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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated The Chalice of the Gods in Books

Jan 15, 2024 (Updated Jan 15, 2024)

Percy Has an Extra College Entrance Requirement

Percy Jackson is now a senior in high school, but in order to get into college, he has a special requirement – letters of recommendation from three gods. And to get them, he has to go on quests, of course. The first comes from Ganymede who is missing the special goblet he uses to serve the gods. Can Percy find it before the next big feast?

It’s been years since I read any of the Percy Jackson books, so I wasn’t sure how easily I’d slip back into his world. I needn’t have worried. The book focuses on a smaller cast of characters, which made it easy, and I enjoyed spending time with them again. The story is episodic at times, but I was always engaged, dying to know what would happen next even if the stakes were a little smaller than in other books. I’d forgotten just how funny the books could be, and I was smiling and laughing throughout. Yet we also got some wonderful character moments that were very emotionally satisfying. I’m so glad I picked up this book, and other fans of Percy will be glad they picked it up, too.

Kudos

Slippers and Songs (Brodyr Alarch #1)

Morgan Sheppard

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

In the realm of Holmfirth, far from Melthkior, Princess Tesni finds herself ensnared in a curse that...

Brothers Grimm Fairytale Retelling Welsh Gods Fantasy Romance Brodyr Alarch

Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Gods and Monsters (1998) in Movies

Jun 10, 2019

McKellen teamed up with director Bill Condon in 1998 for Gods & Monsters. This period drama recounts the partly fictionalised last days of the life of film director James Whale, whose experience of war in the First World War is a central theme.

Although criticised for being overly-simplistic, McKellen’s performance received rave reviews, and he was nominated for his first Academy Award in the Best Actor category. Unfortunately, he didn’t go on to win this time around, but it remained a highlight in a career filled with fabulous work.

https://moviemetropolis.net/2019/05/25/top-5-ian-mckellen-performances/

Kudos

Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2352 KP) rated The Lightning Thief in Books

Mar 9, 2018

The Lightning Thief

Rick Riordan | 2005 | Children, Fiction & Poetry

8.6

(100 Ratings)

Book Rating

Percy Jackson's world seems to be a target for weird creatures. Then he discovers why. The old Greek gods are real, and one of them is his father. At times, it does feel like a Harry Potter rip off, but there are some pretty fresh twists as well. I completely enjoyed it. And I discovered I've had one of his mysteries on my shelf for a while now. It's moved up my to be read list.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-lightning-thief-by-rick.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.

Kudos

Rachel Howser Roberts (96 KP) rated American Gods in Books

Jun 22, 2018

American Gods

Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.3

(72 Ratings)

Book Rating

Original story (1 more)

Mythology

One of my top 10

This novel was one of the most original works I have read. It combines mythology from all over the world into an epic journey within the dirty underside of the melting pot that is America. The main characters are well fleshed out. An interesting aspect of the book is the “coming to America” chapters that give the backstory on how the old gods in the novel came to be in America. This novel definitely focuses more on the journey to get to the climax rather than the climax itself.

Kudos

Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated American Gods in Books

Aug 14, 2018

American Gods

Neil Gaiman | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy

8.3

(72 Ratings)

Book Rating

I couldn’t put this book down. From the first page I was captivated. Bought it to take on holiday and had finished it by the morning of the second day. Everything about this book was interesting and entertaining.
It kept you guessing about who some characters were in terms of their Norse gods but that was just part of the fun of it. Brilliant twist at the end that I didn’t see coming until just before.
Shadow’s character kept you wanting more for him, and kept you hoping things would work out in his favour. Can’t wait to pick up the sequel!

Kudos

David McK (3562 KP) rated The Gods of Mars (Barsoom #2) in Books

Jan 28, 2019

The sequel to <i>A Princess of Mars</i>, <i>The Gods of Mars</i> again is presented as Edgar Rice Burroughs retelling the story of a relation of his. Again, this novel starts on Earth before moving to Mars proper and fleshing out the world first shown in the earlier book.

It is also, quite clearly, a product of it's time both in it's vision of Barsoom (or Mars), and in the culture of the various races upon (and underneath) the planet, and also ends - rather abruptly, I felt - in a cliffhanger of an ending.