Smashbomb

Classic conflicts of child/parent, friend/(boy)friend, working/privileged classes, come to a head with a brutal murder, pre-WWI industrial espionage, and a race to survive the crossing.

The publisher classes it as YA, but it is suitable for a well-read late middle grader as the murder is neither gory nor superfluous to the plot. The language is clear and direct, the dialogue natural, and the settings imaginative.

Kudos

Erika (17789 KP) rated Serpent in the Heather (Dark Talents #2) in Books

Mar 19, 2019

Serpent in the Heather (Dark Talents #2)

Kay Kenyon | 2018 | Paranormal, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller

10.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

I really dig this alt-history Dark Talents series. Kim is a great character, and I can definitely relate to her. This book began pulling in more characters, which I liked. This book was a good mix of espionage and the sci-fi aspect of these 'talents'. I loved the incorporation of a Talents encyclopaedia about what they know thus far, and how it was sporadically inserted in between chapters. While the plot didn't exactly surprise me in any way, I completely enjoyed reading it.
I'm sad that this will only be a trilogy, and I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the last book in April.

Kudos

Dean (6927 KP) rated Red Sparrow (2018) in Movies

Mar 8, 2018

Red Sparrow (2018)

2018 | Mystery, Thriller

6.8

(52 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Jennifer Lawrence (0 more)

Poor pacing and about 30mins too long (0 more)

A good espionage Thriller

I didn't see many reviews before seeing this, just a trailer. It's a very stylish spy thriller with some great cast members.
The trailer made it seem quite a seductive thriller, whilst it does have some sex scenes and nudity it's gratuitous rather than sexy. It's quite violent and brutal at times with some torture scenes.
Overall the story is interesting but not gripping and the pacing is up and down in the 2nd half of the film. Thankfully the ending was decent and Lawrence does well in a challenging role.