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Louise (64 KP) rated Uprooted in Books

Jul 2, 2018

Uprooted

Naomi Novik | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry

8.4

(10 Ratings)

Book Rating

I was very apprehensive going in to this book as I have heard hit and miss reviews. There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and some that let it down. I think all fantasy books should come with a map! I don’t care if this book was set in a valley – I would still like a map to help me visualise the land and follow the characters on journeys. It took me a little while to get used to the writing style in this book.It was written in such a way that you had to take your time and not miss a word – if you have read Laini Taylor’s writing then you will probably like the style. The magic system was not very well explained and just seemed to happen conveniently. The Dragon was supposed to be this brooding handsome wizard that looks like he is in his 20’s but actually like a 150 years old and just annoying. The romance was blah, there was no tension and I didn’t feel any connection between the characters. There is a great friendship in this book between Agnieszka and Kasia which was one of the strongest parts. I did like the woods that were corrupted and how clever it was. This could have been an amazing book it was just underdeveloped. It would have been better as a series rather than a standalone.

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018) in Movies

Dec 4, 2018

The Girl in the Spider's Web (2018)

2018 | Crime, Drama, Thriller

6.2

(27 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Another attempt at converting Stieg Larssen's very-popular-about-ten-years-ago characters into viable English-language multiplex fare. Film opens with implied child abuse followed by implied domestic violence (there's a lot of implication, in order to avoid the 18 certificate that scuppered the box office of the Daniel Craig/Rooney Mara movie), but this is mainly to set an authentically grim tone - the plot could fairly easily be retooled for one of the Bourne movies, as evil secret organisation tries to get its hands on apocalyptic McGuffin, hero gets framed for doing nasty things, and so on.

Not sure about Foy's 'Allo Sven, I got a Volvo' accent, but on the whole this is a decent, watchable thriller even if it does look a bit like an Ikea advert with extra gore. But the thing is that it is terribly generic. If the only way to bring these books and characters to the screen is to basically fillet out everything that makes them distinctive and memorable, one wonders why anyone should bother. (The producers of the film may be able to name 31 million reasons (at the time of writing), but this still hardly qualifies as a hit movie.)

(And I know it's a bit ungallant to say this, but Foy is 34 - at what point does she become *The Woman* with (for example) the Dragon Tattoo? The point seems pertinent.)

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Dragon's wing (Kit Davenport book 2) in Books

Jan 9, 2020

Packed with action

Contains spoilers, click to show

I should have known my quest for vengeance would eventually be my downfall. I should have been more careful, more paranoid - but I'm glad I wasn't. Who knew that getting caught for my crimes would lead to so much happiness?

But joy can be fleeting...

It turns out, this battle is only just beginning. With ultimate power on the line, my faceless enemies will stop at nothing to capture me, dead or alive. I need to master my abilities, fast, or this could be the end for someone I care far too deeply about.

I'm Kit Davenport and this is going to be a bumpy flight.

We kick off with Kit and the boys paintballing it doesn't take long for Kit to land her self in trouble and her waking up ready to be sold as a sex slave. We follow Kit as she meets the mysterious buyer and new love interest Vali a Romanian mafia boss.

He helps her get back to the boys after she helps him heal from almost dying. Back with her boys we find out Vali Coles mysterious brother she's turned the both into Dragon shifters and someone just seriously wants her dead!!

This book is rammed with action in and out of the bedroom. I enjoyed it so much more than the first book and can't wait to read more.

Recommended

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kudos

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Marked by Dragons Blood ( Return of the Dragonborn book 1) in Books

Mar 17, 2020

Alternate cover edition for ASIN B01N9TCPQX
For all editions see here

Descended from dragons. Condemned to death. Driven underground.

Andie Rogers is no stranger to secrecy. After watching her dragonborn mother get taken away at a young age, she has had to learn to use her sorcery inherited from her father to disguise all trace of her own dragon's blood magic. Now, no longer a child, Andie must attend The University, center of all magic and government in Arvall City, to learn to wield her magic and become a fully-fledged sorcerer.

But Andie has another goal in mind.

Dreams of her tormented ancestors calling out to her have haunted her since she was a child, and Andie knows she must answer their call and discover the truth. But she must do so in the magical capital in the world, surrounded by powerful sorcerers determined to uphold the lie at all cost. If they discover that she carries the blood of the dragonborn, death with be swift and her people will never get a chance at redemption.

Will Andie risk everything to shatter the lies that the world has been fed for so many years? Can she set her people free?

I thought it was brilliant! I love the whole dragon element the story was well written and flowed really well. Strong characters and female lead. Loved the academy and definitely a series I want to see develop!