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Merissa (11958 KP) rated Blood Pact (Youkai Bloodlines #2) in Books
May 7, 2021 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)
BLOOD PACT is the second book in the Youkai Bloodlines series, and we start off with Hiro. He is a geisha, taken in from the street, and now a man of renown because of his voice. When a local thug takes offence at Hiro entertaining a samurai; Hiro's world is torn apart.
This isn't a romance story, per se. It is diving into the world of the mythological, fantastical, and horrible. Hide would do anything for Hiro, apart from showing it! And Hiro has enough heart for both of them. Even Asagi recognises that. Yes, they are in here too, but I don't think life has treated them kindly since last we met. I do so want a HEA for them, back with their maker.
Although this is book two, as Hiro puts it, this is only the beginning. I love where the story is going, plus the character development and supporting cast. You end up with more questions than answers, and it's just perfect for this series. This book is long enough to sink your teeth into (!), and is perfectly paced, giving you action and then a time of rest. Diving into cultural mythology is a bonus for me.
A fantastic addition to the series and absolutely recommended by me. I can't wait to see what happens next.
** 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!
May 7, 2021
This isn't a romance story, per se. It is diving into the world of the mythological, fantastical, and horrible. Hide would do anything for Hiro, apart from showing it! And Hiro has enough heart for both of them. Even Asagi recognises that. Yes, they are in here too, but I don't think life has treated them kindly since last we met. I do so want a HEA for them, back with their maker.
Although this is book two, as Hiro puts it, this is only the beginning. I love where the story is going, plus the character development and supporting cast. You end up with more questions than answers, and it's just perfect for this series. This book is long enough to sink your teeth into (!), and is perfectly paced, giving you action and then a time of rest. Diving into cultural mythology is a bonus for me.
A fantastic addition to the series and absolutely recommended by me. I can't wait to see what happens next.
** 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!
May 7, 2021
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated The Maze Runner (2014) in Movies
Sep 21, 2020
There's absolutely no excuse to not have utilized the actual maze more (we get like three action scenes in it?) but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a ball with this otherwise thoroughly fun and often thrilling popcorn entertainment. Dylan O'Brien is tremendous in it, even when it wears the dystopian YA format a little too prominently. For a while I couldn't tell if the simplicity helped or hurt this in the end - I mean on the one hand this has precious nothing to say about the implications of its brutal story/world, but then again on the other it 110% forgoes the usual heavy-handed yet jejune moralizing that normally sugar-coat these films. I'm sure you could have found a decent medium between the two but Wes Ball's direction is sturdy, and I kind of like the idea of all these random 18/20-somethings nonchalantly trapped in this ludicrous scenario who just see this giant, mechanical deathtrap maze as a way of life lol. So I had more than enough fun with it. Try to picture a 2014 blockbuster "Lord of the Flies" without the obvious symbolism meets a market-tested šš©š¦ ššŖššš¢šØš¦ where a bunch of extras get PG-13-ed to death by huge mechanical alien spiders. Plus no one even takes their shirt off I mean that's *gotta* be a first for one of these.
Fall Into Darkness (Eternally Mated #1)
8.0
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As a bounty hunter for the Tribunal, Eli has faced his share of enemies, many who were once his...
Paranormal Romance
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated If I Die (Soul Screamers, #5) in Books
Jan 6, 2021
Well I feel I have to say that this isn't my favourite series in the world...but I think this has been the best books so far.
Maybe it was the whole Kaylee and Tod thing, which I've been rooting for since early on, or something else that I cant put my finger on, but I enjoyed this one more than the previous.
Nash annoyed me no end in this, I know he's angry and upset but really? I thought you'd got it all out of your system in the last one! You've gone down in my expectations, I'm afraid.
Sabine wasn't as bitchy as usual; she actually helped Kaylee for a change instead of making stuff harder for her.
Book 6 is on hiatus for a bit until I read other books that I just cant wait to read (sorry Before I Wake, nothing personal)
Maybe it was the whole Kaylee and Tod thing, which I've been rooting for since early on, or something else that I cant put my finger on, but I enjoyed this one more than the previous.
Nash annoyed me no end in this, I know he's angry and upset but really? I thought you'd got it all out of your system in the last one! You've gone down in my expectations, I'm afraid.
Sabine wasn't as bitchy as usual; she actually helped Kaylee for a change instead of making stuff harder for her.
Book 6 is on hiatus for a bit until I read other books that I just cant wait to read (sorry Before I Wake, nothing personal)
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Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated Earth Abides in Books
Jun 2, 2018
Truly a classic, and a must read.
Earth Abides is not an entertaining book. It is not perfect. It is a tad long-winded at some points, sometimes decidedly dated feeling, and has a serious lack of everything that generally entertains me. It is, at itās base, a look at the post-apocalyptic world through one manās eyes. It was first published in 1949, and according to Goodreads, currently has 55 editions. It is considered a sci-fi book, but thereās nothing science fiction about the book. A disease hits, wipes out most of the worldās population, and the few that survive are left to pick up the pieces. Thatās it. But thatās not all there is to it. A lot happens, but itās over the life of one man. Thereās no grand battles, no good versus evil in the ruins of the old world, just the quiet puttering of one of the last embers of humanity as it strives to not die out completely. And yet it wonāt let you alone until you finish it.
I think this book had to have made some waves when people first started reading in. Published in 1949 and it features an interracial union and espouses a life better without God in it? Yowzers.
I frequently disliked the main character. Isherwood Williams is the type of man that ā while I might admire his mind ā I would frequently want to thump. Heās full of himself. Heās so cynical about the āsimplicityā of the people around him. And, of course, heās completely human, and thereās the rub. We look for a āheroā in these types of books. Ish is no hero. Heās someone who had the āluckā to survive the end of the world, and now heās got to live in it. But the world changes ā doesnāt it always? And Ish isnāt a King of old. Heās just the head of his Tribe.
Earth Abides feels timeless. I have read many post-apocalyptic books, and theyāve grown tiresome. I approached this book with some caution, because I was afraid of more of the same drivel that is wonderful the first few times you read it, and then swiftly approaches āBeen there done thatā with disturbing ease. I didnāt want to dislike this book because I was bone-weary of the sub-genre. Thankfully, that wasnāt the case. Because, for all the post-apocalyptic books Iāve read, I donāt think that Iāve ever read a novel like Earth Abides. It also feels the most real. This is how the world goes on; earth abides while humanity fumbles along.
I wonāt deny that the main reason Iām making the connection between the two is because I just recently read it, but I could not help but think of McCammonās Boyās Life when I finished Earth Abides. I am not someone who self-describes as liking āliterary fictionā. Iām happy with my genre jollies, thankyouverymuch. Iāll admit to even wrinkling my nose at the idea of reading āliteratureā. However, I think both Earth Abides and Boyās Life are perfect examples of books that show the appeal of that type of book. Theyāre not 600 pages long and packed with five dollar words, yet they donāt fit into any particular genre, and they make you think far more than they entertain you.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
āIf there is a God who made us and we did wrong before His eyesāas George saysāat least we did wrong only because we were as God made us, and I do not think that He should set traps. Oh, you should know better than George! Let us not bring all that back into the world againāthe angry God, the mean Godāthe one who does not tell us the rules of the game, and then strikes us when we break them. Let us not bring Him back.ā
āMan has been growing more stupid for several thousand years; I myself shall waste no tears at his demise.ā
āDuring ten thousand years his numbers have been on the upgrade in spite of wars, pestilences, and famines. This increase in population has become more and more rapid. Biologically, man has for too long a time been rolling an uninterrupted run of sevens.ā
Earth Abides really does deserve itās spot on the āMust Readā list folks. Its hard to talk about but easy to read. Youāll need some quiet to be able to really appreciate it. Take as long as you need to take with it. I actually walked away from it for a week or so because I have an attention span the length of a gnat, but was drawn back to it, and able to pick up right where I left off.
I think this book had to have made some waves when people first started reading in. Published in 1949 and it features an interracial union and espouses a life better without God in it? Yowzers.
I frequently disliked the main character. Isherwood Williams is the type of man that ā while I might admire his mind ā I would frequently want to thump. Heās full of himself. Heās so cynical about the āsimplicityā of the people around him. And, of course, heās completely human, and thereās the rub. We look for a āheroā in these types of books. Ish is no hero. Heās someone who had the āluckā to survive the end of the world, and now heās got to live in it. But the world changes ā doesnāt it always? And Ish isnāt a King of old. Heās just the head of his Tribe.
Earth Abides feels timeless. I have read many post-apocalyptic books, and theyāve grown tiresome. I approached this book with some caution, because I was afraid of more of the same drivel that is wonderful the first few times you read it, and then swiftly approaches āBeen there done thatā with disturbing ease. I didnāt want to dislike this book because I was bone-weary of the sub-genre. Thankfully, that wasnāt the case. Because, for all the post-apocalyptic books Iāve read, I donāt think that Iāve ever read a novel like Earth Abides. It also feels the most real. This is how the world goes on; earth abides while humanity fumbles along.
I wonāt deny that the main reason Iām making the connection between the two is because I just recently read it, but I could not help but think of McCammonās Boyās Life when I finished Earth Abides. I am not someone who self-describes as liking āliterary fictionā. Iām happy with my genre jollies, thankyouverymuch. Iāll admit to even wrinkling my nose at the idea of reading āliteratureā. However, I think both Earth Abides and Boyās Life are perfect examples of books that show the appeal of that type of book. Theyāre not 600 pages long and packed with five dollar words, yet they donāt fit into any particular genre, and they make you think far more than they entertain you.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
āIf there is a God who made us and we did wrong before His eyesāas George saysāat least we did wrong only because we were as God made us, and I do not think that He should set traps. Oh, you should know better than George! Let us not bring all that back into the world againāthe angry God, the mean Godāthe one who does not tell us the rules of the game, and then strikes us when we break them. Let us not bring Him back.ā
āMan has been growing more stupid for several thousand years; I myself shall waste no tears at his demise.ā
āDuring ten thousand years his numbers have been on the upgrade in spite of wars, pestilences, and famines. This increase in population has become more and more rapid. Biologically, man has for too long a time been rolling an uninterrupted run of sevens.ā
Earth Abides really does deserve itās spot on the āMust Readā list folks. Its hard to talk about but easy to read. Youāll need some quiet to be able to really appreciate it. Take as long as you need to take with it. I actually walked away from it for a week or so because I have an attention span the length of a gnat, but was drawn back to it, and able to pick up right where I left off.
Gareth von Kallenbach (977 KP) rated Yesterday (2019) in Movies
Jun 28, 2019
A Fun Musical About What Matters Most In Life
When the lights go out all over the world struggling singer-songwriter, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel), is blindsided by a double decker bus. The bus knocks him off his bike and sends him flying across the pavement where he lands unconscious. When he wakes up he is missing his beard and a couple of front teeth. He thinks it just been the worst end of the worst day of his life. But he couldnāt be more wrong. Earlier he had decided to give up his quest for fame and go back to being a teacher. Despite his best friend, manager, fan since grade school Ellie (Lily James) trying hard to convince him to not give up on his dreams. But days after the crash Jack is still ready to hang it up. Elle as a present for Jack leaving the hospital gives him a brand new guitar. Jack decides to play a song but a great guitar needs a great song so he plays Yesterday by The Beattles. When he is finished Elle is almost in tears, his friends Nick and Carol (Harry Michell and Sophia Di Marino) are in sock.
They want to know where he came up with this amazing song. Jack tells them the greatest pop band in historyā¦The Beattles. But they have no idea who that is and neither does the rest of the world. Now Jack is the only person in the world who knows the songs of one of the top selling iconic bands in history. Itās not long before the world comes to know of Jack Malik the single greatest song writer of all time. But will he be found out as a fraud, will fame and money change him and most importantly will he leave behind the people he cares for most.
This Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) director comedy is original and well written, by Jack Barth (story) and RAbbey Mordue
ichard Curtis (screenplay). The story is part romantic comedy and part fantasy film. Itās original and fun but there are times that the story is clunky and oddly put together. There are times that feel like major events are skipped over. The soundtrack is definitely filled with The Beattles with some modern music sprinkled in, including Ed Sheerran who plays himself in the film. If you are a fan of The Beattles you will definitely enjoy the film and how they wind the music into the story. The cast is fun and fit well together. Patel is both awkward and troubled and he does a well in the lead. He also does a great job singing. Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Live) is great as a money hungry music executive.
I admittedly am a huge fan of The Beattles and was very excited but premise of this film. At the very least I would be able to listen to good music for two hours. But I really enjoyed the originality and visuals that were put together. The story while clunky at times was overall fun to watch. When you thought it was predictable and knew where the film was taking you the story would divert slightly and surprise you. It is a fun date movie that worth the price of a movie ticket.
4 out of 5
http://sknr.net/2019/06/27/yesterday/
They want to know where he came up with this amazing song. Jack tells them the greatest pop band in historyā¦The Beattles. But they have no idea who that is and neither does the rest of the world. Now Jack is the only person in the world who knows the songs of one of the top selling iconic bands in history. Itās not long before the world comes to know of Jack Malik the single greatest song writer of all time. But will he be found out as a fraud, will fame and money change him and most importantly will he leave behind the people he cares for most.
This Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) director comedy is original and well written, by Jack Barth (story) and RAbbey Mordue
ichard Curtis (screenplay). The story is part romantic comedy and part fantasy film. Itās original and fun but there are times that the story is clunky and oddly put together. There are times that feel like major events are skipped over. The soundtrack is definitely filled with The Beattles with some modern music sprinkled in, including Ed Sheerran who plays himself in the film. If you are a fan of The Beattles you will definitely enjoy the film and how they wind the music into the story. The cast is fun and fit well together. Patel is both awkward and troubled and he does a well in the lead. He also does a great job singing. Kate McKinnon (Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Live) is great as a money hungry music executive.
I admittedly am a huge fan of The Beattles and was very excited but premise of this film. At the very least I would be able to listen to good music for two hours. But I really enjoyed the originality and visuals that were put together. The story while clunky at times was overall fun to watch. When you thought it was predictable and knew where the film was taking you the story would divert slightly and surprise you. It is a fun date movie that worth the price of a movie ticket.
4 out of 5
http://sknr.net/2019/06/27/yesterday/
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