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Night Shadows: Queer Horror
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I found this book whilst browsing the shelves at my local library, the front cover intrigued me and the genre even more so. I love horror novels and when I noticed that this had a LGBT theme I thought 'how brilliant!', I didn't hesitate to pick this up. Once I got the book home I decided to look up some reviews and noticed that the majority were 4 and 5 stars...I was excited as I thought I had found a gem. Well...I'm the minority.

Me whilst reading <i>Night Shadows</i>...

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/qh14c.gif"; width="320" height="160"/>

I was so disappointed and really thought I must have missed something due to all of the glowing reviews but I only liked 4 out of the 14 stories. My favourite was definitely <i>'Ordinary Mayhem'</i> which was the longest story in the book. I thought it was gripping, gruesome and positively twisted. Unfortunately I couldn't give this book any more than 2 stars because as a collection this was pretty poor. I don't recommend purchasing this book. As far as I know <i>'Ordinary Mayhem'</i> is being released as a full length novel so I highly recommend just waiting for that (I wish I did).

I found the majority of the stories either confusing, repetitive, dry or just plain pointless to be honest...the ones that were a couple of pages in length just had me sighing in frustration.
This, for me, would not be a re-read.
  
The Maze Runner
The Maze Runner
James Dashner | 2011 | Children
8
8.0 (55 Ratings)
Book Rating
I originally read this book a few years ago and really enjoyed it. This time around, I decided to try it as an audiobook which I definitely enjoyed!

While I vaguely remembered what happened in the book, it was more of vague feelings rather than real recollections. While listening to the book, I found myself remembering events as they happened, but I was happy to find that I could not remember what happened next beyond a few exceptions. I enjoyed hearing it again as if it was almost new.

The characters are easily relatable and I found myself very much enjoying the interactions between all the characters, but especially Thomas and Minho. I enjoyed listening to Thomas grow into who he truly is as a person despite adversity from a couple of the boys. I very much liked hearing Chuck mature and become braver as a result of his friendship with Thomas.

The only character that I did not enjoy hearing was Teresa even though I remember enjoying her the last time I read this book. I enjoyed the interactions between the boys better when they did not involve her.

As the ending of the book came closer and closer, I found myself not recollecting the story line. Once they exited the maze, I didn't remember anything. I am excited to listen to book 2 as though I'm hearing/reading it for the first time.

Mark Deakins was very enjoyable to listen to and I hope he is the narrator for book 2 as well.
  
A Little Murder for Christmas
This year, Anty Boisjoly is planning to spend Christmas with his aunt Azalea, who is a bit of a recluse. He hasn’t visited her in years, in fact. When Anty arrives, Azalea informs him that she’s just discovered the body of her next-door neighbor, a man she’d begun to be friendly with. The victim is a local war hero, and everyone in the village is upset by the news. Unfortunately, the footprints in the snow make it look like Azalea is the only person who could have realistically killed the man. Oh, and there’s also the fact that he was seen by many people in the pub hours after Azalea claims she found the body. Can Anty figure out what really happened and prove his aunt innocent?

The book doesn’t hesitate, jumping into the murder in the first chapter. I found the pacing to be a little uneven, especially early on. The further I got into the book, the more impossibility we saw, and the more I was engaged. By the end, everything made sense. I also found the suspects a little shallow. I loved the first in the series, so maybe my expectations were too high here. The one thing that was definitely the same as the first book was the dry wit. I laughed so much reading this book. We get some nice Christmas cheer over the course of the book as well. Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone looking for a humorous impossible crime mystery.
  
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
2017 | Action, Sci-Fi
Being a huge follower of the starwars universe. I found myself brought to tears of happiness. This movie if you didn't pay attention you will hate it. And this movie lays the foundation for some major events to come. I honestly wish I had my own discussion YouTube channel because I think I have figured out everything from who's Ray's parents are to if Luke went into the force. I am just hoping that next episode ties everything up
  
Fatherland
Fatherland
Robert Harris | 2012 | Fiction & Poetry
10
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I found the book both gripping and chilling.
The plot draws you in and you see through the eyes of the main charecter, Xavier March, how a corrupt society has grown and encompassed everything and everyone. You can feel the suffocating effect that the state has produced among it's citizens with the underlying fear leading to complience and all too frighteningly you can imagine how easily this can occur.
The end is disturbing, brutal and produces the perfect finalle.
  
Mr. Robot  - Season 1
Mr. Robot - Season 1
2015 | Drama
Actors (1 more)
Effects and camera work is great
Found the Direction of Storyline hard to follow or make sense of. (0 more)
mmm!!!
I like a good story and especially around this Subject of hacking but I felt really let down over this show. This could be down to the fact that it is possibly aimed at a certain Audience where you would need to have some Technological background to understand it. I would possibly give it another chance in the future.
  
I haven’t read any of Stuart Neville’s books before but I have heard good things so was pleased when I was sent an ecopy of “Those We Left Behind” from NetGalley and the Publisher - Random House UK / Vintage Publishing, in return for an honest review and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

My review can be found on my blog - http://readingstuffnthings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/those-we-left-behind-by-stuart-neville.html - please feel free to stop by :)