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Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated New X-Men: Childhood's End, Volume 3: Nimrod in Books
Nov 30, 2020
If you have not read Volumes 1 and 2, please don't skip them, as they are important to the overall story.
More of the same, not necessarily a bad thing. Fulfills the Daily Minimum Requirement for angst.
Laura Kinney -- oh, my bad, they are still referring to her as "Laura X" -- is written well, with Yost and Kyle succeeding in developing the character as she tries to leave her previous life behind.
Unfortunately, she was not treated so well art-wise. Paco Medina was still the artist, except for the issues where a guest artist stepped up to fill-in: #29 (Duncan Rouleau) and #32 (BATTLE PUG's Mike Norton). The issues that didn't have Medina on the art were okay enough, but the issues he DID draw were an insulting disappointment. Laura was drawn with breasts too big for her, and the outfit she wore made he look she was a regular shopper at Whores R Us!
Overall, it was a good read, just not a great read like the previous two. I found the Nimrod story to be MEH, as I have never been a fan of character. Yeah, he's neat, but trying to include often creates ideas-never-dealt-with of paradoxes and such. But, outside of his appearance as this volume's "Big Bad", it was good, just not great. You may read it and feel differently perhaps.
More of the same, not necessarily a bad thing. Fulfills the Daily Minimum Requirement for angst.
Laura Kinney -- oh, my bad, they are still referring to her as "Laura X" -- is written well, with Yost and Kyle succeeding in developing the character as she tries to leave her previous life behind.
Unfortunately, she was not treated so well art-wise. Paco Medina was still the artist, except for the issues where a guest artist stepped up to fill-in: #29 (Duncan Rouleau) and #32 (BATTLE PUG's Mike Norton). The issues that didn't have Medina on the art were okay enough, but the issues he DID draw were an insulting disappointment. Laura was drawn with breasts too big for her, and the outfit she wore made he look she was a regular shopper at Whores R Us!
Overall, it was a good read, just not a great read like the previous two. I found the Nimrod story to be MEH, as I have never been a fan of character. Yeah, he's neat, but trying to include often creates ideas-never-dealt-with of paradoxes and such. But, outside of his appearance as this volume's "Big Bad", it was good, just not great. You may read it and feel differently perhaps.
Bubba Gee (147 KP) rated Fighting with My Family (2019) in Movies
Jun 24, 2019
Feel good film
Contains spoilers, click to show
Good film, telling the story of a family's obsession with wrestling.
The Brother Zak and sister Saraya compete in small venues managed by their father and mother who were also professional wrestlers many years earlier.
It is zaks dream to reach the pinnacle of professional wrestling the wwe.
It somehow feels as a youngster that Saraya is pressured onto wrestling and has no real interest.
Herself and Zak try out for wwe in London and Saraya is chosen to go to the second round of auditions in Florida USA.
This does not sit well with Zak as this is his dream.
Cue family drama, this However is well done and not forced, it feels very real of what happens inside many families.
Paige of course reaches the top and takes on the Diva Champion AJ Lee for the title on smack down the night after Wrestlemania xxx.
The true story of the youngest WWE Diva champion at 21 is thoughtfully and well played out by all in the cast.
Major Credit to the writer and producer Stephen Merchant and also to Dwayne Johnson as producer as I'm sure having him on board lent a lot of authenticity to this movie.
Some fun cameos too from Big Show and Seamus.
A1 guys
The Brother Zak and sister Saraya compete in small venues managed by their father and mother who were also professional wrestlers many years earlier.
It is zaks dream to reach the pinnacle of professional wrestling the wwe.
It somehow feels as a youngster that Saraya is pressured onto wrestling and has no real interest.
Herself and Zak try out for wwe in London and Saraya is chosen to go to the second round of auditions in Florida USA.
This does not sit well with Zak as this is his dream.
Cue family drama, this However is well done and not forced, it feels very real of what happens inside many families.
Paige of course reaches the top and takes on the Diva Champion AJ Lee for the title on smack down the night after Wrestlemania xxx.
The true story of the youngest WWE Diva champion at 21 is thoughtfully and well played out by all in the cast.
Major Credit to the writer and producer Stephen Merchant and also to Dwayne Johnson as producer as I'm sure having him on board lent a lot of authenticity to this movie.
Some fun cameos too from Big Show and Seamus.
A1 guys
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Photo & Video and Lifestyle
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Merissa (13469 KP) rated The Unknown Sun (Destiny #1) in Books
Apr 14, 2023
This book starts off with a contemporary feel - Moira is a teenage girl trying to get through High School after having two near-death experiences. Everyone else who was with her at the time died, but for some reason, she survived. All that changes one night when someone breaks into her home and attacks her. Thinking that third time lucky for death to come and collect her, instead, she is saved by two winged people, twins who seem to know about her.
This is where the Fantasy part of the novel kicks in as you have good vs. evil, betrayal, the old Gods and new powers and abilities.
There are crossovers between this book and The Immortals which made it interesting. However, I personally found it a tad distracting as my mind would flit back to the other book when a reference was made, but that's just me.
This was well-written and enjoyable. The 'fun' hasn't ended here though, for all that Moira has some of her answers. There is more to come from her, Bel, and Airi and I, for one, am looking forward to reading more about them.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2015
This is where the Fantasy part of the novel kicks in as you have good vs. evil, betrayal, the old Gods and new powers and abilities.
There are crossovers between this book and The Immortals which made it interesting. However, I personally found it a tad distracting as my mind would flit back to the other book when a reference was made, but that's just me.
This was well-written and enjoyable. The 'fun' hasn't ended here though, for all that Moira has some of her answers. There is more to come from her, Bel, and Airi and I, for one, am looking forward to reading more about them.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2015
Merissa (13469 KP) rated Falling From The Sky (Bear Creek #1) in Books
May 20, 2023
This is what I'm talking about!!!! This is a young adult story about heartbreak, hope, despair, confusion and love, that just happens to be between two members of the same sex. The feelings between them are true, no matter what sex you are!
Ridge is coping with life, but he's certainly not living it. He doesn't know if he will ever feel 'normal' again as he tries to cope with his dad's death. He is going through the motions of living, whilst feeling very disjointed. Micah is the only one who seems to break through Ridge's barriers, and not in a good way to begin with. Ridge finds him irritating and annoying, but Micah persists. The friendship that grows between these two is gorgeous to read about, as well as Ridge's meanderings on where the friendship is going, and his growing feelings towards Micah.
I thought this was incredibly well-written, powerful and yet delicate enough when dealing with Ridge's confusion over his feelings. The ending? Wow, that one walloped me! I completely 5683 this book and will be on the lookout for more from this author. Totally blew me away! Highly recommended.
* 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!
Feb 7, 2016
Ridge is coping with life, but he's certainly not living it. He doesn't know if he will ever feel 'normal' again as he tries to cope with his dad's death. He is going through the motions of living, whilst feeling very disjointed. Micah is the only one who seems to break through Ridge's barriers, and not in a good way to begin with. Ridge finds him irritating and annoying, but Micah persists. The friendship that grows between these two is gorgeous to read about, as well as Ridge's meanderings on where the friendship is going, and his growing feelings towards Micah.
I thought this was incredibly well-written, powerful and yet delicate enough when dealing with Ridge's confusion over his feelings. The ending? Wow, that one walloped me! I completely 5683 this book and will be on the lookout for more from this author. Totally blew me away! Highly recommended.
* 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!
Feb 7, 2016
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Crime and Parchment in Books
Oct 3, 2024 (Updated Oct 3, 2024)
Family and Lost Books
Rare books librarian Juniper Blume is surprised when she gets a message from her ex-brother-in-law claiming he has found a clue to where the covers for the Book of Kells might be. She’s even more surprised to see he thinks they are in the small Maryland town of Rose Mallow. But Juniper is also intrigued, so she returns, even if it means dealing with some complicated family relationships. But when she goes to the meeting, she finds a dead body. Can she figure out what is going on?
This book received lots of praise when it came out, and I can see why. There’s a lot packed into the beginning, but I was able to follow it, and it pulled me into the story. It did make the book feel a little slower later, but maybe that was just my expectations. I was definitely intrigued the entire way through, and the ending answered my questions. I also appreciated that the author did a good job of making us believe that the treasure hunt Juniper found herself on was believable. The characters were good, and the subplot involving Juniper and her family felt realistic. I liked how that played out. I’m looking forward to seeing what is next for these characters soon.
This book received lots of praise when it came out, and I can see why. There’s a lot packed into the beginning, but I was able to follow it, and it pulled me into the story. It did make the book feel a little slower later, but maybe that was just my expectations. I was definitely intrigued the entire way through, and the ending answered my questions. I also appreciated that the author did a good job of making us believe that the treasure hunt Juniper found herself on was believable. The characters were good, and the subplot involving Juniper and her family felt realistic. I liked how that played out. I’m looking forward to seeing what is next for these characters soon.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated A Rogue’s Company in Books
Jun 7, 2025 (Updated Jun 7, 2025)
Good Novel, but Not Good Mystery
It’s August 1946, and Lord Bainbridge has returned from his latest trip to Africa. That means that Gwen’s life has once again turned complicated as she attempts to wrestle her life back from her father-in-law. Lord Bainbridge is insisting that Gwen’s six-year-old son is ready to attend the boarding school that the Bainbridge men attend, and she doesn’t have custody to stop him. Can she figure out how to get control of her life back?
Those following this series will be absolutely hooked by this storyline. I was anxious to see how it was going to play out. But this is a mystery series, and the mystery was lacking, starting too late with some key elements feeling forced or rushed. Don’t worry, Gwen’s business partner, Iris Sparks, gets plenty of page time and some nice development, and all the usual supporting players are here. We also get the usual banter that makes me laugh. The paperback I bought recently contains a bonus short story that I feel like was pieced together from a subplot in the previous book, but I don’t remember for sure. While the mystery may have been weak, fans will still be glad they picked up this book. I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.
Those following this series will be absolutely hooked by this storyline. I was anxious to see how it was going to play out. But this is a mystery series, and the mystery was lacking, starting too late with some key elements feeling forced or rushed. Don’t worry, Gwen’s business partner, Iris Sparks, gets plenty of page time and some nice development, and all the usual supporting players are here. We also get the usual banter that makes me laugh. The paperback I bought recently contains a bonus short story that I feel like was pieced together from a subplot in the previous book, but I don’t remember for sure. While the mystery may have been weak, fans will still be glad they picked up this book. I’ll be continuing on with the series soon.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2444 KP) rated Take the Honey and Run in Books
Mar 1, 2024
Is Granny Bee a Killer Bee?
Bailey Biggs has returned to her small town in Colorado to help her grandmother, who has recently broken her foot. But when she arrives, she finds Granny Bee yelling at the town’s founder. The next morning, she finds the man dead from his honey allergy, a jar of Granny Bee’s signature Hot Spiced Honey on his table. With the sheriff questioning Granny Bee, Bailey jumps in to figure out what really happened. Can she find a sweet killer?
I’d heard lots of good things when this book came out, and I’m glad I finally got a chance to read it. The book jumps right in, and we met a group of characters at once. It took me a while to separate them all, but I was able to. The main characters are strong, and the suspects are good. The plot also started quickly, and it kept me buzzing from one suspect to the next until we reached the logical solution that wrapped everything well. The book was funny, although I do feel it got a little too zany at times. If this book finds you craving honey, you’ll be delighted in the six recipes at the end. If you enjoy cozies on the comedic side, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
I’d heard lots of good things when this book came out, and I’m glad I finally got a chance to read it. The book jumps right in, and we met a group of characters at once. It took me a while to separate them all, but I was able to. The main characters are strong, and the suspects are good. The plot also started quickly, and it kept me buzzing from one suspect to the next until we reached the logical solution that wrapped everything well. The book was funny, although I do feel it got a little too zany at times. If this book finds you craving honey, you’ll be delighted in the six recipes at the end. If you enjoy cozies on the comedic side, you’ll be glad you picked up this book.
Merissa (13469 KP) rated Something Cryptid This Way Comes (Love in Maplewood #9) in Books
Jul 11, 2025
SOMETHING CRYPTID THIS WAY COMES is the ninth book in the Love in Maplewood series and can be read as a standalone.
Bram and Trevor were best friends growing up, until Bram left Maplewood. They have remained long-distance friends and go on holiday together once a year. The only trouble is Trevor thinks a whole lot more of Bram than just Best Friends. And Bram is afraid to rock the boat and lose the friendship. Along comes some Maplewood Matchmakers!
This is a nice story with good pacing and low angst. Trevor and Bram don't wait for the closing act to get their thoughts in gear, giving some nice scenes where they realise who they are to each other. Most of the intimate scenes between them are, well, not fade-to-black exactly, more like fade-to-grey. And when trouble does occur, it is easily sorted with little drama.
And that, I'm afraid, is why I'm giving it 3 stars. It was nice. It didn't thrill me, it didn't sweep me away, and I didn't feel that connected with the main characters. It was just... nice.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2025
Bram and Trevor were best friends growing up, until Bram left Maplewood. They have remained long-distance friends and go on holiday together once a year. The only trouble is Trevor thinks a whole lot more of Bram than just Best Friends. And Bram is afraid to rock the boat and lose the friendship. Along comes some Maplewood Matchmakers!
This is a nice story with good pacing and low angst. Trevor and Bram don't wait for the closing act to get their thoughts in gear, giving some nice scenes where they realise who they are to each other. Most of the intimate scenes between them are, well, not fade-to-black exactly, more like fade-to-grey. And when trouble does occur, it is easily sorted with little drama.
And that, I'm afraid, is why I'm giving it 3 stars. It was nice. It didn't thrill me, it didn't sweep me away, and I didn't feel that connected with the main characters. It was just... nice.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 11, 2025
Sensitivemuse (246 KP) rated Caraval in Books
Oct 1, 2017
Great magical world with dark undertones
What I loved the most about the book was the setting of Caraval. It’s so beautifully descriptive it feels like a magical place. You’re taken back to the feeling when you were a wee little one and you’re in Disneyland for the first time in your life. It’s that magical feel good feeling that comes back to you when you’re reading the book. At the same time you know things aren’t what they seem and there’s some dark undertones to Caraval. It’s hard not to get swept away (as they have warned you) because everything seems so real and fun.
I loved the plot throughout the book. Like Scarlett, you had doubts as to whether things were real or not. By the time you finished the novel you were still doubting what was real and what wasn’t. Scarlett was at times frustrating and irritating. She hesitated at the wrong times and didn’t listen to anyone when she really needed to. Argh. You wanted to jump in and drag her to point her to the right direction. I didn’t really see her well with Julian because I really saw Julian as more of a means to an end because he guided her throughout the game. However I have to admit, I liked it when he called her ‘Crimson’ it suited his personality at the time (I hope he doesn’t stop calling her that, it adds more to their characters.)
The last few pages of the novel though. Wow. You’re blown away and you’ll have your heart wrenched and torn out of your chest and then it’s put back in. Yet it doesn’t feel the same anymore and you’re left with more questions and wanting more. OH MY GOD I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK! I NEED ANSWERS!
Greatly recommended. Immerse yourself into the world and enjoy. You’ll probably get carried away like I did. Get ready for some good twists that are gut wrenching. You’re not left the same after reading it.
I loved the plot throughout the book. Like Scarlett, you had doubts as to whether things were real or not. By the time you finished the novel you were still doubting what was real and what wasn’t. Scarlett was at times frustrating and irritating. She hesitated at the wrong times and didn’t listen to anyone when she really needed to. Argh. You wanted to jump in and drag her to point her to the right direction. I didn’t really see her well with Julian because I really saw Julian as more of a means to an end because he guided her throughout the game. However I have to admit, I liked it when he called her ‘Crimson’ it suited his personality at the time (I hope he doesn’t stop calling her that, it adds more to their characters.)
The last few pages of the novel though. Wow. You’re blown away and you’ll have your heart wrenched and torn out of your chest and then it’s put back in. Yet it doesn’t feel the same anymore and you’re left with more questions and wanting more. OH MY GOD I CAN’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND BOOK! I NEED ANSWERS!
Greatly recommended. Immerse yourself into the world and enjoy. You’ll probably get carried away like I did. Get ready for some good twists that are gut wrenching. You’re not left the same after reading it.