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Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated The Buried Giant in Books
Mar 15, 2018
If you want a book that will leave you thinking, without forgetting to keep you entertained, you should pick this up. Telling the story of an elderly couple in post-Arthurian England who set off on foot to meet their estranged son in his village, it uses a slew of fantasy elements to make us question if it is really worth remembering everything or if we are better off letting some things be forgotten. Also touching on themes of love, age, and death, there are a lot of heady ideas thrown into the mix. With the portions of the countryside the book takes place in being shrouded in a mist that causes rather extreme forgetfulness, pretty much everyone winds up being at least somewhat unreliable. The writing is superb, the characters quite engaging, and the main plot reminiscent of a classic fairy tale but for adults. This is a book to be savored and a story I will likely cherish for some time to come.
Mike Carlson (115 KP) rated Marvel's Iron Fist - Season 1 in TV
Mar 16, 2018
Rand vs. Hand
This show isn't nearly as bad as I had heard. It does have its moments, though.
Throughout the season, Danny Rand swings between two opposing mentalities. He's either moving forward in self-righteous pursuit (one born of being the Iron Fist) or wracked by crippling doubt (which happens whenever he's proven, or told, that he is wrong). That, combined with a shell game of villains, makes this show a little more difficult than the others (Netflix/MARVEL) to concentrate on. I found myself easily distracted while viewing at times.
On the plus side, the action was decent. The villains were good, as numerous as they were (it's almost like they took their turns), and even some of the featured Hand fighters offered promise. There were a couple that I wished had bigger roles than just set-piece obstacles.
All in all, it was entertaining. Hopefully a second season will offer a more captivating story.
Throughout the season, Danny Rand swings between two opposing mentalities. He's either moving forward in self-righteous pursuit (one born of being the Iron Fist) or wracked by crippling doubt (which happens whenever he's proven, or told, that he is wrong). That, combined with a shell game of villains, makes this show a little more difficult than the others (Netflix/MARVEL) to concentrate on. I found myself easily distracted while viewing at times.
On the plus side, the action was decent. The villains were good, as numerous as they were (it's almost like they took their turns), and even some of the featured Hand fighters offered promise. There were a couple that I wished had bigger roles than just set-piece obstacles.
All in all, it was entertaining. Hopefully a second season will offer a more captivating story.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated The White Road: The Nightrunner Series, Book 5 in Books
Mar 1, 2018
Thank goodness. A particular story arc is finally closed, spread over the length of this and the previous novel. It was interesting at first, then it got really tiresome. I will say that it was fairly unique, which is fairly rare, so kudos to Flewelling for that, and it really tested the relationship between Alec and Seregil while it lasted.
I'm not sure how much longer these books can stay fresh, although the world does offer more potential. Perhaps it's time for Flewelling to allow this couple to turn things over to a new generation? Their heritage does mean they'll be young enough for nightrunning for years to come, but that doesn't mean readers will stay interested in reading about them that long unless they go off to countries as yet unexplored. I, to be honest, would prefer to read stories including more female POV characters for a change. (I have nothing against gay male characters - I just like female characters, too.)
I'm not sure how much longer these books can stay fresh, although the world does offer more potential. Perhaps it's time for Flewelling to allow this couple to turn things over to a new generation? Their heritage does mean they'll be young enough for nightrunning for years to come, but that doesn't mean readers will stay interested in reading about them that long unless they go off to countries as yet unexplored. I, to be honest, would prefer to read stories including more female POV characters for a change. (I have nothing against gay male characters - I just like female characters, too.)
Book #2 in the WISE Enquiries Agency series
When Henry, a Welsh Duke, decides to be married, there are a myriad of traditions that he is expected to uphold. One such tradition involves Morris Dancers leading the happy couple through town from the church back to the familys estate. After one of the dancers vanishes, the WISE Enquiry Agency is hired to look into the matter.
I really enjoyed the team of women doing the investigating in this story. Their distinct personalities work well together, as each has her own strengths to bring to the group. That and the Welsh countryside as the setting made this a very enjoyable read for me.
Visit <a href="https://booksthething.com/2016/11/02/the-case-of-the-missing-morris-dancer-guest-post-and-giveaway/">my blog</a> for a guest post from Cathy Ace explaining just what Morris Dancing is!
<i>I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy.</i>
When Henry, a Welsh Duke, decides to be married, there are a myriad of traditions that he is expected to uphold. One such tradition involves Morris Dancers leading the happy couple through town from the church back to the familys estate. After one of the dancers vanishes, the WISE Enquiry Agency is hired to look into the matter.
I really enjoyed the team of women doing the investigating in this story. Their distinct personalities work well together, as each has her own strengths to bring to the group. That and the Welsh countryside as the setting made this a very enjoyable read for me.
Visit <a href="https://booksthething.com/2016/11/02/the-case-of-the-missing-morris-dancer-guest-post-and-giveaway/">my blog</a> for a guest post from Cathy Ace explaining just what Morris Dancing is!
<i>I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy.</i>
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated The Last Detective (Elvis Cole, #9) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
While PI Elvis Cole is watching his girlfriend Lucy’s son, Ben is kidnapped. The caller says it is payback for something in Cole’s past, but he can’t figure out what that might be. As more people get involved in the case, the kidnapping puts a strain on Elvis’s relationship with Lucy. Can he find Ben?
This is a thrilling read from start to finish. Since we have gotten to know Lucy and Ben over the last couple of books, we care about the outcome here. I was so pulled in at the climax that I didn’t want to stop. The characters are strong as well, including Elvis and his partner Joe Pike. They are becoming more human. The flashbacks to Elvis’s past help with that, and they manage to be as engrossing as the main story instead of slowing it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-last-detective-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is a thrilling read from start to finish. Since we have gotten to know Lucy and Ben over the last couple of books, we care about the outcome here. I was so pulled in at the climax that I didn’t want to stop. The characters are strong as well, including Elvis and his partner Joe Pike. They are becoming more human. The flashbacks to Elvis’s past help with that, and they manage to be as engrossing as the main story instead of slowing it down.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-last-detective-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Spy Ski School (Spy School #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Ben Ripley is thrilled to be officially called for his first field assignment. He’s going to Colorado to learn to ski. While there, he needs to befriend a girl so he can get close to her father and figure out his evil plans. However, Ben soon realizes getting close to his target isn’t going to be as easy as he thought. With the clock ticking, can he save the day again?
While the target audience might be middle graders, this is a delightful read for anyone. The story is strong, the pace never lags, and we get some fantastic complications and nail biting action scenes along the way. The characters are fun as always, and we get some good growth in a couple of them. There’s plenty of humor as well.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-spy-ski-school-by-stuart.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
While the target audience might be middle graders, this is a delightful read for anyone. The story is strong, the pace never lags, and we get some fantastic complications and nail biting action scenes along the way. The characters are fun as always, and we get some good growth in a couple of them. There’s plenty of humor as well.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/10/book-review-spy-ski-school-by-stuart.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated E is for Evidence (Kinsey Millhone, #5) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A couple of days before Christmas, Kinsey is asked to investigate a fire for the insurance company she sometimes works for. Everything looks routine until she is called in to defend her findings and sees pages that were not part of her original file. Afraid she might find herself accused of insurance fraud, she starts investigating the situation. But is she the target or an innocent bystander?
I truly enjoyed this book since it starts out with a great mystery that doesn’t involved a murder. Of course, when murder does enter the picture, it only gets more compelling from there. What few supporting characters there are in the series are mostly missing thanks to the Christmas time frame, but I found it a great way to develop Kinsey more, and the new characters were fabulous, doing their job as suspects perfectly.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-e-is-for-evidence-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I truly enjoyed this book since it starts out with a great mystery that doesn’t involved a murder. Of course, when murder does enter the picture, it only gets more compelling from there. What few supporting characters there are in the series are mostly missing thanks to the Christmas time frame, but I found it a great way to develop Kinsey more, and the new characters were fabulous, doing their job as suspects perfectly.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-e-is-for-evidence-by-sue.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2346 KP) rated Paint the Town Dead in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Rory Anderson is thrilled about the decorative painting convention coming to Vista Beach, California, her hometown. She’s looking forward to the classes and helping her mom, one of the vendors for the event. However, she is shocked when her friend collapses and dies just as the week is getting under way. The police think it was a tragic accident, but Rory is sure it was murder. Can she prove it?
I love the beach, so the beach town setting is perfect for me. The characters are good, although I did feel they could have been just a little stronger. However, the plot was plenty strong with things progressing at a steady pace all the way to the climax. I was sure I had it completely figured out multiple times only to change my mind a couple of chapters later.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-paint-town-dead-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I love the beach, so the beach town setting is perfect for me. The characters are good, although I did feel they could have been just a little stronger. However, the plot was plenty strong with things progressing at a steady pace all the way to the climax. I was sure I had it completely figured out multiple times only to change my mind a couple of chapters later.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-review-paint-town-dead-by-sybil.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Star Trek: Discovery - Season 1 in TV
Feb 13, 2018
Some of the cast are atrocious (1 more)
Takes a dip after a few episodes
Darker than your normal Star Trek
This series of Star Trek comes in after Enterprise, but before the original series, The Next Generation etc. It chronicles the battle of Starfleet against a resurgent Klingon empire.
Gone is the usual Star Trek single episode storylines, where the ship encounters a race or problem and everything is wrapped up in one episode. Everything within the series links together as a whole long storyline without much deviation. In hindsight, I think knowing this would have made me more engaged with the first few episodes, I think I got a bit bored after the first couple.
The series as a whole is good and sets up a nice second series at the end.
One thing that really bugged me was the atrocious sub-Shatner ham acting of Anthony Rapp (Stamets) and Michelle Yeoh chewing the scenery in the last few episodes.
Gone is the usual Star Trek single episode storylines, where the ship encounters a race or problem and everything is wrapped up in one episode. Everything within the series links together as a whole long storyline without much deviation. In hindsight, I think knowing this would have made me more engaged with the first few episodes, I think I got a bit bored after the first couple.
The series as a whole is good and sets up a nice second series at the end.
One thing that really bugged me was the atrocious sub-Shatner ham acting of Anthony Rapp (Stamets) and Michelle Yeoh chewing the scenery in the last few episodes.
Clare Parrott (294 KP) rated Boys Next Door in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Hot steamy action from the first page but soon wears a bit thin as there's more sex than storyline to the book and I'm finding I'm scanning through the sex scenes the further I get in to the book just in the hope of finding some thing more interesting. This would have been a good book if a little more thought had gone into the writing, it needs more depth. I disliked the crudeness of some of the descriptions and it could have been more sensual but THEN, just when I think this is going to be a standard read the last couple of chapters are captivating. They have feeling and emotion, everything the rest of the book didn't have and I'm now feeling robbed that the rest of the book wasn't the same.
In the end the last few chapter more than make up for the rest, this is an adult read and I did enjoy it in the end.
3.5 Stars
In the end the last few chapter more than make up for the rest, this is an adult read and I did enjoy it in the end.
3.5 Stars