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The Hunger Games (2012)
The Hunger Games (2012)
2012 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Jennifer Lawrence (0 more)
So much like Battle Royale (0 more)
Not an original concept, but enjoyable watch
To be fair, I had never heard of the Hunger Games series before the film came out. So when I watched it my first reaction was - this is a rip off Battle Royale! Obviously that changed after the other films came out. However, I enjoyed the concept - because I loved BR. And I especially liked Jennifer Lawrence who always plays such fabulously gritty characters such as in The Winter's Bone. It's not a film you can watch repeatedly though because it is rather dark, and there are zero comedy elements in this dystopian fantasy (obviously). That being said, great acting all round.
  
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QueenTMR (25 KP) rated The Iron King in Books

Sep 23, 2018 (Updated Sep 23, 2018)  
The Iron King
The Iron King
Julie Kagawa | 2011 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
the discovery of the fey (1 more)
the love triangle
You will not want to miss this book
If this is just book one i cannot wait to carry on reading the rest of the series... it had everything in it, a new discovery, a dark handsome yet unobtainable Ice Prince within a love triangle including Meghan's (main character) best friend, life threatening situations and even heart break!!! This book is one you will not want to put down until you've finished it and even after that your hands will be itching to pick up the next one. Seriously do not miss out; if you love a good fantasy romance then this is most definitely not one to ignore!!
  
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Cori June (3033 KP) rated Overneath in Books

Nov 30, 2018  
Overneath
Overneath
Peter S. Beagle | 2017 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I have always enjoyed Peter S. Beagle's short fiction books and these definitely are worth it. Even his attempt at the steampunk genre is pretty good. Some of these stories are a little on the dark side and slightly horror, however, you also get some action and adventure. It is a great way to visit some of his established worlds like The Last Unicorn and Inn Keeper's Song as well as find something new. Worlds that treat dragon's like guard dogs for drugs and the police that find them or a world that has humans communicating with aliens via a computer. It is a great travel from High Fantasy to futuristic Sci-Fi.
  
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
2006 | Fantasy

"I loved Pan’s Labyrinth. It transported me into another world. I like fantasy worlds; I love Lord of the Rings as well, for that reason, because you really get to get out of reality and go somewhere else. Pan’s Labyrinth was kind of this dark, sick, beautiful… it was like watching a moving painting, like a Salvador Dali painting or something like that. It was just really magical and it sort of provoked so many different feelings at one time. It’s kind of sick, you know, the guy with no eyes is coming at her and it felt like when you have a crazy dream — you’re watching someone’s crazy dream. It just affected me."

Source
  
Dreaming Darkness #1
Dreaming Darkness #1
Kelley Armstrong | 2020 | Horror
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The first in an annual collection of horror and dark-fantasy short stories for the Halloween season. All four stories in this volume have been previously published.

Volume One Contents
•The Girl in the Carnival Gown
 Brilliant didn’t see that coming at all!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•Last Stand
Oh I really liked this and I’m sure it would be fabulous as a full book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•Nos Galan Gaeaf
Yay an early visit to cainsville I so miss it!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•A Haunted House of Her Own
Brilliant absolutely loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Overall I love this little collection would definitely like to see more!!
  
The Dark Tower (2017)
The Dark Tower (2017)
2017 | Horror, Sci-Fi, Western
Should've Dreamed a Little Bigger
If brevity is the soul of wit, then at only 95 minutes The Dark Tower should have a few clever things to say for itself; not many of them seem to reach the screen, though. Very reminiscent of many other movies in which troubled young boys tumble into fantasy world which it proves to be their destiny to save.

Given it sets out to adapt a 4000+ page novel series with a devoted following, The Dark Tower was probably always on a hiding to nothing as a single movie aimed at a standalone audience. The disappointing thing is, really, that given it's about a vast multiversal setting filled with elementals and psychics and wizards and gunslingers and suchlike, it feels so timidly safe and familiar. The actual story is competently told, but at the end you really wonder what all the fuss was in aid of. Probably too weird for most newcomers and too short for fans of the books; good soundtrack, though.
  
Warhammer Champions
Warhammer Champions
2018 | Card Game
Publishing powerhouse Image Comics has announced the launch of a brand new, dark fantasy series hitting shelves this July. Created by Justin Jordan (Luther Strode) and Rebekah Isaacs (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Reaver takes an old idea and runs with it.

The continent of Madaras once promised a new start for settlers, but 200 years after its discovery, the war rages on. Deep within this savage and untamed land, a darkness builds that must be stopped at all costs.

To do so, the Imperials assemble six of its most despicable prisoners—a turncoat, a skin eater, a sorcerer and his bodyguard, a serial killer, and the Devil’s Son—the only ones who can stop the end of the new world. They are Hell’s Half-Dozen.
  
Always Forever
Always Forever
Mark Chadbourn | 2002 | Dystopia, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
All technology is all but dead and the ancient powers stalk the land. With civlization in ruins only the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons can stop the world sliding into chaos. But they are broken, a spent force after the many trials they have endured. All may be lost after all.

Carrying on the tone of the first two books of the trilogy this is a dark and edgy read, often difficult as the protagonists are pushed to breaking point and beyond. Chadbourn's writing is very evocative and descriptive of the locations and the characters - perhaps because they have every flaw exposed - seem very human.

The ending makes the trilogy worthwhile, but to an extent maybe this is half a book too far; some plot elements become a little repetitive as do the threat from the creatures of legend that are hunting for the heroes. Ultimately the story just about justifies this and it definitely doesn't let down the series but maybe there's just a bit of faerie fatigue.

If you like your fantasy dark and your heroes really put through the wringer this series will appeal but it is not for the faint hearted.
  
Dividing Eden
Dividing Eden
Joelle Charbonneau | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting world (0 more)
Too many YA tropes (0 more)
Dividing Eden is a little trite - it's the typical teens must compete for the throne kind of fantasy, but this time it's twins who are both guarding each other's terrible secrets. You don't LEARN their terrible secrets until almost 100 pages in, which was frustrating because they were alluded to multiple times before finally revealed to the reader. I almost stopped reading, I was so frustrated at the mention - AGAIN - of Andreus' DARK SECRET THAT NO ONE MUST EVER KNOW. Seriously. Don't do that to your readers.

The fact that they were protecting each other's secret while competing against each other for the throne was rather unique, and while I don't like Andreus much, I did enjoy Carys and her friends enough that I'll probably pick up the sequel when it comes out this June.

Everything happened very quickly, but that tends to be the case in YA. Adult fantasy seems to take its time and develop its characters more fully, which I enjoy.

The windmills and electricity was surprising, and I'd really like to know more about their religion of Virtues, and the Wind and Seeing Magic. I wish she had described her forest monsters a little earlier; they were only referred to by name for most of the book and I was left wondering if they were monsters or human raiders of some sort!

Verdict is - it's typical YA fantasy. If you're looking for a quick read, you might enjoy it.
  
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Cori June (3033 KP) rated Guards! Guards! Discworld Novel 8 in Books

Dec 3, 2018 (Updated Jun 16, 2021)  
Guards! Guards! Discworld Novel 8
Guards! Guards! Discworld Novel 8
Tony Robinson, Terry Pratchett, Ben Aaronovitch | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sam Vines (2 more)
wit
L-space
can be a little slow (0 more)
I've reread the book, its been a couple of years. As an introduction to Discworld this is a good place to start. I really enjoy the fact that you don't have to read the Discworld series in order to grasp the main themes and ideas, most of the story arcs are self contained.
Samuel Vines is one of my favorite characters.
If you want a popular fantasy trope(s) flipped on its head this is a great series to read. Funny and surprisingly deep this story is an enjoyment for all. It's an adult book and it does deal with some dark things like alcoholism and other adult themes, but I'd let my nephews read it or I'd read it to them.