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Joana Lau (3 KP) rated Artemis in Books

Feb 5, 2018  
Artemis
Artemis
Andy Weir | 2017 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.7 (34 Ratings)
Book Rating
Artemis is a fun, fast paced book featuring a charming heroine.

Jazz Bashara is smart, funny, sexy and like many of this generation – although the book takes place in the future – a little lost in her ways.

After a series of what some might call (Jazz included) “bad life decisions”, Jazz splits her time between working a legit porter job and as a smuggler of mostly harmless goods into her town, Artemis.

Artemis is the first lunar town, an earth colony of blue collar laborers, its main economies in are tourism, glass and aluminum production.

Through her pattern of making questionable choices, Jazz finds herself neck deep in some big trouble involving the town’s main big shots, the mayor, the aluminum industry and the Brazilian syndicate mob. I can’t wait to listen to the audiobook version narrated by Rosario Dawson, she will be the perfect voice for Jazz Bashara.

As I Brazilian native I was a little bothered by the lack of research into Brazilian surnames and cultural background. It is a huge pet peeve of mine when Brazilians are characterized too much like other Hispanic peoples. Although many shared similarities, our names and language are quite different and the names “Sanchez” and “Alvarez” are Hispanic names that are practically inexistent in Brazil.

Besides the above mentioned and a few tacky, too predictable, unoriginal sex jokes, the book is extremely charming.

Artemis is fun and the plot is very engaging. The dialogues are quick witted and the brainy problem solving echoes Mr. Weir’s debut “The Martian”.

The characters are well rounded or at least, well thought of, the dialogue is funny and the adventure is endless. There’s enough detailed chemistry and space mechanics to satisfy the inner nerd and the touch of romance is just enough to make you cheer for Jazz’s love conquests without being turned off – I am one of those people that get irritated when romance becomes the story’s main purpose. The gentrified, tight community vibe of Artemis juxtaposes well with the bare, unexciting moonscape.

Overall, one of my favorite books of the year and a huge relief. As a big fan of “The Martian”, I had big expectations for Mr. Weir’s new book. It did not disappoint.
  
RM
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I got this book from the Uppercase book box for the August book box. I am slowly getting out of a reading slump, so this was a really good book to help out with that.

This review actually is a 4.5/5 stars!!

I was a bit hesitant about this book because I don't read steampunk/historical fiction books that often. As you can see from my rating, I really enjoyed it! It was a good balance of drama, intrigue, and magical steampunkiness.

I liked how the characters were developed throughout the story and were not left to have one flat characteristic that I have seen happen a lot before. I absolutely loved the main character, Henry and the children. They were by far the best parts of the book for me solely based on their fun familial energy and retorts.

The plot went by pretty fast as well and I didn't feel like there was much left out of the story.

I did, however, want there to be more information on certain backgrounds of characters (if you have read this, you will understand what I mean). Some parts of it felt stiff for me. The bit about the dangerous secret felt like it was put in as an afterthought at parts. It didn’t really flow that well with the rest of the story. They could have been fleshed out in a more organic manner, in my opinion. (This is the reason for the 1 star off, even though it should only be 1/2 a star, but I can't do that on here.)

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a great, fun read!

I would definitely recommend this to people who haven't read a lot of steampunk, but want to get into it. This is a great introductory book for that because it isn't a slap in the face with so much steampunk. Also, anyone who wants to be really entertained by a headstrong, sassy female lead who will make you laugh out loud at parts, this is a great book for you!!
  
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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Copycat in Books

Mar 15, 2018  
Copycat
Copycat
Alex Lake | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Philosophy, Psychology & Social Sciences, Thriller
8
8.0 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sometimes you come across a really easy to read and exciting thriller novel, that doesn’t take up too much head space, and is alotta fun… Copycat is exactly that! This one really helped me out of a reading slump, hallelujah!

I can’t turn around to you and say this is the most menacing, gripping and terrific thriller I’ve ever read, but I can say that it’s worth picking up if you’re looking for a non-challenging but exciting read.

The characters in this one are nicely developed, but there was a bit of a lack of connection between me and our main character Sarah. I think if I’d been able to get to know her better, I might have had more sympathy for her in parts, but alas. I found a lot of the family related situations to be very realistic, and liked the dynamic between husband and wife.

As for the rest of the story, the plot wasn’t particularly realistic, but that didn’t ruin the book in any way. Sometimes you just need a story to take you away from real life and give you a fun fictional tale to follow. Now, just because I didn’t feel like this one was extremely realistic, doesn’t mean I didn’t find parts of it creepy! Some of the “stalkers” ploys at getting Sarah nervous and afraid were really creative and menacing!

In the end, I had guessed how the story was going to play out, but I didn’t have a reason as to why it was going to play out that way. Even though I had my theory on the “stalker”, which turned out to be correct, I didn’t find this took away from the excitement of the end of the novel. I still got to enjoy the now knowing of how the book was going to conclude.

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller and would definitely say it’s one to look out for if you’re looking for something a little less challenging, but still just as exciting to read as some other darker, more meaningful thrillers on the market (like Watching Edie or My Sister’s Bones, for example).

Thanks to HarperCollins for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
Death in Profile
Death in Profile
Guy Fraser-Sampson | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
(I've changed this down to 3 stars from 4 stars cause think back, it wasn't actually that good, I just think I was really happy to find a Netgalley book that didn't bore me to death)

Firstly I'd like to thank Netgalley and Urbane Publications for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Death in Profile is an excellent twist on modern crime drama novels. It's refreshing to find all the characters have a clear head with no underlying disturbances like we see with many other detective characters. While the plot for this novel is nothing too bold or different from other books out there, it still manages to feel unique.

I like how Sampson doesn't focus on simply one person throughout the book, but instead lets you in to each persons life in little snippets making you want to keep reading and find out more and more about each person. While Metcalfe and Willis are interesting as separate people I found their relationship juvenile, in all honesty. The way they went about each other was really rather unimaginable.

For me, the characters made this book fun and exciting because I didn't feel the plot was anything too incredibly amazing and I found the 'shock twist' a little... disappointing. I would have preferred the story to continue in the direction it was already heading by that point rather than the real outcome. I also found the last few pages of the book a bit pointless and it confused me slightly as to why it was included, I think it completely took away from the amazement you were supposed to feel about the outcome of the investigation into the serial killings.

Other than that and a few spelling mistakes here and there (which I couldn't keep note of due to there being no page numbers on the kindle), I actually did very much like this book and was reaching for it of a night time as well as during my travelling hours. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a crime drama without the troubled cop or gritty suspense. Definitely a fun and quick read.
  
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Villainous Vee (53 KP) rated the PlayStation 4 version of Overwatch Origins Edition in Video Games

Mar 11, 2018  
Overwatch Origins Edition
Overwatch Origins Edition
2016 | Shooter
Many hero's to choose from (2 more)
Many modes to select from
Earn loot boxes to change your characters looks
Playing by yourself can get very frustrating (0 more)
Fun and exciting, never gets old!!
I put off purchasing this game for quite a while because what I first understood from reading about it there didn't seem to be a lot of variety in the game play, I just believed you would either be capturing and zone or moving a pay load from point A to point B.
My friend finally talked me into purchasing it as it was on a special deal and I have not looked back and I rarely play much else anymore because I am LOVING this game.
There are so many different modes to choose from and those that are in the arcade change weekly and sometimes daily. Or if you fancy something completely different you can always look in the game browser where players set up their own games.
You might to start with think that you just pick a character and go but each has their benefits and their weaknesses and so you have to work with the other player in your team to choose a suitable line up in order to win.
Game modes rotate between attack and defense and so your character selection is very much dependant on what your are doing.
Playing solo and not in a team can get a bit frustrating, especially when players are not really thinking about what it is the team objective is and they just go for a character they play regularly rather than one that would benefit the team. Quite often I end up as Mercy or Moira (support hero's) in order to have a healer on the team as everyone selects quickly without working it out.
Competitive play for points (which runs in seasons) is also quite frustrating for the sakme reason... Especially as a loss means you drop down the rankings and your points at end of the season suffer because of it.
However I adore this game and if I ever fancy just relaxing and having a bit of fun this is always the game I go to first and so I would highly recommend it.
  
Bring Me Back
Bring Me Back
B.A. Paris | 2018 | Thriller
6
7.9 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
Ahhhhhh... I have such mixed feelings about this book. I don't know where to start or how to properly review without giving away spoilers, but I just had such high hopes throughout the first half of this story and then... meh.

This was my first B.A. Paris book. I've heard great things about the author and this book in particular, the buzz was deafening, but for me it just fell flat.

Don't get me wrong, the premise was so intriguing and I jumped right in with all the whodunit questions. I jumped from character to character with the turn of every page, not knowing who knew what, who did what, and these are EXACTLY the style of books I love. Unfortunately, I had major suspicions about 50% through, and I was pretty much correct - but the execution just made me more or less angry. It's like those books where you're so dumbfounded, you have no idea whats going to happen, you're so excited for those super fun twisty turny clues and then everything starts falling into place. But this was not the case with Bring Me Back. It felt like a cop-out at the end. It was like - the whole story was questions, and then you get all the answers in one final chapter and you're like... ummm what? I dunno - it felt lazy at the end, unconnected a bit, and pretty unbelievable.

The basic story is that Finn meets Layla, they fall in love and then one night, as they're stopped at a gas station rest stop, Finn returns from the restroom and Layla is gone. Did she leave, was she forced or kidnapped? Ten years later, Finn is about to marry someone else, and clues begin to appear raising questions as to if Layla is alive, and if so, where is she?

Without spoiling anything, I WILL say It was a fun idea, and the writing is top notch. I loved how stories were interwoven and little clues popping up everywhere. But again, the end just fell flat for me. I'll definitely be checking out some of B.A. Paris's other books for sure though after reading this. I really enjoyed the writing style and MOST of the book!
  
The History of Jane Doe
The History of Jane Doe
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was really intrigued by the description of this book and happy when I won the chance to read and review it. The History of Jane Doe is an ode to first loves, and a journey through mental illness. It's fun, it's sad, it's heartbreaking while also being heartwarming.

Ray is a high-schooler history-buff in love with Jane. She enters his life and him and his best friend Simon are forever changed. But she hides some deep dark secrets that torment her and Ray has a hard time seeing into her head, as is usually the case when loving someone who is depressed, and he struggles to find his way through her dark past so that they can have a future. This is a history of her life, written by Ray, flipping between the past and present of one devastating day when everything changes.

Michael Belanger writes that he's experienced some painful episodes in his life, and it's evident in how eloquently he decribes feelings of sadness and darkness. I can imagine this book will make quite a few people very sad, as most everyone knows someone who suffers from depression, or anxiety, or other forms of mental illness. But I also think it will probably help just as many. I applaud him for his candor and insights into a rarely talked-about issue.

If you love 13 Reasons Why, or anything by John Green, you will love this story. The witty banter between Ray and Jane, Simon and Mary is refreshing and fun, and it's an interesting look into mental illness, how things in life can trigger it, and change a person, and and exploration of how it affects all those around you, and how even though you may think you are ending your suffering, you are ultimately just passing it on to those who loved you.

What I took away most from this is that even if you feel like you are drowning in darkness and can't see past the shadows, you never know what a light you'll be to someone else.
  
Overwatch
Overwatch
Shooter
So many different and interesting characters (4 more)
Different ways to play
Incredible lore
All new maps and characters are free
Amazing graphic style
It won't be for everyone (0 more)
My favourite game of the generation
This is by far my favourite game of the generation and that's saying a lot because there are some amazing games I've played.

It may not be for everyone. There is no single player story campaign. The story and lore are things you kinda have to work out for yourself through voice lines, online comics, animated shorts etc

There will always be a character for someone whether your a medic or a tank protecting everyone or someone who goes running in guns blazing. You have a character who uses a jump jet and shoots rockets but then you have a robot who can turn itself into a turret.

You can play this game for hours and hours and it's an easy game to get into for all newcomers. You used to call of duty? There's a character there with an assault rifle, you got snipers and shotgun users. There are 27 heroes to choose from right now.

And the beauty of this is, no paid dlc. All maps and characters in the future are 100% free. There is no leveling up characters so everyone is on an even playing field. Only reason you level up is to win loot boxes. I know theres a huge controversy surrounding them but you only get comsrtics and they are fun to collect.

The game itself is 6v6 with different modes. Control, escort payload, capture. The usual stuff, then some extra stuff in arcade like mystery heroes where you become a random hero everytime you die, 3v3 elimination, death match. You have the usually quick play games but once you become level 25 you can start playing competitive if that's your thing.

It's a game you are constantly getting better at. Blizzard are constantly tweaking it with patches to keep it fresh. Plus there's a new character coming soon which is a hamster in a mech!!! What's not to love about that????

I do recommend playing it. Its fun to play on your own AND in a group.
  
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
2017 | Racing
Still one of the best
Mario Kart is one of the classics. Despite now on its 8th iteration, it’s still as good as it ever was and is one of the best games out there to play. No matter which version of Mario Kart I’ve played, I never really have a bad word to say about it, and 8 is no different.

The graphics are fantastic, and a great step up to those I was previously used to on the last version available on the Wii. The gameplay is as you’d expect from Mario Kart and this isn’t a bad thing. Why fix what isn’t broken? I also love the fact that you can now play this online properly against anyone in the world - it’s such a great feature and brings a whole new level of fun to the game. It can get a little dull and predictable if you’re playing locally as a couch co-op (or at least that’s what my other half says as I always win ?), but being able to play online multiplayer is so entertaining and we can play it for hours. Yes it is very frustrating, as sadly real players are a lot more ruthless than the computer players you’re up against locally, but it’s still a lot more fun.

My only criticisms about this game are that whilst it has quite a lot of levels/courses, for me it still isn’t enough. They’re not exactly long races and you can get through them all fairly quickly, and there’s only so many times you can do the same courses. And the only other criticism relates specifically to online play. Online play gives you points, but some players have a lot more points than others (i.e. 5k+, 10k+) which indicates they’ve been playing for a lot longer. The online match ups take no account of points and you can potentially end up playing against players with a huge difference in skill and points level. It’d be nice if they could try and match players together within a certain points, as it might make it more of a fairer race and a little more challenging if players are all similarly matched.
  
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Dean (6927 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Forza Horizon 3 in Video Games

Aug 21, 2018  
Forza Horizon 3
Forza Horizon 3
2016 | Racing
Amazing Graphics, from the cars, scenery and weather effects (2 more)
Good soundtrack
Sooo many options: Freeroam, events, championship, bucket list challenges... Almost endless
Auction system could use tweaking (1 more)
Another mode so xbox live races focus more on where you finish
Groundbreaking Driving game
I've been playing video games for a long time, since the spectrum before moving on to the Megadrive. I love driving games and can honestly say this is probably the best and most fun I've played to date! Not since PGR2 has a driving game been this groundbreaking.


You can sense the PGR2 influence in the realism of the environments and cars and some game modes. Along with a similar skill system. The weather effects are amazing from Fog, rain, clouds along with the times of day including dawn, sunset, night time create so many looks and experiences. You'll pull over to stop and watch a sunset. Every car looks and sounds as it should right down to the interior drivers view. It's a beautiful looking game.
The game itself has tons of variety. You can just cruise around, challenge a rival to a set route, random 1 on 1 races in Free roam. There are exhibitions and championships, you can create your own as well and fully customise the weather and time of day, car class and types of cars. There are bucket list challenges that can be done for times, skills, drifts, jumps, speed etc. Again fully customisable to create your own. There is something for everyone here and it's just so much fun.
The only minor points are the auction system for selling, buying could be better but you don't really need to use it. The other issue when racing others online your place is overall is decided partly on your skills during the race. This does include being quick and clean racing... but you might find slower drivers who drift a lot get more xp and end up ahead of you on the leaderboard even if you beat them in the race.
Overall though the best driving game to date. Roll on Horizon 4 in October.