afloat. They are a great foundation indeed. Unfortunately, it’s the rest of the house that sucks.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
There is enough within the story to keep you intrigued for most of it. You don’t know what’s real and what’s not which helps to build the intrigue. Every new scene brings the possibility of something bad happening and it definitely made for a bumpy, fun ride.
Entertainment Value: 5
To counter the above, however, there were a number of times where I expected something to happen and I was left disappointed. I feel like the movie spent so much time trying to be artsy fartsy that it forgets to actually entertain in spots. I hate to say it, but I spent half the movie bored, hence the 5.
Memorability: 4
Pace: 7
Plot: 10
The premise is intriguing and unique. Despite the poor translation to the big screen, I can’t deny the daring it took to attempt something like this. The movie’s intent isn’t to wow you with big blockbuster moments, but to make you think. As our movie world continues to become more money-driven daily, this was a refreshing change.
Resolution: 2
Totally unnecessary. I’ll just leave it at that.
Overall: 68
To its credit, Velvet Buzzsaw does spin a great tune about the dangers of selling out and the downside of being willing to do anything to get ahead. What good is art if it’s never seen? Probably not very good at all, which is why I can tell you it’s safe to stay away from this movie.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 1
Characters: 9
The story revolves around a solid group of characters. In their own way, they each play a part in contributing to the chaos of the story as a whole. Their individual lives are unique and come crashing together to keep the story somewhat afloat. They are a great foundation indeed. Unfortunately, it’s the rest of the house that sucks.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
There is enough within the story to keep you intrigued for most of it. You don’t know what’s real and what’s not which helps to build the intrigue. Every new scene brings the possibility of something bad happening and it definitely made for a bumpy, fun ride.
Entertainment Value: 5
To counter the above, however, there were a number of times where I expected something to happen and I was left disappointed. I feel like the movie spent so much time trying to be artsy fartsy that it forgets to actually entertain in spots. I hate to say it, but I spent half the movie bored, hence the 5.
Memorability: 4
Pace: 7
Plot: 10
The premise is intriguing and unique. Despite the poor translation to the big screen, I can’t deny the daring it took to attempt something like this. The movie’s intent isn’t to wow you with big blockbuster moments, but to make you think. As our movie world continues to become more money-driven daily, this was a refreshing change.
Resolution: 2
Totally unnecessary. I’ll just leave it at that.
Overall: 68
To its credit, Velvet Buzzsaw does spin a great tune about the dangers of selling out and the downside of being willing to do anything to get ahead. What good is art if it’s never seen? Probably not very good at all, which is why I can tell you it’s safe to stay away from this movie.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Clash of the Titans (2010) in Movies
Aug 8, 2019
The creators of this remake of Clash of the Titans changed quite a few things from the original 1981 film. They perfected the special effects, lost all the campiness, but still failed to make an engaging film. Director Louis Leterrier, (Incredible Hulk, Danny the Dog) needs to find a way to redeem himself after this emotionless film.
The script is obviously the problem here, because most of the actors themselves have shown their mastery of the art in recent movies. Sam Worthington (Avatar), Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes are all actors we know and love and they have shown us their capabilities in commanding performances in other films. Unfortunately, Clash of the Titans is likely something they will want to leave off their resumes.
The movie tried to have us empathize with Perseus (Worthington) and the humans in their battle against the Gods, but try as they might, little was felt for either side’s petty grievances. The film began by attempting to explain away a conflict between men and the Gods, but without any degree of detail behind this central plot-line, there was no real tension between the two sides. The characters themselves were poorly established in the beginning of the film. There is no relating to them without understanding their motives in the first place.
The movie stumbled along from subplot to subplot, without giving adequate reasons to the audience why the characters were doing what they did. It is likely obvious from the trailer that Perseus ends up fighting the Kraken, but there wasn’t any reason for him to do so. The Kraken would destroy a city, yes, but he was a prisoner of that city. What reason would he have to fight for a city that was indirectly responsible for destroying everything he loved? Does anyone else see a problem with this?
The special effects were quite stunning in 3D, but some scenes were simply edited with too many abrupt cuts and had too many awkward camera angles, making it difficult to follow the action. Unless you’re taking 3D to “James Cameron” levels of immersion, you’re probably better off getting it right in 2D. Without a compelling story, 3D is just a gimmick.
On a more positive note, the movie clocked in under two hours.
The script is obviously the problem here, because most of the actors themselves have shown their mastery of the art in recent movies. Sam Worthington (Avatar), Liam Neeson, and Ralph Fiennes are all actors we know and love and they have shown us their capabilities in commanding performances in other films. Unfortunately, Clash of the Titans is likely something they will want to leave off their resumes.
The movie tried to have us empathize with Perseus (Worthington) and the humans in their battle against the Gods, but try as they might, little was felt for either side’s petty grievances. The film began by attempting to explain away a conflict between men and the Gods, but without any degree of detail behind this central plot-line, there was no real tension between the two sides. The characters themselves were poorly established in the beginning of the film. There is no relating to them without understanding their motives in the first place.
The movie stumbled along from subplot to subplot, without giving adequate reasons to the audience why the characters were doing what they did. It is likely obvious from the trailer that Perseus ends up fighting the Kraken, but there wasn’t any reason for him to do so. The Kraken would destroy a city, yes, but he was a prisoner of that city. What reason would he have to fight for a city that was indirectly responsible for destroying everything he loved? Does anyone else see a problem with this?
The special effects were quite stunning in 3D, but some scenes were simply edited with too many abrupt cuts and had too many awkward camera angles, making it difficult to follow the action. Unless you’re taking 3D to “James Cameron” levels of immersion, you’re probably better off getting it right in 2D. Without a compelling story, 3D is just a gimmick.
On a more positive note, the movie clocked in under two hours.
Midge (525 KP) rated Whatever It Takes in Books
Jan 22, 2019
Beautifully compelling (1 more)
Strong and confident main character
Captivating and Engaging
"Whatever It Takes" is a beautifully compelling story that has a bit of everything. From drama, romance and conflict, to joy and sorrow, there is really something for everyone.
It is a contemporary fiction and romance novel set in Highland Springs, West Virginia, a wonderfully scenic, American small town with a close-knit community.
What’s really likeable about it straight-away are the opening chapters that draw you straight into the main character, Darla Jean Heartwood. She is a strong, confident, very successful businesswoman, however, she is also emotional and impulsive. You feel instantly on her side, particularly in her initial dealings with Jason Byrne the handsome fellow who has been following her. You can immediately sense there is something going on, and one of the highlights of the book is following how that relationship develops. The handsome, charismatic, distinguished, silver fox Jason is, at first, hard to work out but you gradually get to know him as the story unfolds and see that he has many surprising qualities.
Darla has kept a family secret for eighteen years until she receives an unwanted telephone call. Family relationships are put to the test when she decides to correct some of her past decisions, for her daughter, Meghan, the man she loves, and also herself. She will let nothing stand in her way to expose the high-profile Governor, a man who took away her innocence and brought great angst to her life for years.
Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and the story-line is very believable. The story is also both captivating and engaging. It held my interest from start to finish, and I found myself rooting for Darla as she showed extremes of courage in confronting her challenges.
The writing style is very easy to read and it’s an interesting novel particularly for the interplay of the different characters - a wacky and psychic aunty, a loud and pushy cousin and a large group of girlfriends. Plenty of romantic ups and downs along the way and plenty of surprises. I loved it!
I highly recommend this book and suggest wholeheartedly that you add it to your booklist.
Thank you to Hidden Gems for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
It is a contemporary fiction and romance novel set in Highland Springs, West Virginia, a wonderfully scenic, American small town with a close-knit community.
What’s really likeable about it straight-away are the opening chapters that draw you straight into the main character, Darla Jean Heartwood. She is a strong, confident, very successful businesswoman, however, she is also emotional and impulsive. You feel instantly on her side, particularly in her initial dealings with Jason Byrne the handsome fellow who has been following her. You can immediately sense there is something going on, and one of the highlights of the book is following how that relationship develops. The handsome, charismatic, distinguished, silver fox Jason is, at first, hard to work out but you gradually get to know him as the story unfolds and see that he has many surprising qualities.
Darla has kept a family secret for eighteen years until she receives an unwanted telephone call. Family relationships are put to the test when she decides to correct some of her past decisions, for her daughter, Meghan, the man she loves, and also herself. She will let nothing stand in her way to expose the high-profile Governor, a man who took away her innocence and brought great angst to her life for years.
Both the plot and the character development are excellent, and the story-line is very believable. The story is also both captivating and engaging. It held my interest from start to finish, and I found myself rooting for Darla as she showed extremes of courage in confronting her challenges.
The writing style is very easy to read and it’s an interesting novel particularly for the interplay of the different characters - a wacky and psychic aunty, a loud and pushy cousin and a large group of girlfriends. Plenty of romantic ups and downs along the way and plenty of surprises. I loved it!
I highly recommend this book and suggest wholeheartedly that you add it to your booklist.
Thank you to Hidden Gems for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Crawl (2019) in Movies
Jul 26, 2019
Like Sushi Stuffed With Korean BBQ: Try it and You Just Might Like it
When a woman goes to check on her dad during a hurricane, she gets more than she bargained for when she discovers alligators are in the crawl space. Yes, Crawl sounds dumb, but if you give it a chance, there is a possibility that you might just have a good time.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 5
Characters: 6
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
There was a surprising amount of gator gore that I wasn’t prepared for, but welcomed. I never knew how much I needed to see a gator take a Floridian’s head off until the moment I watched Crawl. From an effects standpoints, the film is facing two hurdles: The ongoing hurricane and making the gators feel and look realistic. For the most part, both hurdles were leapt with ease. A lot of this film takes place within a tight space and director Sam Raimi effectively makes sure each shot looks original and the setting doesn’t get overdone.
Conflict: 10
Agree or disagree with the realism of the plot, you can’t deny the fact that this movie has consistent action throughout. After a slow start, the action quickly kicks in and there is always something happening. The tension buildups were perfect, leaving me on the hook for just long enough to make me want to scream out loud for them to get it over with.
Entertainment Value: 5
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
At one point while gathering my thoughts, I wrote, “Not going to win any awards but still manages to hold your attention with a consistent pace.” It doesn’t just hold your attention, but commands it with things, crazy things, liable to happen at any moment. Those damn gators could be lurking anywhere as the crawlspace continues to fill up with water. It’s high-level intensity at its finest.
Plot: 5
Resolution: 8
Overall: 75
I never thought I would say this after watching the trailers but…I’d watch Crawl again. Not a classic by any stretch, but there are some that will like it and some that will love it. At a certain point, I was actually hoping it would really exceed my expectations and blow my mind, but I won’t get carried away. It’s good, but it’s not knocking anyone’s socks off.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 5
Characters: 6
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
There was a surprising amount of gator gore that I wasn’t prepared for, but welcomed. I never knew how much I needed to see a gator take a Floridian’s head off until the moment I watched Crawl. From an effects standpoints, the film is facing two hurdles: The ongoing hurricane and making the gators feel and look realistic. For the most part, both hurdles were leapt with ease. A lot of this film takes place within a tight space and director Sam Raimi effectively makes sure each shot looks original and the setting doesn’t get overdone.
Conflict: 10
Agree or disagree with the realism of the plot, you can’t deny the fact that this movie has consistent action throughout. After a slow start, the action quickly kicks in and there is always something happening. The tension buildups were perfect, leaving me on the hook for just long enough to make me want to scream out loud for them to get it over with.
Entertainment Value: 5
Memorability: 8
Pace: 10
At one point while gathering my thoughts, I wrote, “Not going to win any awards but still manages to hold your attention with a consistent pace.” It doesn’t just hold your attention, but commands it with things, crazy things, liable to happen at any moment. Those damn gators could be lurking anywhere as the crawlspace continues to fill up with water. It’s high-level intensity at its finest.
Plot: 5
Resolution: 8
Overall: 75
I never thought I would say this after watching the trailers but…I’d watch Crawl again. Not a classic by any stretch, but there are some that will like it and some that will love it. At a certain point, I was actually hoping it would really exceed my expectations and blow my mind, but I won’t get carried away. It’s good, but it’s not knocking anyone’s socks off.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Taking (Afterlife #2) in Books
Nov 26, 2019
After her actions at the end of the first book in the series - Fledgling - the human-turned-angel Aurora has drawn the unwelcome attention of Separus, one of the most powerful of the demons. He covets her power and is determined to capture her and turn her to the side of darkness.
Aware of this Archangel Michael, leader of the angels, assigns her and her friends to be further trained by Zacharias, a rather bad tempered 'earthbound' angel who is an expert in fighting and weapons. As their - at times brutal - training takes place the demons are plotting to capture the three angel friends by using the ultimate bait for Aurora - Ethan. Aurora will need to make a choice, and not an easy one.
The Taking continues more-or-less where Fledgling left off although there is a distinct change of tone. Whereas in the first book Aurora, Cindy and Ben are out and about in the world saving innocents, here they are in training for very much of the time. In other hands this might be a disappointment, but Cope has an eye for telling the interesting bits of stories and not labouring the mundane. It also helps that the training is somewhat unusual, as is the teacher. As the major new character Zacharias is very well drawn, suitably grumpy and terse at being given 'humans' to train, as he sees it.
When conflict with the demons arises Cope again shows the flair for describing fight scenes from the first book and these, as would be expected, are far more intense battles with much more at stake. These are not serene angels gently guiding their human charges through life. These are kick-ass super heroes who are not afraid to put themselves in the way of extreme danger for what they believe is right.
Aurora must also confront her feelings for both Ethan, her human love, and Ben her angel friend. Both relationships are forbidden and this just complicates things further. I suspect that this aspect of the books would appeal more to female young adult readers but they are well written even if you will probably be shouting at the book telling Aurora not to be so silly at points.
Overall a second strong showing in this series and very recommended. If the angel/demon theme doesn't sound like your cup of tea then just give it a go. You will be pleasantly surprised
Aware of this Archangel Michael, leader of the angels, assigns her and her friends to be further trained by Zacharias, a rather bad tempered 'earthbound' angel who is an expert in fighting and weapons. As their - at times brutal - training takes place the demons are plotting to capture the three angel friends by using the ultimate bait for Aurora - Ethan. Aurora will need to make a choice, and not an easy one.
The Taking continues more-or-less where Fledgling left off although there is a distinct change of tone. Whereas in the first book Aurora, Cindy and Ben are out and about in the world saving innocents, here they are in training for very much of the time. In other hands this might be a disappointment, but Cope has an eye for telling the interesting bits of stories and not labouring the mundane. It also helps that the training is somewhat unusual, as is the teacher. As the major new character Zacharias is very well drawn, suitably grumpy and terse at being given 'humans' to train, as he sees it.
When conflict with the demons arises Cope again shows the flair for describing fight scenes from the first book and these, as would be expected, are far more intense battles with much more at stake. These are not serene angels gently guiding their human charges through life. These are kick-ass super heroes who are not afraid to put themselves in the way of extreme danger for what they believe is right.
Aurora must also confront her feelings for both Ethan, her human love, and Ben her angel friend. Both relationships are forbidden and this just complicates things further. I suspect that this aspect of the books would appeal more to female young adult readers but they are well written even if you will probably be shouting at the book telling Aurora not to be so silly at points.
Overall a second strong showing in this series and very recommended. If the angel/demon theme doesn't sound like your cup of tea then just give it a go. You will be pleasantly surprised
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Snow like Ashes in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<i>Snow Like Ashes</i> is a gem. An absolute gem.
At least... in a lot of cases.
Raasch's debut reminded me of Julie Kagawa's <i>Iron Fey</i> series with the first three books jumbled together into one book - in a good way. The only difference between the two (aside from the fairies obviously) was the mere fact Meira has no memories of the kingdom of Winter aside from what the remaining refugees tell her. It's an interesting situation to devote loyalty towards a kingdom you haven't even seen before.
Meira might be another character I like... but only because she's like Kestral from <i>The Winner's Curse</i> - flaunts the rules and expectations the other refugees have for her (which is basically sit back and let the rest of do the work) and has spunk. She's also ambitious and extremely loyal, which could potentially be a downfall in the long run. In the case of trying to spare my brain from crying, I do hope Meira's loyalty and ambition won't lead to a fantastically tragic ending.
The love triangle is fabulous (no, the world hasn't ended). Both Mather and Theron are equally fantastic and humble - a rarity compared to many books I've come across in awhile, in which the majority of them focus far too much on developing the romance rather than developing everything else (like the plot!). Aside from the fact Mather spends a bit of his time being the next Adrian Ivashkov, I am totally peachy with this particular love triangle. No sarcasm intended.
The world <i>Snow Like Ashes</i> is set in is quite magical - a world with 4 Rhythm and 4 Season kingdoms in supposed balance with intriguing history, background, and conflict. Winter, despite the fact we aren't introduced to the kingdom until very later in the book, is imaginable from the memories of the refugees and Meira's dreams.
In all honesty, I have no regrets whatsoever for getting my hands on a copy of <i>Snow Like Ashes</i> when I saw it at the library - there is rarely a dull moment in this book and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel when it appears at the library.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-snow-like-ashes-by-sara-raasch/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
At least... in a lot of cases.
Raasch's debut reminded me of Julie Kagawa's <i>Iron Fey</i> series with the first three books jumbled together into one book - in a good way. The only difference between the two (aside from the fairies obviously) was the mere fact Meira has no memories of the kingdom of Winter aside from what the remaining refugees tell her. It's an interesting situation to devote loyalty towards a kingdom you haven't even seen before.
Meira might be another character I like... but only because she's like Kestral from <i>The Winner's Curse</i> - flaunts the rules and expectations the other refugees have for her (which is basically sit back and let the rest of do the work) and has spunk. She's also ambitious and extremely loyal, which could potentially be a downfall in the long run. In the case of trying to spare my brain from crying, I do hope Meira's loyalty and ambition won't lead to a fantastically tragic ending.
The love triangle is fabulous (no, the world hasn't ended). Both Mather and Theron are equally fantastic and humble - a rarity compared to many books I've come across in awhile, in which the majority of them focus far too much on developing the romance rather than developing everything else (like the plot!). Aside from the fact Mather spends a bit of his time being the next Adrian Ivashkov, I am totally peachy with this particular love triangle. No sarcasm intended.
The world <i>Snow Like Ashes</i> is set in is quite magical - a world with 4 Rhythm and 4 Season kingdoms in supposed balance with intriguing history, background, and conflict. Winter, despite the fact we aren't introduced to the kingdom until very later in the book, is imaginable from the memories of the refugees and Meira's dreams.
In all honesty, I have no regrets whatsoever for getting my hands on a copy of <i>Snow Like Ashes</i> when I saw it at the library - there is rarely a dull moment in this book and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel when it appears at the library.
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/review-snow-like-ashes-by-sara-raasch/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Judge (2014) in Movies
Jan 14, 2020
Suprisingly Not As Good As I Thought
A lawyer leaves his small town to make it in the big city only to have to come back to face his past and defend his father in a murder trial. The Judge could have definitely been worse, but it struck enough cords for me to never want to see it again.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 2
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
The film is shot in different color tones representing the mood of the scene. When Robert Downey Jr. is just palling around the city, you see more lighter tones. However, during most of the court scenes, it’s shot in a darker and grainier light. It works for the most part, but is uneven in certain spots. I did appreciate overall what it was trying to do.
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 7
At one point, I wrote in my notes: “I’m not bored, but there are definitely some glaring holes I can’t overlook.” At times, this movie seemed to fight with its own self, never really deciding who or what it wanted to be. While there were quite a few scenes I really enjoyed, there were some things lacking overall.
Memorability: 4
Pace: 5
This movie is easily thirty minutes longer than it needed to be. In some spots, they are trying too hard to force these characters down your throat that they don’t focus on moving the actual story along. It drags its feet in way too many places.
Plot: 6
Decent concept that arrived DOA due to the lack of willingness to fix simple holes. I never could settle in and just enjoy the movie because there were just so many unanswered questions from the left to the right. Overall, it made sense, but it’s very easy to pick apart.
Resolution: 7
A touching finish, although, again, would have appreciated more finite answers. More often than not, the movie seemed to take the lazy way out and the ending was no exception. Based on the number of plot holes, can’t say I was that surprised.
Overall: 68
There is a scene in The Judge where the jurors are being picked for the trial. This one scene will tell you everything you need to know about the rest of the movie. These actors have done way better in their time.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 2
Characters: 10
Cinematography/Visuals: 7
The film is shot in different color tones representing the mood of the scene. When Robert Downey Jr. is just palling around the city, you see more lighter tones. However, during most of the court scenes, it’s shot in a darker and grainier light. It works for the most part, but is uneven in certain spots. I did appreciate overall what it was trying to do.
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 7
At one point, I wrote in my notes: “I’m not bored, but there are definitely some glaring holes I can’t overlook.” At times, this movie seemed to fight with its own self, never really deciding who or what it wanted to be. While there were quite a few scenes I really enjoyed, there were some things lacking overall.
Memorability: 4
Pace: 5
This movie is easily thirty minutes longer than it needed to be. In some spots, they are trying too hard to force these characters down your throat that they don’t focus on moving the actual story along. It drags its feet in way too many places.
Plot: 6
Decent concept that arrived DOA due to the lack of willingness to fix simple holes. I never could settle in and just enjoy the movie because there were just so many unanswered questions from the left to the right. Overall, it made sense, but it’s very easy to pick apart.
Resolution: 7
A touching finish, although, again, would have appreciated more finite answers. More often than not, the movie seemed to take the lazy way out and the ending was no exception. Based on the number of plot holes, can’t say I was that surprised.
Overall: 68
There is a scene in The Judge where the jurors are being picked for the trial. This one scene will tell you everything you need to know about the rest of the movie. These actors have done way better in their time.